Every year, approximately 486 people die from dog attacks, and an additional 4.5 million people report dog bites. Dogs kill and injure significantly more people per year than crocodiles, alligators, bears, and sharks combined. In fact, even if you take into account humans killed by spiders and snakes, dogs are still the leader of the pack.
Whether a dog bite leads to death or not, man’s so-called “best friend” tends to target the following body parts.
1. Hands
Hands are the body part most likely to be affected by a dog bite. This happens because people often “test” a dog’s demeanor by reaching out their hand and allowing the dog to sniff it. Additionally, hands naturally hang in a position where dogs can reach them easily.
However, the location of dog bites vary depending on the person’s relationship with the dog. When people are attacked by dogs they don’t know, the initial wounds are typically on their hands and legs, but if someone is attacked by their own dog, the bites tend occur on the face or neck.
2. Lower Extremities
Dog attack analysis shows that dogs usually try to disable the victim by attacking the limbs and trying to get the person on the floor. Because of this, people tend to get attacked on their lower extremities first.
3. Upper Extremities
If the dog successfully gets the victim to the ground, the dog goes typically for the throat, neck, and head. Generally, the human tries to protect these sensitive areas with their hands and arms, which leads to wounds in the upper extremities. Keep in mind that when dogs attack, they don’t want to play with their prey like cats – their goal is to kill.
4. Face
Children are more likely to get bitten in the face than adults. This is generally due to their shorter stature and the fact that they often play or sit on the ground. Dog bites to children can be particularly concerning and are at a higher risk for fatalities because a large dog’s mouth can create a pressure equivalent to 200 to 400 pounds per square inch.
In fact, between 1995 and 1996, 12% of the victims of fatal dog attacks in the United States were infants younger than 30 days old, and 80% of the total victims were children under the age of 11. This population is particularly susceptible to deadly attacks because of their small size and the fact that dogs can reach their vulnerable areas easily.
Children also risk intense bleeding, loss of tissue, infections, and permanent scarring. If bit in the face, both children and adults will likely need cauterizing and suturing for cuts. They may also need grafting to replace large pieces of missing tissue plus other reconstructive surgeries. Rabies and tetanus injections are also a possibility if the dog is in poor or unknown health and antibiotics will likely be needed.
5. Buttocks
Unfortunately, the buttocks are not usually exposed to a dog bite as the victim runs away. Rather, by the time the dog is attacking the buttocks, it is because the victim is on the ground, trying to protect their body, and the dog is biting the buttocks along with the lower extremities.
If you have suffered from a dog bite or if you have lost a loved one due to a dog attack, you may be entitled to compensation. To learn more, contact Mazow | McCullough, PC today at 855-963-9084. We have extensive experience helping people after dog bites and other injuries, and we can help you decide how to move forward.
