Why Are Children At Risk for Getting Bitten by a Dog?

Published by Joseph Shea

on November 30, 2012

Aggressive and unsupervised dogs lead to millions of dog bites every year. Unfortunately, children are at a greater risk for bites and complications that arise from those injuries. If your child was hurt from a dog bite, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the dog’s owner, even if you cannot pinpoint an element of negligence. Here are some reasons why children are most at risk for getting bitten by a dog:

Misunderstanding Canine Body Language

Many children view dogs as one-dimensional creatures that are constantly playful. This hinders children’s ability to fully comprehend the breadth of canine emotions and the real dangers they can pose. Many children misinterpret dogs’ defensive or warning behaviors as playfulness, rather than signs of danger. Consequently, children may miss clear signs of impending hostility and continue playing with dogs that are agitated and ready to bite.

Inability to Control Dogs

If children play with one or two friendly dogs, they can over-generalize the playful behaviors of those dogs and project them onto all dogs. As a result of this inability to recognize unfriendly behaviors in dogs, more than half of the annual 4.7 million dog bite victims in the United States are children under the age of 14, according to DoctorsLounge.com. Young boys are particularly at risk for dog bites because of their overall confidence, which can lead them to believe that they have greater control over a dog’s behavior than is actually possible. Unsupervised play with a dog, when combined with an inability to control the pet, can lead to serious dog bites and other injuries for children.

If a dog has seriously injured your child, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the owner of the canine. You could receive compensation to cover current and future medical care, as well as pain and suffering. Chicago-area parents should contact the personal injury team at Shea Law Group by calling (773) 365-0040. We can concentrate on your settlement while you help your child recover.

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