Are Children Particularly Vulnerable to Dog Bites?

 Posted on November 15, 2024 in Dog Bite Injuries

At the end of June, an eight-year-old girl was attacked by the family dog in Alton. A neighbor called 911, reporting that the child had been bitten and was bleeding and that the other children were unable to get the dog away from her. When police arrived, the dog had been taken outside and was being held by that same neighbor; police said the dog "appeared calm," although it had blood around its mouth.

The girl was locked in the bathroom on the second floor. When the officers gained entry, they found her in the bathtub, covered in blood. While the police were checking on the girl, the dog escaped the neighbor’s grasp on its collar and began attacking Alton Fire Department personnel. After multiple attempts to secure the dog via less lethal methods (including a Taser), officers were forced to euthanize the dog so the girl could be air-evacuated to the hospital in St. Louis.

Unfortunately, it is not entirely uncommon for a family dog to bite a child, even if the dog has never shown aggression to the child before. The child may have startled the dog or hurt the dog unintentionally. More often, children’s dog bites are from an unknown dog who may be unused to children or could be naturally aggressive. If your child has been bitten by a dog, it can be helpful to speak to an Aurora, IL dog bite attorney from Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC.  

Some Facts You May Not Know About Dog Bites to Children

More than one-third of all American families have a dog – or multiple dogs. Dog ownership is not risk-free, particularly if you have young children. The flip side of that is that if you take your family dog on outings and it is protective of your children, the family dog could stop an attack from a strange dog on one of your children.

More than two million children in the United States are bitten by dogs each year. A minor bite requires no more than a band-aid and antibiotic cream. Other dog attacks can be much more severe, resulting in injuries to the face and body that leave scarring or even blindness or other disabilities, as well as emotional trauma for the child.  

More than half of all dog bites each year happen to children. Even worse, about three-quarters of those killed in a dog attack are children. Infants and toddlers are at the greatest risk, with about three-quarters of the children killed by a dog attack being between the ages of one week and two years.   

Almost 90 percent of all child dog bite fatalities occur when the child is left alone with the dog. Dogs are generally less likely to attack a child when an adult is in the room and if they do, the adult can intervene to mitigate the severity of the attack. Since a child’s face is on the same level as the dog’s face, the child’s face, neck, and head are the most common locations for dog bites.  

Illinois Dog Bite Laws

The state of Illinois has a strict liability policy for dog bites. While there are a few exceptions, the owner of the dog is usually liable for medical bills and other damages resulting from the dog bite or attack. The dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance may cover damages resulting from a dog bite. The dog must also be confined by a vet for a period of not less than 10 days following the attack, or if there is documentation of rabies vaccinations, the dog may be confined in the owner’s home.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Children’s Dog Bite Lawyer

When you choose a Naperville, IL children’s dog bite lawyer from Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC, you have taken the first step toward justice for your child. Our firm operates on a contingency basis, so we never collect payment from you unless we win. We are a large firm with more than 175 years of collective experience, and we are always willing to aggressively fight for your child at trial. Call 630-552-6860 today to schedule a free consultation.