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Assessing the levels of dog bite injuries

On Behalf of | Apr 7, 2021 | Dog Bites |

California residents know that they should be wary of aggressive dogs. Dog bites can affect humans and other animals, and these attacks range in severity from minor annoyances to massive injury or even loss of life. As medical doctors and veterinarians spring into action to treat victims of dog bites, it could be helpful for the layperson to understand the different levels of dog bites.

What are the different levels of dog bites?

There are generally six different levels of dog bites. These include the following:

  • A Level 1 dog bite is one where the dog shows its teeth but doesn’t make skin contact. It’s aggressive, but it’s mostly snarling and barking.
  • A Level 2 dog bite is one where the dog’s teeth make skin contact, but there’s no puncture. These dogs are more aggressive, but they usually don’t go further than a little nipping.
  • A Level 3 dog bite is one where anywhere from one to four of a dog’s teeth puncture the skin with a single bite, and the depth of the bite is less than half of the length of the dog’s canine teeth. This is the level of personal injury where dogs start to become a serious threat to people and other animals.
  • A Level 4 dog bite is one where there are up to four punctures that come about as a result of a single bite. One of the punctures is at least half as large as the length of the dog’s canine teeth. People and animals who receive this level of dog bite often have bruising around the dog bite site if the dog shook its head from side to side as it was biting.
  • A Level 5 bite consists of multiple Level 4 bites and repeated attacks.
  • A Level 6 bite is a bite that results in the death of a human or another animal.

Who can people turn to for help regarding dog bites?

A dog bite can run the gamut from annoying to deadly. People who are unsure about how to recoup compensation may benefit by working with attorneys who have experience handling personal injury cases.

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