How Many Children are Attacked By Dogs Each Year?

Statistics of Dog Bites and Children

An estimated 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the US annually, with around 50% of attacks occurring to children. However, how many children are attacked by dogs each year may be significantly higher, as most bites are not treated in emergency departments and therefore do not become part of statistics.

If your child has been injured by a dog, our team can help. Contact a Chicago child dog bite injury lawyer for a free consultation.

Key National Dog Bite Statistics Involving Children

• Over 2 million children are bitten by dogs annually.
• Children under the age of nine are most frequently bitten, representing 80% of all dog bite injuries.
• Injury rates are highest between the ages of 5 and 9.
• Dog bite injuries treated in emergency departments account for approximately 1% of all ER visits annually.

Where Do Most Dog Attacks on Children Occur?

About 82% of biting dogs are known to the child rather than unfamiliar dogs. These can include family dogs, a neighbor’s dog, or a relative’s dog. Around half of all dog attacks occur in the family home or in a public place with familiar dogs, such as when seeing a neighbor’s pet on a walk.

This may be because knowing the animal creates a false sense of security. Some dog breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, have become renowned as family dogs, while others may perpetuate the myth that pit bulls are “nanny dogs.” Failing to properly supervise young children around any dog, regardless of its particular breed, can result in serious injury or death.

The Severity of Dog Bite Injuries in Young Victims

Younger children have a higher risk of severe injuries or fatalities than adults for several reasons, many of which may be avoided through dog bite prevention training.

A High Percentage of Bites are to the Head and Neck

Children are more likely to suffer dog bite wounds to the head and neck, which can result in disfigurement or death. Reports state that the statistics of head and neck pediatric dog bite injuries may be as high as 80% of all injuries to children. In children younger than 7 years, dog bite injuries account for 30% of all facial injuries seen in emergency departments.

These severe bites occur for several reasons. Children are shorter, so their faces are typically at eye level for the dog. They also have a proportionally larger head, making the head an easier target. Lastly, children are weaker and cannot defend themselves.

The Need for Reconstructive Surgery

Because children often receive the most severe injuries on the face, they may also present in the operating room for reconstructive surgery. The American Academy of Plastic Surgeons reported that around 19,000 people need surgery due to disfiguring dog bite injuries, many of whom are children.

A five-year review found that 17% of pediatric dog bite injuries treated in emergency departments required surgical consultation.

The Tragic Reality of Fatal Dog Attacks on Children

While fatal dog attacks are rare, infants and toddlers are at the highest risk of death. According to a report by Forbes, children between the ages of one and four represented 29.4% of all dog bite fatalities. Additionally, 56.7% of all victims in fatal attacks were under the age of 16.

The Role of Dog Breed in Injury Severity

The Centers for Disease Control stopped collecting breed data for fatal dog attacks in 1998 and does not support breed-specific laws, recognizing that responsible pet ownership can prevent dog bites. The ASPCA and American Veterinary Medical Association share this position.

However, this does not mean there are no trends in which breeds are most likely to bite.

Pit bulls and pit bull-mixed breed dogs are most likely to be implicated in both dog bites and fatal attacks. This umbrella term encompasses American Pit Bull Terriers and other breeds, including the American Bully and American Staffordshire Terrier. Pit bull bites are dangerous because these animals have a bite force of up to 330 PSI.

However, these numbers may be slightly misleading. Because dog bites are typically self-reported, dog bite victims may not know the biting dog’s breed and may default to calling the animal a pit bull or pit mix. A report found that one out of every three pit bulls identified by an animal shelter had no pit bull DNA.

Still, pit bulls do make up the highest proportion of identified dog bites. The next most common breeds implicated in fatal dog attacks were Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskies, and Malamutes.

The American Veterinary Medical Association on Dog Bite Prevention

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) emphasizes that any dog, regardless of its size or breed, may bite. It is essential to practice dog bite prevention and teach your children safe behavior around all dogs, including both unfamiliar and familiar dogs.

Prevention begins by selecting the right pet for your family, as familiar dogs account for the largest percentage of dog bites. Consider adopting a dog from a shelter rather than getting a puppy, as the dog’s temperament will already be known. Socialize the animal and allow it time to decompress after entering your home.

Have your pet spayed or neutered. Unneutered male dogs make up the largest percentage of dog bites. Always obey leash laws and allow your dog a quiet space, away from children, to relax.

AVMA experts also recommend the following tactics to prevent dog bites.

• Do not leave babies or small children alone with any dog, including the family pet.
• Always closely supervise your child when playing with a dog and step in to de-escalate if you notice signs of stress in the animal.
• Teach children not to approach strange dogs or reach through a fence to touch them.
• Always ask permission before touching a new animal, and teach your children to ask.
• Stand calmly and quietly while the animal approaches, and avoid direct eye contact.
• Do not run past a dog, as dogs are naturally primed to chase.
• Never disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Teach your children to curl up and cover their neck and face to prevent dog bites to these sensitive areas.

Your Family’s Legal Rights After a Child is Bitten by a Dog

Dog owners have a legal and moral obligation to prevent harm to others. In states like Illinois, owners have strict liability, meaning that they are always responsible for a bite except for very limited exceptions (510 ILCS 5/). Due to this strict liability, owners can be held liable for damages resulting from a dog bite wound, including medical expenses such as plastic surgery or therapy.

Additionally, the owner must prove that the attack was provoked, such as harassing the animal, while the victim does not. For example, they must show surveillance footage showing the child hurting the dog, not just the child being in the dog’s vicinity.

Another legal principle used in dog bite cases is negligence. This has four main factors: duty of care, breach of duty, damages, and causation.

In short, this means that the owner had an obligation to protect the public through preventive measures, such as leashing their animal in public and installing fencing. They failed to uphold their duty of care, which directly caused your child’s injuries. By being injured, your child incurred damages, such as medical expenses.

In Illinois, juries can consider the “reasonable dog” standard set by the court case Kirkham v. Will. This standard acknowledges that dogs do not think in the same way humans do and cannot be held to the same standards.

Instead, the court must think of what a “reasonable” dog—one that is well-socialized, in good health, and trained—would do. For example, a reasonable dog would not bite a child for touching its toys or food bowl, and would not chase after a child on a bicycle to attack them.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered for a Child’s Injuries?

The attorneys at Dog Bite Injury Lawyer will seek the highest possible compensation for your child’s injuries. This can include:

• Emergency room visits or urgent care medical attention
• Reconstructive or plastic surgery for disfigurement
• Lost wages or loss of future wages
• Psychological counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disability and disfigurement
• Loss of normal life

What Makes Us The Best Lawyers for Child Injury Cases?

Our highly experienced dog bite attorneys are members of the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys with a prestigious Super Lawyers rating. Over the past 25 years, we have secured over $450 million in settlements and positive verdicts for families nationwide, ensuring that negligent individuals and organizations are held accountable.

At Dog Bite Injury Lawyer, we understand the sensitive nature of a pediatric dog bite, including the pain a child suffers and the stress a family undergoes. Child victims require a different approach, including age-appropriate interview techniques and a focus on protecting their privacy. Having helped hundreds of families, we approach each case with care and consideration for the child.

Structured settlements can ensure that a child’s needs are met both now and in the future, including future medical care and counseling. Through our negotiations, we take a

Our Settlements for Dog Bite-Related Attacks

Our Million Dollar Advocates are highly regarded for our aggressive legal advocacy, often securing settlements far above the national average. Some of our dog bite settlements include the following.

$1,200,000: Angela was just a toddler when she was attacked by a Doberman Pinscher at a relative’s home. She suffered extensive damage to her face that required multiple rounds of plastic surgery.

$885,000: Enjoying the Fourth of July with his family ended in tragedy for Brian, a teenage boy. While sitting near a bonfire, he was suddenly attacked by a large dog and pushed into the fire. Not only did he suffer from dog bite wounds, but he was also seriously burned by the flames and required skin grafts.

$400,000: Anthony was eating lunch in a friend’s backyard when he was attacked by a German Shepherd, resulting in scars on his arms and face. This dog had a history of aggressive behavior and had attacked a contractor only one week before, but the owner failed to take any preventative measures.

Child Dog Bite Statistics FAQs

Are Boys or Girls More Likely to Be Bitten by Dogs?

Studies have indicated that boys and men are more likely to be bitten by dogs. A report shared at the Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress found a ratio of 1.6:1 for male to female dog bite victims in the 0-4 range and 2.3:1 in the 4-16 age group.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Mortality Weekly Report noted that from 2017 to 2021, females were more likely to be victims of dog bite fatalities than males, showing that further investigation is needed to understand these trends. These statistics did not include ages.

An article by Psychology Today noted that males are twice as likely to be bitten by dogs and discussed personality traits that may lead to dog bites, including higher anxiety. Gender-based socialization may also play a role in why boys are more likely to be bitten, such as boys being encouraged to roughhouse with dogs while girls are encouraged to be gentler with companion animals.

Regardless, children of both genders should be taught to respect an animal’s space, approach any dog with caution, and identify warning signs that a dog may bite.

Do More Dog Bites Happen During a Particular Season?

In school-aged children, dog bites are more common in the summer, with the highest incidence of dog bites typically occurring in July. This could be due to dogs becoming aggressive on hot, sunny days, just as humans do. Children are out of school during the summer, meaning they have more unsupervised play time with both family pets and unfamiliar animals.

Can a Family Sue if Their Child Was Bitten by a Relative’s Dog?

Yes, families can sue for dog bite injuries caused by a relative’s dog. The animal’s relation to the child cannot be used as a defense, as all owners are responsible for preventing dog bites. As we understand the sensitive nature of these attacks, our team will handle all third-party communication while you focus on your child’s recovery.

Contact Our Child Injury Attorneys Today

If your child has been severely injured by a dog, you have the legal right to pursue compensation. Our team works on a contingency fee basis, which means no legal fees unless we win. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a compassionate and experienced dog bite attorney in Chicago.