Dogs are known as man’s best friends. Faithful four-legged friends until death do us part. Unfortunately, things can sometimes go wrong with (serious) injury as a result. Which dog breeds most often result in a personal injury claim? Can that even be measured? And what can be done to prevent dog bites?
High-risk dog breeds
A dog bite can cause serious injury. However, some dog breeds can cause more serious injuries than other dog breeds. A chihuahua naturally does less damage than a rottweiler. That does not mean rottweilers are necessarily more aggressive. If a rottweiler bites, there is only a greater risk of serious injury. A rottweiler, therefore, falls into the category of high-risk dogs.
The government has compiled a list of 21 high-risk dogs. In the appendix of a parliamentary paper, high-risk dogs are described as:
“A high-risk dog is a dog that, when biting, is capable of inflicting excessively severe bite damage (such as loss of muscle and/or organ tissue), sometimes resulting in death.”
There are four factors that determine whether a dog is a high-risk dog:
- Physical appearance.
- Biting style.
- Biting intensity.
- Hereditary basis.
Some dog breeds bite and then let go. Other dog breeds, on the other hand, will not let go and will shake and tear violently. Dog breeds in the latter category are classified as high-risk dogs. Still, there are also other dogs that are often involved in biting incidents. These dog breeds simply cause less injury in general. Reasons for this could be that they do not shake and tear, release faster, and do not have ‘fighting genes’.
Preventing bite incidents
The government wants to try to prevent biting incidents as much as possible. The approach:
- A breeding and import ban on high-risk dogs
- A hotline in every municipality for aggressive dogs and disruptive behavior by dog owners
What are the pros and cons of these measures?
Breeding and import ban
The breeding and import ban is a measure that many dog owners do not support. Of course, it is important that dogs are not bred to enhance their aggressive traits. But there is no need to completely eliminate some dog breeds. One solution to this problem is to impose strict breeding rules.
Another solution is that owners of high-risk dogs must meet certain requirements. The problem often lies with the dog owners. Some dogs are barely walked, not properly trained, or deliberately reared by the owner. Some owners are not in control of their dog either. This is why there are calls for mandatory puppy and obedience classes for certain dog breeds. As well as imposing a dog ownership ban on owners whose dogs have caused serious injury.
Hotline for aggressive dogs
Deventer, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, and Zutphen are the front runners in this regard. In these four municipalities, there is already a hotline for aggressive dogs. If a dog is reported, an enforcer will investigate the report. Does the dog appear to be really dangerous? Then the enforcing body can impose a muzzle obligation. The owner of the dog can also be reported for disruptive behavior.
But will that solve the problem? The dog may no longer bite, but it will still be aggressive. It is also important that this muzzle obligation then applies to all municipalities. If the muzzle obligation is bound by the municipality, this can still lead to dangerous situations.
A possible solution is to require the owner to take behavioral training at a certified dog school. This will solve the aggression problem and not just treat symptoms. Dog owners who display annoying and dangerous behavior can be imposed a dog ownership ban.
How can you prevent a biting incident yourself?
Of course, you would rather not get injured by a dog bite at all. However, many dog bites can be prevented. Many adults and children often do not know the best way to approach a dog. For example, it is better to leave dogs that are on a leash at the supermarket alone. It is also not wise to pet a strange dog out of the blue.
Which dog breeds cause personal injury claims?
Every year, 150,000 Dutch people end up with the teeth of a snappy dog in their skin. Of these, 50,000 victims need medical help. Approximately. No exact figures are known, as biting incidents are unfortunately not yet properly registered. Therefore, the call for a nationwide biting protocol has been made for some time now. To be able to properly map out the biting incidents. Will there then be an indication of which dog breeds most often cause personal injury claims?
Victims often do not know what kind of dog has bitten them. But this can of course be found out when filing a personal injury claim. The dog owner’s insurer can collect this information. Unfortunately, not all dog owners are insured. That is why JBL&G has been advocating for years for making liability insurance mandatory for dog owners.
From the personal injury claims we file for our clients, the following 10 dog breeds come up the most:
- Shepherd dog.
- Rottweiler.
- Jack Russell Terrier.
- Cane Corso.
- American Staffordshire Terrier.
- Pit Bull.
- Airedale Terrier.
- Bullmastiff.
- Bouvier des Flandres.
- Golden Retriever.
That does not necessarily mean that these dog breeds are also the most aggressive. For example, there also seem to be a lot of biting incidents with dachshunds. However, these dogs often cause a very minor injury, if at all. And therefore, victims do not file a personal injury claim. Our advice: always file a personal injury claim. Even with very minor injuries after a dog bite. The costs can unexpectedly be higher than you would expect. Also, you are always entitled to compensation after a dog bite.
Bitten by a dog?
Have you been bitten by a dog and have you sustained injuries? The owner of the dog is almost always liable for your personal injury. Please contact us if you would like to discuss the best course of action with us. The meeting is without obligation.
Free handling of your dog bite injury case
Have you suffered damage from the bite of another person’s dog? When our lawyers handle your case, there are no costs for you as a victim. You can read how this is possible on our Out-of-court costs page.
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