Americans Love Their Dogs

There is no question that the United States is a dog nation. More than 65 million households nationwide have at least one dog, putting dog owners far ahead of the 46 million households that have cats and the 11 million households that keep freshwater fish as pets, which are the next two most popular household pets in the U.S. With many households having more than one dog, there are more than 85 million dogs kept as pets nationwide. Most dog owners consider their dogs part of the family, showering them with attention and pampering. Dogs generally respond with loyalty and eager companionship. That is not always the case, however. Dogs bite people with alarming frequency, and those bites can result in serious injuries.

If a dog has bitten you, talk to the California personal injury attorneys at Maire & Deedon. We can help.

Dog Bites Are Common And Can Be Very Serious

Every year there are about 4.7 million people bitten by dogs. Of those, about 800,000 require some level of medical treatment. Across the U.S., nearly 1,000 people per day each year have to go to hospital emergency rooms for treatment of severe dog bite injuries. More than 12,000 people each year nationwide are hospitalized because of dog bites. Beyond injuries, dog attacks can be fatal, with 81 deaths from dog attacks recorded in 2021. That is up considerably from the 48 deaths from dog bites in 2019 and more than double the 35 dog-bite fatalities in 2018.

Of course, those are nationwide numbers, and most of those deaths from dog bites occurred in states other than California. While fatal dog attacks in any given state are relatively rare, the costs of such attacks, even those that don’t result in death, are considerable:

• Claims for damages arising from dog bites cost homeowners’ insurers more than $1.1 billion in 2022
• While the number of dog bite claims declined slightly in 2022 from 2021, the average cost per claim rose nearly 32 percent over the same time period to $64,555, primarily due to increased medical costs and rising jury awards for damages.
• In California, which is the state with the most dog bite claims in the U.S., claims were down from just over 2,000 in 2021 to just under 2,000 in 2022. California also had the highest average cost per claim at nearly $79,000.

While some states have a “one-bite rule,” which essentially allows a dog one bite without liability, California law imposes strict liability. If a dog bites someone, even if it is the first time, the owner is liable for damages. Good for dog bite victims but bad for dog owners.

If A Dog Attack has injured you Or A Family Member, Talk To Maire & Deedon

Dog bites happen. California leads the nation in dog bite claims, which can be extremely expensive. If you or a family member have been injured in a dog attack, by bite or otherwise, call the Redding, CA, personal injury attorneys of Maire & Deedon. We can analyze your claim and help you pick your best options going forward. Our attorneys are here to get you the compensation you deserve.