Dog Bite Stats & Figures

Why do dogs bite?

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) took a close look at this question and identified several reasons why dogs may become aggressive and dangerous. Those reasons include:

• Stress – If a dog senses that a person is invading its space or territory, the dog’s stress level may quickly escalate. The dog may react by biting the person.
• Fright – A dog can also lash out if it becomes scared or startled. For instance, a dog may attack if it senses that its bed, toy, food, puppies, or owner are being threatened.
• Illness – Like humans, dogs have days when they simply are not feeling well. A dog may react by biting a person who won’t leave the dog alone.
• Playfulness – Have you ever seen two dogs playing with each other? They may roll around on the ground and nip at each other’s ears. If a person tries to play with a dog, in the same way, the risk of being bitten certainly goes up.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) also examined why dogs attack. The ASPCA identified factors such as:

Interestingly, the ASPCA reports that intact male dogs:

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How Likely Are You to Be Bit by a Dog?

There are approximately 75 million dogs in the United States. With about 4.5 million dog bites occurring each year and a population of 330 million people, this translates to approximately one bite per every 73 people.

What Are the Most Dangerous Dog Breeds?

A 16-year analysis by Dogbites.org has found the following dog breeds responsible for the following number of dog bite fatalities in the United States:

• Pitbull – 380 deaths (67%)
• Rottweiler – 51 deaths (9%)
• Mixed breed – 29 deaths (5.1%)
• German shepherd – 24 deaths (4.2%)
• Mastiff/Bullmastiff – 20 deaths (3.5%)
• American bulldog – 18 deaths (3.2%)
• Husky – 10 deaths (2.5%)

What Is the Most Dangerous Dog Breed?

Based on dog bite statistics, pit bulls are involved in more dog attacks than any other breed of dog. However, any dog can potentially bite and harm a human.

What Dogs Bite the Most?

According to Canine Journal, dogs that bite the most include:

• Chihuahua
• English bulldog
• Bulldog
• Pitbull
• German shepherd
• Australian shepherd
• Lhasa apso
• Jack Russell terrier
• Cocker spaniel
• Bull terrier
• Pekingese
• Papillion

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Dogs with the Strongest Bite

The force of a dog bite is measured by pound per square inch or pound-force per square inch (PSI). Popular dog breeds with a strong bite include:

• English mastiff
• Wolfdog
• Rottweiler
• Bulldog
• German shepherd
• Pitbull
• Boxer
• Doberman
• Chow-chow
• English bulldog
• Malinois

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What Are the Most Common Dog Bite Injuries?

Regardless of which breed attacks, a dog bite can lead to severe injuries that often require extensive medical treatment.

A study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that during one recent year, dog bites accounted for:

• 316,200 emergency department (ED) visits (866 per day)
• 9,500 hospital stays (26 per day).

According to the AHRQ, the most common injuries for dog bite victims (based on the number of hospital stays) were:

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What Are Common Dog Bite-Related Infections?

As you can see, infections and diseases are serious concerns when a dog attacks. The CDC reports that dog bite victims should be especially concerned about the following:

• Rabies – If the dog is infected with the rabies virus, the dog can spread the disease through its saliva. A victim needs immediate treatment, which typically consists of a series of shots. If untreated, the illness is usually fatal.
• Capnocytophaga spp.—A human being – especially one with a weakened immune system – can readily become ill if this bacteria is spread from the dog’s mouth. An infection can lead to sepsis and related complications, including organ damage and dangerously low blood pressure.
• Pasteurella – The CDC reports that more than half of all dog bites cause victims to be infected with this type of bacteria, which can trigger swelling in the glands and joints and make movement difficult.
• MRSA – A staph infection of this type is highly common in dog bite victims. An infection can spread to the bloodstream and lungs and become life-threatening.
• Tetanus – This is a type of bacterial infection that can cause a victim to suffer painful muscle spasms. It often results from deep bite wounds. The worst cases can result in paralysis or death.

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What Are the Illinois Dog Bite Laws?

States generally take one of two approaches when it comes to dog bite laws. The first is often called the “one-bite” rule. In these states, the dog owner usually gets one free bite before liability is imposed. This is because the dog bite victim must prove the dog owner knew or should have known the dog had a dangerous propensity to bite. If the dog’s owner has never seen the dog become violent before, they might not have had a reason to suspect they would bite the victim. However, if the dog owner knew the dog might bite because of previous experience or other proof, the dog owner may be responsible for paying for the victim’s damages, such as their medical expenses, psychological harm, lost income, and pain and suffering.

The second approach states take is a “strict liability” rule. In these states, if the victim shows the dog attacked them and they are entitled to protection under the law, they can be compensated for their medical expenses and other damages. They do not have to show what the dog’s owner knew or didn’t know or even that the animal owner was negligent in any way.

Illinois is a strict liability dog bite state. Under 510 ILCS 5/16, a dog owner is liable for the full amount of a dog bite victim’s injuries if their dog “attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person” who:

• Is peaceably conducting themselves
• Has a lawful right to be in the place where the incident occurred
• Does not provoke the dog

Notably, Illinois’ Animal Control Act allows for recovery for any type of dog attack, not just dog bites Therefore, if you were pushed down, scratched, or otherwise hurt, you may still have a viable personal injury claim even if the dog did not bite you.

You should note that liability can attach to either the actual owner of the dog or the person who was actually in control of the dog at the time of the attack. For instance, if the owner left the dog with a neighbor, and the neighbor assumed control of the pet, the neighbor could be sued for damages if an attack occurred.

Generally under Illinois law, you have two years from the date of a dog bite in which to file a claim.

In addition to the statewide Animal Control Act, many cities in Illinois, including Chicago, have a “dangerous dog” or “dangerous animal” ordinance. The goal is to keep dangerous pets away from the public and to prevent dog bites.

Chicago Municipal Code § 7-12-050 defines a “dangerous animal” as one that:

• Bites inflicts injury on, kills, or otherwise attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation on any public or private property;
• Chases or approaches a human being in “an apparent attitude of attack” more than once, without provocation;
• Has been trained for the purpose of fighting or serving as a guard dog;
• Is any animal that has been found to be a vicious dog under state law.

Ultimately, a local animal control officer will determine whether a dog meets these criteria. If an attack occurs:

• The dog could be euthanized (if it killed or severely injured a person or another animal); or
• The owner could be required to get a dangerous animal license and take other measures, including obtaining a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance.

Several communities – but not the City of Chicago – have enacted breed-specific “dangerous dog” legislation. For example, the City of North Chicago Municipal Code § 8-17-1 imposes several requirements on any owner of a pit bull that is at least six months old. Those requirements include:

• Obtaining a Pit Bull Kennel License
• Confining the dog in a secured building or enclosure
• Posting warning signs outside of the area where the pit bull is confined
• Carrying a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance.

You should also note that Chicago has a leash law (Chicago Municipal Code § 10-36-020). The law basically requires dog owners to keep their dog on a leash (no longer than six feet) when in public areas (unless there is a signposted declaring it to be a “dog-friendly area”).

If a dog bites a person or another animal, Chicago Municipal Code § 7-12-090 requires the owner to report the incident to the Animal Care and Control Commission within 24 hours.

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What Should You Do If a Dog Attacks?

If you or a loved one suffers a dog bite or other injuries due to a dog attack, you should take the following steps in order to protect your health and your legal rights:

The experienced dog bite lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., are available to provide immediate legal assistance if you or a family member has been bitten or attacked by a dog in Chicago, Waukegan, or elsewhere in Illinois.

Call or reach us online today to discuss your case in a free consultation.

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