Georgia Injury Law Blog
Summer is when there is an increase in dog bite attacks across Georgia, possibly due to the fact that more people are out during this time and in contact with dogs. However, the weather may play a much bigger role in the increase in dog bites during the summer months than earlier believed. Unfortunately, dog bites often result in serious personal injuries.
According to the results of a new study that was published recently, hot weather may cause aggression in dogs just the same way as it does in humans. When temperatures are higher, human beings are likely to become irritable and aggressive. They may suffer from disturbed sleep during hot days which causes increased irritability and discomfort. Incidents of road rage, for instance, are likely to peak during summer months. Several studies have underlined this fact. However, there have not been enough studies done to understand the impact of higher temperatures on animals like dogs.
The researchers focused on 8 metropolitan American cities, and extracted data on dog bite attacks that occurred in these cities over a 10 – year period. They found more than 69,000 bites occurred in these cities over the time period. When the researchers drilled down further into the data, they found that dog bites were more likely to occur not only when temperatures were higher, but also when there were higher UV levels. In short, they found a link between higher temperatures, ozone and higher levels of air pollution and increased attacks by dogs.
On days that had higher UV levels, they found that the rate of dog bites increased by 11%, while on hot days, they found that the rate of dog bites increased by 4%. On days that saw higher ozone levels, they found that the rate increased by 3%. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that the rate of dog bites actually dropped by 1% during rainy days. The researchers also looked for a correlation between higher levels of fine particulate matter in the air and an increased risk of dog bite attacks, and found that there was no change in the dog bite rates on these days.
The researchers, however, say that the results of the study cannot be taken to prove conclusively that there is a link between higher pollution levels or higher temperatures and increased risks of dog bites. They point to the fact that they had no data on the gender or breed of the dog – two factors that can impact a dog’s risk of biting a person.
A dog bite can result in catastrophic injuries that may require extensive hospitalization, huge medical bills, and even necessitate surgeries. The Atlanta dog bite lawyers at the Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries as a result of the negligence of another. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a dog bite attack, talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages.