November 20, 2013
The American Humane Association estimates that roughly 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year. An estimated 800,000 of those victims require medical care. The Nashville Dog Bite Lawyers with Ponce Law explain that children make up a disproportionate number of those victims.
A dog bite injury was recently highlighted in a story from WATE 6 News. A 2-year-old girl sustained a serious wound to the face after being bitten by her caregiver’s dog. Reports indicate the incident occurred last night just before 10 p.m. at a residence located on Central Avenue Pike in Knoxville.
The child regularly stayed at the home, but the dog was normally kept enclosed in a bedroom when the child was present. That evening, the toddler was allowed into the room with the dog. She was then bitten in the face by the animal.
The child suffered serious lacerations and puncture wounds that required care at a local hospital. Meanwhile, the dog is under quarantine in the custody of the Knoxville Police Department Animal Control unit.
Dog attacks leave many parents wondering what they can do to protect their children from injuries. The Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers with Michael D. Ponce & Associates state that experts tend to agree that teaching children to never attempt to approach or pet strange dogs without owners’ permission is one of the best ways to decrease the chance of injuries.