Dog Bite Statistics in the US; Texas #1 for Dog Bite Fatalities

Dog Bite Statistics in the US; Texas #1 for Dog Bite Fatalities

According to an October 2013 report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),close to 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Nearly half of these are children, and twenty percent of dog bites are serious enough to require medical attention. In 2012, 27,000+ Americans had reconstructive surgery after being bitten by a dog.

The CDC claims that certain groups are at highest risk:

·         Children. The incidence of dog bites is highest for children aged 5 to 9. Children are more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bites.

·         Adult Males. Men are more likely to be bitten by dogs than women.

·         People with dogs in their homes. Having a dog in the home correlates to a higher incidence of dog bites. Multiple dogs in the home results in a higher incidence of dog bites. Adults with two or more dogs in the household are five times more likely to be bitten than adults living without dogs at home.

The Insurance Journal, a professional publication serving the insurance industry, reported in May 2013  that dog bites accounted for more than a third of all homeowners insurance liability claims paid in 2012, amounting to more than $489 million, (per the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm Insurance). The report lists California as having the most reported dog bite claims in 2012 (451), with Texas coming in fourth with 236.

DogsBite.org, an independent organization dedicated to educating the public about the prevalence of dog bites and/or dog attacks, however, reports that Texas leads the nation in fatalities due to dog bites with 34 deaths from the period January 2005 through February 2013. Of these deaths, pit bulls were responsible for most of them (76%), with rottweilers causing 15% of the fatalities.