Dog Bites Injure Millions Every Year

 Posted on September 30, 2015 in Hartford personal injury lawyer

According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, with nearly 900,000 being serious enough to require medical attention of some kind. More than 1,000 per day require a visit to the emergency room or an inpatient admission, totaling more than 360,000 such visits per year. Unfortunately, children between the ages of 5 and 9 are at the highest risk for serious dog bites, and more than 40 percent of bite injuries are suffered by children 14 and under.

High-Risk Breeds

While certain demographic groups are more likely to be bitten than others, certain breeds of dog are statistically more likely to inflict serious injury. A recent analysis compiled by the editor of Animals 24-7 found that molosser breeds, including pit bulls, rottweilers, mastiffs, boxers, and sharpeis, account for a mere 9.2 percent total North American dog population, but inflict more than 85 percent of injury-causing attacks, including 81 percent of all attacks against children. In addition, molossers have been found responsible for more than three-quarters of the dozens of annual dog-bite fatalities. Of all the molosser breeds, pit bulls and pit bull mixes are the most quantifiably dangerous.

Dog Bite Laws in Connecticut

The state of Connecticut is very clear regarding the liability of a dog owner or keeper regarding injuries inflicted by his or her animal. The law is based on the theory of strict liability, which means that a dog’s owner is fully liable for any injuries or damages to another’s person or property caused by the actions of the dog. There are extremely limited exceptions, as an owner may avoid liability if the victim was, at the time of the injury or damage, “committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing” the dog.  Strict liability does not require a claimant to prove the owner knew the dog was vicious or was otherwise negligent.

It is also possible to bring action for a dog bite on the grounds of negligence, proceeding on the basis that the defendant knew or should have known of the dog’s viciousness. While not based on the state’s explicit dog bite statute, in a common law negligence case, a person other than the dog’s owner or keeper, such as a landlord, could be held liable for the injuries sustained by a dog bite victim. While such action may be available in certain situations, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that a landlord can be liable for failing to take responsive action regarding a dangerous dog.

Aggressive Dog Bite Lawyers

If you have been injured by a dog bite, whether from a pit bull or any other breed, contact an experienced Hartford personal injury attorney today. At the Woolf Law Firm, LLC, we know how to work within the law to get you the compensation you need to put your life back together after a serious dog bite injury. Call 860-290-8690 to schedule an introductory consultation today.

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5226a1.htm

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics.php

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_435.htm

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/rpt/2012-R-0459.htm