When dogs attack, they can cause injuries ranging from minor to extremely severe, catastrophic and even deadly. When determining the severity of a dog attack, behavioral experts and dog bite injury attorneys in Houston recognize six levels of dog bites based on a classification system created by Dr. Ian Dunbar.
What Are the Six Levels of Dog Attacks?
The Dunbar Dog Bite Scale is a dog bite injury classification system. Dog attacks are more severe as the levels increase under this assessment. Level 1 can describe any obnoxious or aggressive dog behavior, while Level 6 is reserved for fatal dog attacks. This scale is often used by insurance companies and legal professionals in Texas to assess the severity of a dog bite incident.
Level 1
An incident where a dog behaved aggressively but there was no contact between the dog’s teeth and the victim’s skin. Aggressive behaviors can include loud barking, growling, snarling, gnashing of teeth, lunging or stalking. Level 1 scenarios are typically pre-bite or near-bite incidents.
Level 2
Level 2 describes a minor dog bite. At this level, a dog’s teeth made contact with a victim’s skin but did not puncture or penetrate the tissues. There may be bruising, redness, slight scrapes (less than one-tenth of an inch deep) or bleeding, but no vertical puncture wounds. Level 2 dog bite injuries are superficial.
Level 3
The dog bite victim suffers one to four puncture wounds from a single bite, with no puncture penetrating deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. No significant tissue or nerve damage is caused by a Level 3 dog bite, but it can still threaten the victim’s health and require professional medical attention.
Level 4
A dog bite that leads to one to four puncture wounds from a single bite, with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. Unlike a Level 3 dog bite, where the victim may have lacerations in a single direction, a Level 4 may involve lacerations in both directions (often caused by a dog biting down and shaking its head back and forth).
Level 5
More than one dog bite wound and at least one Level 4 bite present, or multiple attacks with at least one Level 4 bite injury per attack. Level 5 dog bites on the Dunbar scale often involve extensive damage to skin and muscle tissues, as well as potential injury to the underlying nerves and bones. These injuries can cause permanent disfigurement, scarring or disability.
Level 6
Any dog attack that causes the victim’s death by inflicting fatal wounds. These tragedies take the victim’s life, showing that a dog is extremely dangerous and a threat to public safety. After a Level 6 dog attack, the dog will face euthanasia.
How Does Dog Bite Level Affect a Victim’s Legal Rights in Texas?
If a dog attack is placed at Level 4 or higher on the Dunbar scale, the dog will most likely be deemed “dangerous” by local animal control authorities, meaning it has vicious or aggressive tendencies. This can result in special rules and regulations for the owner to prevent future incidents, such as a requirement to muzzle the dog before leaving the house. Violating these requirements can make the pet owner liable for related attacks.
It is possible to file a dog bite injury claim in Texas following any level of injury if the victim suffered compensable losses or damages, such as medical costs or pain and suffering. However, dog bites that fall higher on the Dunbar scale may result in greater financial compensation awarded to the victim due to a greater level of harm suffered.
If you or someone you love has suffered any level of injury in a recent dog attack in Texas, don’t hesitate to contact Hill Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys for a free legal consultation. We will review your case to help you understand your financial recovery options.