Of the 4.5 million Americans bitten by dogs each year, children are disproportionately the victims — and they suffer disproportionately severe injuries. The CDC reports that children ages 5-9 have the highest rate of dog bite injuries, and children under 14 account for the majority of emergency department visits for dog bites. Most tragically, the majority of fatal dog attacks involve children under 10 years old.
The reasons are both behavioral and physiological. Children are shorter, putting their faces and necks at the level of a dog's mouth. They are less able to read canine body language that signals aggression. They are more likely to engage in behaviors that trigger attacks — running, screaming, grabbing, or staring directly at a dog. And their smaller bodies sustain more severe injuries from the same force of bite.
The Devastating Impact of Facial Bites on Children
Unlike adults, who are most commonly bitten on the hands and arms, children are most frequently bitten on the face, head, and neck. Facial dog bites in children often result in: deep lacerations requiring emergency suturing, nerve damage causing facial numbness or paralysis, torn ear tissue requiring reconstructive surgery, damage to tear ducts and salivary glands, permanent scarring requiring multiple revision surgeries over years, and psychological trauma including PTSD, nightmares, and severe anxiety.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that dog bites are one of the leading causes of facial reconstruction surgery in children. Many children require staged procedures over years as their faces grow, with total treatment costs reaching $250,000 or more for severe attacks.
Who Is Liable When a Dog Bites a Child?
When a child is bitten, multiple parties may be held responsible. The dog owner is the primary defendant under either strict liability or one-bite rule statutes. Importantly, the 'provocation' defense is significantly weakened when the victim is a young child — courts recognize that small children cannot be expected to understand how to interact safely with dogs.
Parents of the dog-owning child may be liable if they allowed their minor child to maintain a dangerous dog. Homeowners and landlords can be liable if they knew a tenant's dog was dangerous and failed to act — or if they violated breed-restriction provisions in the lease. Dog sitters, walkers, and daycares assume a duty of care when supervising a dog and can be held liable for negligent supervision.
The Statute of Limitations for Children's Claims
A critical protection for child victims: in most states, the statute of limitations for a minor's personal injury claim is 'tolled' (paused) until the child reaches the age of majority (18 in most states). This means a child bitten at age 5 may have until age 20 or 21 to file a lawsuit, depending on the state. However, parents or guardians can — and should — file claims on the child's behalf as soon as possible, while evidence is fresh and witnesses are available.
Damages Unique to Child Dog Bite Cases
Children's dog bite cases often involve damages that far exceed typical adult cases: future medical costs for staged reconstructive surgeries as the child grows, psychological treatment for PTSD, cynophobia, and anxiety disorders that may persist into adulthood, scarring and disfigurement calculated over a lifetime, academic impact including missed school, learning disruptions, and social isolation, and loss of enjoyment of life — a child who develops a lifelong fear of dogs or avoids outdoor activities has suffered a permanent quality-of-life reduction.
Protecting Your Child After an Attack
If your child has been bitten by a dog: call 911 for any wound involving the face, neck, or significant bleeding. Do not attempt to close or bandage deep wounds yourself. Take photographs of all injuries immediately and during the healing process. Request the dog's vaccination records (especially rabies). File an animal control report. Seek a child psychologist evaluation even if your child seems 'fine' — trauma responses in children are often delayed. Contact a personal injury attorney experienced in child dog bite cases.
Bond Legal has recovered millions for child dog bite victims. Free consultation. pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Call (866) 423-7724.
