Our Pittsburgh Dog Bite Lawyers have been asked: are there certain parts of the body that canines attack more often?
Yes.
Keep in mind is, dogs tend to lunge forward when they attack. So, depending on the height of the dog, the attacks will most often occur to the victim’s leg or upper leg. As expected, In 2022, the National Library of Medicine reported: “The most frequent anatomical site of [a dog bite] injury was the legs (48.1%).”
But exceptions exist to the “attack forward” rule.
Defensive Wounds – to Hands and Arms
From handling dog bite cases for twenty-five (25) years, this Pittsburgh lawyer can tell you the next most common area of attack after the legs is — the hand or hands. The answer is simple.
A canine attack can result in death, especially for the very young or elderly people. Therefore, it’s important to fight back. In fact, we advise the public to do just that: fight back, every chance you get: using your hands, elbows, anything you can grab, to prevent more serious injury.
That said, while defending yourself, you may experience defensive wounds to your hands, wrists, or arms, when fighting off a dog. This is OK. Granted, an injury to the hand can interfere with just about every aspect of daily life. These include getting dressed, bathing, typing, cooking, cleaning, lawn care, and more. But hands do heal. And it’s better the animal bites your hands, versus your throat, which the most aggressive canines will attack, instinctively.
Standing Over a Dog – Bite to Face Versus Hand
There is a right and wrong way to approach a strange dog. For example, if you do not know the animal, it’s never a good idea to stand over the dog. Doing so, may make the animal feel threatened, making it feel no option except to lunge upward to attack you. One of our most serious cases involved a woman standing over a German Shepard she had met for the first time. The animal’s teeth created a zig-zag scar across her face that would seem the product of a Halloween costume.
Contact Us
Contact our Pittsburgh attorneys for a free consultation about any dog bite claim involving any injury! Or check out our frequently asked questions (FAQ) page for more information.