Dog Bite Legal Center News

Fatal dog attacks

September 2003

Dog bites and attacks affect nearly 4.7 million people in the United States. A small percentage of these attacks result in death. Sadly, children are the most common victim. The Humane Society of the United States estimates the following:

• 10-20 people die every year as a result of dog bites in the U.S.
• The majority of the victims are children.
• Between 1999 and 2001, dog bites claimed the lives of 33 victims.
• Nearly 73% (24 out of 33) of these fatalities were children under 12 years of age.