Dog Bite Injuries Often Result in Hospital Bills

By Grant Law Office on June 20, 2012

Dog bite injuries are rarely fatal in the United States. The estimated number of deaths per year is between 4 and 16, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, dog bites do cause about 800,000 injuries each year, and of these, about 330,000 people need hospital emergency room care and about 6,000 people must be admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Children under age 14 are the age group most often affected by dog bites, according to the CDC. About 42 percent of dog bite injuries each year are suffered by children under age 14, with children ages five- to nine suffering the most bites of any age group under 14.

Dog bites to the arms make up about 42 percent of all injuries, followed by bite damage to the legs (26 percent) and head or neck (22 percent). Smaller children are far more likely to suffer bites to the head and neck region in a child injury accident, perhaps because this is an area dogs can more easily reach if a child is very short. Head and neck bites frequently require hospital care, and may need additional reconstructive surgery to repair scars or other damage, depending on how severe the bite is.

The pain, fear, damage, and scarring caused by dog bites can be terrifying, especially for children. If you or someone you care for has been injured by a biting dog, a diligent Georgia personal injury attorney at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help. Call us today at (404) 995-3955 for a free, confidential consultation.