According to a recent report by the Minnesota Department of Health, there has been a 40% increase in hospital-treated dog bites in Minnesota in the last few years. The largest growth was in the number of dog bites treated in emergency rooms. Most of the hospital-treated dog bites in Minnesota involved young children.

In 75% of the cases, the person bitten was familiar with the dog or dogs involved. Because the behavior of both young children and dogs can be unpredictable, a young child should never be left alone with a dog, and parents should teach children about dog bite prevention at an early age.

A dog’s tendency to bite is based on factors such as its early experiences, socialization, and the victim’s behavior, as well as the dog’s heredity. There are situations where the owner of the keeper of the dog has trained the dog in such a way as to make the dog particularly dangerous. If such a dog bites someone, the victim may make a claim for punitive damages, an amount meant to punish and/or deter behavior.

To contact a Minnesota dog bite attorney at our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or 612-338-0202 or submit our free consultation form.

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Question: On which part of the body do most dog bite victims get bitten?

Answer: Most dog bite victims are bitten on their arms and hands. Because the right hand is often used for protection, it is bitten more than the left. Most arm bites are from family dogs, while most leg bites are from unknown dogs. Back bites are also more frequently from family dogs.

Most face bites (about 65%) are in children under 10.

Learn more at Minnesota Dog Bite Attorney.

Labels: dog bite, dog bite injury, Minnesota attorney

If you have been involved in a dog attack at PetSmart, you may have claims against both the owner of the dog and PetSmart. Contact a Minnesota dog bite attorney at our law firm for information about compensation for victims of dog attacks: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit our online consultation form found at the top-right of this page.

Recently, a 4-year-old was attacked by a bulldog in a PetSmart store. The girl suffered lacerations and deep puncture wounds on her backside and pelvic area. According to the child's mother, the bulldog lunged out and latched onto her daughter.

PetSmart allows dogs in the store. When someone is injured at a store, the store owner, lessee and others may be liable under premises liability law.

When a dog bites and/or attacks someone, the owner of the dog is generally liable for any resulting injuries.

Our law firm has handled numerous Minnesota dog attack cases. Our attorneys have gained a national reputation and have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications. Minnesota dog attack attorneys Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman have been named "Super Lawyers" by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine.

News Source: KMGH-TV.

Posted November 2008.

Labels: Minnesota Dog Attack Attorney, PetSmart Dog Attack

Minnesota Representative John Lesch, DFL-St. Paul, is planning to introduce a bill that, if enacted into law, would ban certain breeds of dogs, including Akita, pit bull, Rottweiler, wolf hybrid and chowchow. Other state and local governments throughout the U.S. have enacted laws banning certain breeds.

Even though one could argue that dog bite accidents are the fault of the owners and not the breeds, the reality is that banning these breeds—particularly pit bulls and Rottweilers—would most likely eliminate most of the serious dog bite injuries in Minnesota.

Minnesota Dog Bite Attorney and Dog Bite Lawsuit Information
Partner Fred Pritzker has extensive experience with dog bite lawsuits and has recovered millions for injury victims. He has gained a national reputation and has been interviewed by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications. In recognition of his accomplishments, he has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. He has also been named a "Minnesota Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine.

Partner Rich Ruohonen has also, once again, been named a "Minnesota Super Lawyer." He is a sought-after speaker on personal injury matters and has recently chaired a "pain and suffering" seminar. Learn More