Dog Bite Facts and Statistics

At our law firm, we believe that safety comes first. We've gathered together these dog bite stats to help you understand more about dangerous dog behavior and how to prevent dog bites. Unlike drunk driving statistics or other accident stats, there aren't many regulated organizations in charge of gathering dog bite statistics and sharing them with the public. Our law firm has done our very best to collect the most accurate and up-to-date information on dog attacks, dog bite deaths, and more. However, most of these statistics have been gathered by individuals and private organizations, so understand that these figures may not always be government certified or scientifically obtained.

Finally, it's important to remember that dog bite prevention, first and foremost, comes down to the dog owner or individual(s) responsible for the dog. These individuals are the ones responsible for following the laws – including leash laws and other legal restrictions - that help keep people safe and stop dangerous dog attacks before they happen. Just because a dog breed is listed in this section doesn't mean they are not dangerous – in fact Pennsylvania courts have found that dogs that are overly excited or jump on people can be considered dangerous. A dog owner's behavior toward his, her, or their dog will determine the dog's personality. If someone responsible for a dog encourages aggressive behavior or abuses their pet, the dog will be more likely to attack or bite.  Even if the responsible individual encourages his, her or their dog to jump on people this is considered to be dangerous.

‍

Dog Attack Statistics

• According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had reported over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year in the U.S with over 800,000 instances where medical attention is received and the most common victims being children.
• On average, roughly 30 to 50 people die from dog bites each year in the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine.
• An article from the National Library of Medicine over 70 percent of dog bites in children under 4 years of age were sustained in the head or neck region, likely due to their height. Injuries are higher for boys than for girls.
• A statistical brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported that the average cost of a dog bite-related hospital stay was $18,200. There were 4 times as many dog bite-related ER visits and 3 times as many hospital stays in rural areas than in urban areas.
• Over 5,300 Postal Service workers were attacked by dogs while delivering mail in 2022 with Pennsylvania being the state with the 4th highest number of dog bite attacks with 313 reported instances. During this time, Philadelphia had the 11th most with 28 dog attacks reported and Pittsburgh ranked 17th with 19 dog attacks reported.

‍

Dog Bite Statistics by Breed

The following information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reported the following information from a study of breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks from 1979-1996. While the information lists certain breeds of dogs, this data does not indicate that neither the CDC nor Edgar Snyder & Associates supports breed-specific legislation.

• 279 dog bite related fatalities took place in the US between 1979 and 1994 of which there were on average 23 instances per 2-year period in which the breed of the dog was known.
• During this time, Pitbulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds accounted for the most dog bite related fatalities which can also be observed in a more recent set of data collected between 2005-2017 that included data on 433 dog bite related injury deaths.
• Of all recorded deaths with sufficient information, 30 percent of the deaths involved unrestrained dogs off their owners' property, 48 percent of the deaths involved unrestrained dogs on their owners' property, and approximately 22 percent of the deaths involved restrained dogs on their owners' property.

Dog Bite Statistics by Year

Statistics surrounding dog bite-related fatalities and attacks from 2020 and beyond are still being reviewed. The following is a summary of dog bite facts and statistics for each of the years leading up to the period currently in review.

‍

2019 Dog Bite Statistics

• In 2019, 48 dog bite-related fatalities occurred in the U.S.
• 27 percent of dog bite fatality victims were children 9-years or younger
• 6 percent of dog bite fatality victims were between the ages of 10 to 18 years
• 67 percent of dog bite fatality victims were adults ages 19-years or older
• Non-family dogs accounted for 56 percent of dog bite fatalities
• 63 percent of fatal attacks involved multiple dogs

2018 Dog Bite Statistics

• In 2018, 36 dog bite-related fatalities occurred in the U.S
• 42 percent of dog bite fatality victims were children 9-years or younger
• 58 percent of dog bite fatality victims were adults ages 19-years or older
• Family dogs accounted for 72 percent of dog bite fatalities
• 28 percent of fatal attacks involved multiple dogs

2017 Dog Bite Statistics

• In 2017, 39 dog bite-related fatalities occurred in the U.S.
• 38 percent of dog bite fatality victims were adults ages 9-years or younger
• 62 percent of dog bite fatality victims were adults ages 19-years or older
• Family dogs accounted for 72 percent of dog bite fatalities
• 51 percent of all dog bite fatalities included multiple dogs

Victim of a Dangerous Dog Bite? Our Law Firm Can Help

• If you've been injured by a dangerous dog, you already know about the frustrations caused by dog bite injuries. Medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses pile up fast. On top of all this, you need time to focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
• Don't let your dog bite injuries get the best of you. The sooner you contact our dog bite law firm, the sooner you can focus all your energy on your successful recovery while we handle the hassles of the legal system. Get in touch with us today by taking advantage of our free legal consultation.

‍