Dog bite injuries menace millions of Americans

Each year in America, about 2 per cent of all citizens suffer from a dog bite. This means millions of people are victims of such attacks, sometimes from their own animal but often from a dog owned by someone else. In the latter cases, that may mean that the dog is running loose despite city or state laws requiring that all dogs be confined to a house or yard or be kept on a leash.

Many people disregard such laws in the mistaken belief that their dog is an exception and never could hurt anyone. But as the saying goes, there's a first time for everything. And in the case of a dog bite injury, that first time could prove devastating -- even fatal. Some types of dogs, including pit bulls and Rottweilers, are highly capable of killing human beings, and such dogs can attack in groups, making defense even more difficult.

If you or a family member has been the victim of a dog bite injury, get medical attention immediately. But beyond that, it's in your best interest to contact an experienced dog bite injury lawyer in your state. Such a dog bite attorney can ascertain which laws apply and the extent and degree to which a dog's owner may be legally liable for the dog bite injury attack.

In extreme cases, when a dog kills a human being, its owner even may be liable for a prison sentence. Michigan and Texas are states where an unprovoked fatal attack by a dog which has roamed off of its owner's propery makes the owner subject to a prison term, sometimes for many years.

Whatever the circumstances of a dog bite injury, the victim may be entitled to financial compensation for his or her medical bills, loss of present and future wages and pain and suffering. But such compensation isn't automatic. Rather, it's vital to engage a knowledgeable and skilled dog bite injury lawyer or attorney to secure just and fair financial recovery.