A recent article in the Seattle Times profiled the suffering of dog bite victims. As the paper observed, high profile dog attacks typically spark heated calls for new animal-control policies, breed bans and higher criminal penalties for the owners of vicious dogs, but the furor often dies down within days or weeks. Victims, however, suffer for years, if not the rest of their lives, with physical pain and nerve damage, emotional shock from disfigurement, and the financial toll of repeated surgeries and therapy. According to the article, more than 1,000 dog bites have been reported in Seattle and King County this year.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year; approximately 16 of these incidents result in fatalities. The CDC offers tips for dog bite prevention. The Humane Society of the United States offers dog bite prevention tips as well. Here’s information on how to fight off a dog.
If you or a loved one has suffered injury from a dog bite, contact the Washington and Oregon dog bite lawyers at D’Amore & Associates for a free consultation.
