Even though they are said to be “man's best friend,” dog bites and dog attacks in Pennsylvania are fairly common. The experience alone can be traumatizing even when the injury itself may not be significant. Victims who have been hurt deserve to be fully compensated for their injuries, including any pain and suffering.

At Worthington Law Group, our dog bite injury attorney in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties, Sandra Worthington, will make sure you get full and fair compensation. We know the law. We know the community. We know how to deal with insurance companies and other potentially liable parties. Contact us at 215-576-5150 to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we will help you during this traumatic time.

Dog Bite Statistics

According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 4.5 million dog bites occur every single year. Those bites, however, come in a wide variety of severities, with only about one in five – 885,000 of them – requiring medical attention. Fatalities from dog bites are rare, but do occur occasionally.

Examples of Why Dogs Bite

Dogs bite people in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties and elsewhere for many reasons. Some of the most common include:

• The dog is chained or otherwise in some kind of stressful situation.
• The dog is trained to attack.
• The dog feels scared or threatened or is otherwise provoked.
• The dog has experienced abuse in the past.
• The dog wants to protect itself, its guardians, or its puppies.
• The dog is ill.

Provocation and Dog Bites

It is important to note, though, that regardless of why a dog attacks, you are not at fault unless you in some way provoked the dog. Provocation is pretty much any act that causes an immediate and radical change in the dog's behavior. It can include but is not limited to:

• Hitting the dog
• Trapping the dog in a small space
• Pulling on its tail, legs, ears, or fur
• Stepping on its tail 

If you provoked the dog, then the other party may be able to blame you for the attack. As such, it is important to note what is not necessarily considered provocation in the event the defendant tries to claim it:

• Walking toward a dog
• Walking towards and/or addressing the owner
• Being seating and getting up to face the dog
• Reaching to pet the dog
• Playing with and petting the dog
• Feeding a dog or attempting to take away food, a treat or toy
• Extending a hand over or through a fence
• Transporting the dog when it is injured

Provocation may be determined by the overall circumstances, and so again, that is why contacting a dog bite attorney in Pennsylvania may be critical because the outcome of the case can turn on how the facts and circumstances are argued.

What to Do If Attacked by a Dog in Pennsylvania

When a dog bites or attacks a person, the injury could be serious. There are a few things you will want to do to protect yourself. 

1. It's always important to get medical attention immediately. 
2. Be sure to obtain the dog owner's contact information, homeowner's or renter's insurance information, and proof of rabies vaccination. 
3. If there were any witnesses to the attack, make sure to collect their names and contact information, too. 
4. Take photos of the scene and the injury.
5. Contact the police or your local animal control agency to report the incident as soon as possible.

The most important thing if attacked or bitten by a dog is your personal safety. Take all precautions to get help as soon as possible.

Most Damaging Dog Bites by Breed

The breed may matter in terms of the severity of the dog bite.  To some extent the physical size of the dog's mouth and pressure per square inch involving a dog bite will determine the severity.  It makes sense that some of the larger breeds like German Shepherds and Rottweilers can perpetrate large, deep wounds.  Bite severity can be assessed according to wound size, tissue tearing, bone fractures, and other injuries severe enough to require facial trauma or reconstructive surgery. Breeds that contribute to dog bite statistics are numerous:  any dog can and will bite in the wrong circumstances.  After all, dogs are animals:  they need training and socialization with humans and other dogs.  Dog breeds commonly seen in dog attack cases include Pit Bulls, which are viewed by some as a public health risk.  However, even Pit Bulls can be trained to be good house pets if raised from birth by a responsible owner.  A common problem is that well-meaninged humans adopt dogs with "baggage".  Some dog rescues put dogs up for adoption without knowing the true reason the dogs were relinquished by prior owners.  Many of the prior owners fail to warn a dog rescue about prior bites.  Why?  Even though they don't want the dog in their home, they don't have the heart to report biting or prior attacks on humans or other pets because they don't want the dog to be euthanized.  Is this responsible?  Absolutely not.  It is a self-preserving step by well-intentioned but selfish dog owners who delude themselves into thinking the circumstances of the dog in a new home will "fix" the problem.  This is a serious problem with some dog rescue facilities.  If the relinquishing dog owner lies to them, they don't have the financial resources to investigate each and every relinquished dog.  Thus, dangerous dogs can be "recycled" in this way and can injure others at future homes.  

Common Injuries from Dog Attacks in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties

The injuries that victims can suffer in a dog attack can be severe and life-changing. Some of the most severe include:

• Severe lacerations, often requiring numerous stitches or sutures
• Serious infections
• Nerve damage
• Dismembered fingers
• Partial paralysis
• Chronic pain
• Scarring
• Psychological harm /PTSD

These are just the physical symptoms that a dog bite victim has to live with. Victims frequently experience emotional distress and mental anguish from the attack as well. In some severe cases, it can even amount to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Children are the Most Vulnerable

Children are the most likely to be hurt in a dog attack, especially young children under the age of 4. These children do not understand how dangerous a dog can be. Many of them think that all dogs are friendly and may approach a strange dog to pet it without their parents or the dog's owner noticing until it is too late.  As sweet as they are, children's books about dogs romantisize the gentleness and loyalty of dogs. An example of one of my favorites is the "Carl" series by Alexandra Day about the large, seemingly perfect dog, Carl, a beautiful Rottweiler.  These are beautifully illustrated, whimsical books which, if used properly can help create a love of dogs in children.  In these books, Carl basically babysits or participates in various activities with a baby.  However, I strongly believe they should be presented to children such that they know Carl is an imaginary dog and real dogs cannot be treated like the baby treats him in the series.  For example,  a child should not try to mount and ride a rottweiler like a horse.  This could lead to catastrophic result.

Unfortunately, children are the very victims that are most likely to suffer the worst consequences of a serious dog bite. A child's face is much closer to the ground than an adults face and is thus more accessible to a biting dog. Not only is the mental anguish of a dog attack likely to haunt a child more intensely than it would an adult, but the physical injuries that a child suffers are more likely to have serious long-term repercussions on their growth and development.

Contact a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in Pennsylvania

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from another person's dog, the owner may be held accountable for the injury and, thus, liable for compensation. These can be very difficult cases due to the fact that the victim and biting dog are often either family members or neighbors.  At Worthington Law Group, our dog bite injury attorney in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties wants to make sure members of our community who have been injured or who have had, in thankfully rare circumstances, a loved one die from a dog attack are fully compensated. Contact our office at 215-576-5150 to schedule a free consultation and get a better understanding of your specific dog bite injury case.  Keep in mind all consultations are free and 100% confidential-no strings attached.