Young Children are at a Greater Risk for Serious Dog Bite Injuries

The Law Offices of Keith Bregoff, PA, our Vero Beach, Florida dog bite attorneys represent individuals and families who have suffered injuries sustained by a dog.

Whether a dog bites once, or during a sustained attack, the injuries can be devastating — especially when it is a child who has been bitten.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, children are more likely than adults to be bitten by a dog, and when they are, their injuries can be more severe. These life-changing circumstances require legal intervention to ensure you or your child is not left paying these hefty medical bills out of pocket.

Why Are Children More Vulnerable to Dog Bite Injuries?

Dog bites among children rank second as the most frequent emergency room visit cause, as they are more likely than adults to need medical attention after a bite occurs. Children are also far more likely to be severely injured as a result of the dog bite.

The American Veterinary Medical Association lists the rate of dog bites for children is highest between the ages of five and nine, which is a contributing factor in why children are more vulnerable to dog bites than adults. Their size and inability to understand a dog’s body language and capability to attack them plays a significant role in children accounting for over 51% of all dog bites.

Dog bites among children are so widespread that they are a greater health problem than whooping cough, measles, and mumps combined. They are also more common than bicycle accidents, skateboard or scooter injuries, and playground accidents with injuries.

Nearly 77% of all dog bites are caused by the victim’s family or friend’s pet, which makes children more vulnerable when visiting relatives who own a dog.

If your child has been bitten by a familiar dog, our Vero Beach dog bite lawyer can help you pursue their insurance carrier for the costs associated with the injuries, which are often severe and can require long-term, expensive care.

Why Are Florida Dog Bite Injuries So Severe in Children?

Children are most frequently bit by dogs in the head, neck, and face, which can require extended medical care or reconstructive surgery to ensure scarring and disfigurement does not impact their lives going forward.

Dog bite treatments cost more than a billion dollars each year, and if your child is bitten, the physical and emotional medical care can jeopardize your financial standing without notice.

You do not have to pursue the dog’s owner for financial recovery alone. Contact our Vero Beach personal injury attorneys today at (772) 492-8967 to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can provide the solutions you need to secure the financial recovery you or your child deserves for the injuries the negligent party’s dog caused.