Dog Bite Claims
Under Connecticut law, the owner or keeper of a dog is legally responsible for injuries caused by a dog bite. In fact, there is a statute that says that the owner or keeper is “Strictly Liable,” or presumed responsible, for a dog bite so long as the person who is bitten is not trespassing, committing a tort, teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog. A child under seven years old is presumed not to be trespassing, committing a tort, teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog. The so called “Dog Bite Statute” includes both injuries sustained from dog bites and other dog related injuries such as being knocked over, knocked off of a bicycle/motorcycle or otherwise being injured by a dog.
Unfortunately dog bites happen and the injuries can be quite severe including disfigurement and scarring, both physical and emotional.
CDC Facts Concerning Dog Bites
The most recent USA survey of dog bites conducted by CDC researchers concluded that in 2001, 2002 and 2003 there were 4.5 million American dog bite victims per year (1.5% of the entire population). Sacks JJ, Kresnow M. Dog bites: still a problem? Injury Prevention 2008 Oct;14(5):296-301.
885,000 bites per year — almost one out of every 5 — are serious enough to require medical attention. (Centers for Disease Control, Dog Bites, accessed May 10, 2014.)
Dog bites send nearly 368,000 victims to hospital emergency departments per year (1,008 per day). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nonfatal Dog Bite–Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments — United States, 2001, MMWR 2003;52:605-610.
In 2012, more than 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs. (Centers for Disease Control, Dog Bites, accessed May 10, 2014, quoting from American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2012 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report [online]. 2012. [cited 2013 Oct 24]. Available from URL: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Documents/news-resources/statistics/2012-Plastic-Surgery-Statistics/full-plastic-surgery-statistics-report.pdf.)
16,476 dog bites to persons aged 16 years or greater were work related in 2001. (Ibid., Nonfatal Dog Bite–Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments — United States, 2001, MMWR 2003;52:608.
5,900 letter carriers were bitten in 2012. (US Postal Service.) Los Angeles is the worst city in the USA for mail carrier dog bites. (Read the article.)
Getting bitten by a dog is the fifth most frequent cause of visits to emergency rooms caused by activities common among children. (See Weiss HB, Friedman DI, Coben JH. Incidence of dog bite injuries treated in emergency departments, JAMA 1998;279:53; also see US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Injuries associated with selected sports and recreational equipment treated in hospital emergency departments, calendar year 1994. Consumer Product Safety Review, Summer 1996;1:5.) Note that this comparison is limited to activities that children more or less voluntarily engage in, such as playing sports, playing with animals, etc. Dog bite injuries are not specifically set forth in Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, Child Injury and Mortality, pp. 36, 37, 136 and 137, which states that the leading causes of emergency room visits overall are falls, being struck by or against an object, natural or environmental causes, poisening, being cut or pierced, and motor vehicle accident.
Over the years we have handled many dog bite and dog related claims. In so doing we have earned a reputation for honesty, integrity and results. If you, a family member or friend has been injured by a dog, please contact us to discuss the details at 877-287-8203
We will answer your questions, evaluate your claim and explain your options at no charge. Our pledge is to provide responsive, superior legal representation.
Practice Areas
Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing Home Negligence
As the population ages, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are housing more senior citizens than ever before. Sadly, a study from the Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University and the New York City Department for the Aging found that more than 260,000 (1 in 13) older adults are victims of elder negligence and abuse every year.