We previously wrote an entry in this blog regarding a television news anchorwoman who was bitten in the face by a dog during an on air attack. The woman has now been treated and information about her injuries and treatment reveal the serious injuries that may be caused by a dog attack. The woman received seventy stitches to the face; she is unable to speak because her mouth had to be stitched shut. The dog attack victim received stiches to her nose, lower lip and upper lip. Her mouth was stitched shut to allow the skin graft to take hold as well as to let the blood begin circulating in her lips again.
This type of serious dog bite is not nearly as uncommon as many people might think. The American Humane Association reports that there are approximately 800,000 dog bites per year that require medical treatment. Children are particularly vulnerable to being the victim of a Mississippi dog bite. Fifty percent of dog bite victims are children under the age of 12. Children are not only more likely to be attacked by a dog but also tend to suffer more severe dog attack injuries. A whopping 82 percent of dog bites that cause trips to the emergency room involve children under the age of 15 while 70 percent of dog bite fatalities involve children under the age of 10.
There are certain breeds of dogs that have a greater propensity to be vicious, and they tend to be involved in more serious dog attacks. Because of this propensity, many cities in Mississippi have ordinances that limit or restrict ownership of certain breeds of dog. This legislation called Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) most commonly targets pit bulls in Mississippi but also applies to Rottweilers and some other breeds depending on the city.
One reason children are disproportionately injured in dog attacks is that they lack the experience and knowledge of how to act safely around dogs. Research has indicated that children who are educated by their parents about how to play with dogs and when to leave dogs alone are less likely to be involved in a dog attack. It is never advisable to leave a small child unsupervised around someone else’s dog even if the child knows the dog. Sometimes behavior that does not seem antagonizing to a child may cause a dog to react in unpredictable ways.
If you or someone you love is the victim of a dog attack, the experienced Mississippi dog attack attorneys at Barrett Law represent injury victims with compassion and diligence. The experienced Mississippi personal injury attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing effective representation to Mississippi personal injury victims for over 75 years. We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.