Are some dogs more likely than others to be involved in dog bite cases involving kids? A study conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center reports that certain dog breed and physical traits may pose a higher risk of a dog attack and serious injuries.
The researchers suggested that families should use the information from the study to make an informed decision before they bring a dog into their home, and before they let a child around a dog owned by a friend or family member. Let me tell you more about the study and its findings.
Certain Dogs are More Likely to Bite and Cause Greater Harm
The key takeaway from the study is that, not only are certain dogs more likely to bite in the first place, but certain dogs are also more likely to cause greater harm as a result of head structure and size. The study reported that “pit bulls and mix breed dogs have the highest risk of biting,” and they also determined that these types of dogs tend to “cause the most damage per bite.”
In addition, dogs that have “wide and short heads weighing between 66 and 100 pounds” are more likely to cause serious injuries in the event of a dog bite. While dogs in that size and weight range are not necessarily more likely to bite, their bites can cause injuries that are more severe.
The study was published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.
Dogs are Common, and Parents Need to Take Precautions
By current estimates, there are about 83 million dogs owned by families in the United States alone, and more people are bringing dogs into their families. Many of those households have children, and more than 4.7 million people suffer dog bite injuries every year.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children between the ages of 5 and 9 are most likely to require medical care and hospitalizations for dog bite injuries. Parents and caregivers should know the breeds listed above, as well as dogs in the size and weight range identified above, may be more likely to bite or to cause severe injuries in the event of a bite.
Contact Me for Help with Your Dog Bite Claim
A parent should never have to deal with a serious dog bite injury that causes debilitating harm and disfigurement to their child. Yet many dog bite cases involve young children, and many of them are fatal.
While it can be difficult to think about filing a claim after your child suffers a dog bite injury, especially if the owner of the dog was a friend or family member, it is important to seek the financial compensation you need. Your child could require extensive medical treatment for months and years to come. Let me help you seek the compensation you deserve. I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at 877.944.4373 to learn more about dog bite claims.
