Facts About Animal Bites You Should Know
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on March 14, 2017
Every year tens of millions of people are bitten by an animal. Health concerns from animal bites range from minor wounds to life threatening infections and even death. According to the Mayo Clinic, upwards of two percent of visits to ERs around the U.S. are from people looking for treatment for an animal bite. While dog bites are the most common, about 10 percent of animal bites are caused by cats.
If you or someone you love is ever the victim of an animal bite, you should follow the appropriate medical protocol and seek medical attention immediately if necessary. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney if you need legal advice about an animal bite. The Cooper and Friedman Law Firm in Louisville, Kentucky, offers free legal consultations to animal bite victims throughout the state of Kentucky and in Southern, Indiana.
15 Facts about Animal Bites from a Personal Injury Lawyer
Animal bites of any type are extremely painful whether caused by a cat, dog, or some other animal. And they can also be very traumatic as well. In the event that you or someone you love is ever the victim of an animal bite, here are 15 facts about animal bites you should know:
- Cat bites tend to be more dangerous than dog bites. According to some of the latest research by the Mayo Clinic, cat bites are more likely to lead to bacterial infections that are hard to treat.
- Animal bites tend to be more dangerous if they happen on a joint or tendon. This is partly because joints and tendons have spaces that are closed. This can increase the risk of a bacterial infection.
- While dog bites are the most common type of animal bite, other common animal bites include cats, rabbits, hamsters, horses, raccoons, snakes, monkeys and more.
- Redness, swelling and increasing pain following an animal bite may signal that something more seriously is wrong.
- About three out of four dog bites happen on the property of the victim, and most victims of dog bites know the dog.
- The majority of dog bites are to limbs and appendages (legs, arms, hands and feet).
- Animal bites are more dangerous for people who have immune-deficiency disorders.
- Severe animal bites can lead to permanent physical damage.
- Animal bites can lead to a wide variety of infections. Even seemingly minor cat scratches can lead to infections.
- More than 700 cities in the U.S. have implemented laws about specific breeds of dogs.
- More than 40 countries worldwide regulate dangerous breeds of dogs including: Great Britain, Spain and Norway, to name a few. (www.dogsbite.org)
- According to the 2012 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, over 27,000 people had reconstructive surgery due to a dog bite.
- In a 1997 article published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) dog attack victims experience more than $1 billion in monetary losses every year.
- Dog bites are the 5th most common reason why kids need to go to the emergency room. (www.dogsbite.com)
- In 2009 DogsBite.org issued a report claiming that 19 breeds of dogs contributed to 88 deaths over a 3 year period of time. Pitbull attacks accounted for nearly 60%, followed by Rottweilers with about 14%. Six of the most dangerous dog breeds include the pit bull, Rottweiler, mastiff, husky, Doberman pinscher and German shepherd.
If you are ever the victim of an animal bite, seek the medical and legal help you need. For a free consultation with a personal injury attorney who understands animal bite law, call 502-459-7555 now.