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With the average cost of a dog bite rising to $24,840, the kind of dog you own may affect your insurance rates! And some insurance may even decline to cover you. Lawsuits involving dog bites have risen 30% since 2003.
Who’s is getting bitten and by what kind of dogs? Are people dying from dog bites?
DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims’ group dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks, releases its first multi-year report on U.S. dog bite fatalities. The report covers a 3-year period — from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008 — and analyzes data gathered from 88 dog bite incidences that caused death to a U.S. citizen. The report documents dog breed information, property information (where the attack occurred) as well as dog bite victim age information.
Of the 88 fatal dog attacks recorded by DogsBite.org:
- Pit bull type dogs were responsible for 59% (52) this is equivalent to a pit bull killing a U.S. citizen every 21 days during this 3-year period
- The data also shows that pit bulls commit the vast majority of off-property attacks that result in death.
- Only 18% (16) of the attacks occurred off owner property, yet pit bulls were responsible for 81% (13).
- Pit bulls are also more likely to kill an adult than a child. In the 3-year period, pit bulls killed more adults (ages 21 and over), 54%, than they did children (ages 11 and younger), 46%.
- In the 21-54 age group, pit bulls were responsible for 82% (14) of the deaths.
- The data indicates that pit bulls do not only kill children and senior citizens; they kill men and women in their prime years as well.
- The report also shows that of the six victim age groups documented, the 55 and older group suffered the most fatalities 26% (23), followed by the 2-4 age group 22% (19).
- Between the ages of 0-4, the study reveals that 14% (12) of the fatal attacks involved a “watcher,” a person such as a grandparent or babysitter watching the child. Of these attacks, 75% (9) involved a grandparent type.
The founder of DogsBite.org, Colleen Lynn, adds, “The off-property statistical data about pit bulls shows just how dangerous they are.” She noted that six senior citizens were killed under these circumstances: “Two were killed while standing in their own backyard,” she said. “Four others were killed while taking a morning walk or getting the mail.”
Source: Dogbite.org – Seattle, Washington (April 22, 2009)
For more information on dog bites or for a free consultation, please call our office at 602-971-1775 or visit our website www.alexandgaxiola.com.
