Miscellaneous

Three Bites and You're Out

By Anne Skove, Esq.

• Number of people in the U.S. who seek medical care for dog bites annually: 800,000


• Number of those under age 14: 400,000


• Rank of dog-bite accidents among other causes of death or ER visits (in 2003): 5th


• Number of bites a dog is allowed, under common law and most state and local legislation, before the owner is liable: 1


• Number of people in the U.S. who have pets vs. those who have children: 2:1

With figures like these, more states are giving dog owners fewer chances. Virginia has a "dangerous dog registry," and legislatures are nibbling away at the one-bite rule.

See Dogs May Lose Right to Bite, Erik German, Newsday (February 19, 2008).

See also Dog Bite Law, a blawg devoted to dog bite injuries. (Now there's a niche practice.)

If your dog's bark is worse than his bite, you may still have problems. Little Sheba the Hug Pug and friends over at Dog Law has a post about using mediation for barking and more serious cases.

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on February 19, 2008 (boomark / email).