Dog bite attacks on the rise: Six signs that a dog may attack.

The Center for Disease Control has released research showing that serious dog bites injuries are increasing. In the first 6 months of 2010, there were 16 fatal dog attacks in the United States. Three more fatal dog attacks occurred in July.

Every year over 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bite injuries. Just over half of dog bite victims are children under 9 years old, and most of the child victims are injured by their own family dogs. In fact, family dogs were responsible for 16 of this year’s 19 dog bite fatalities.

Here are the 6 danger-signs that experts say make a dog more likely to attack. Knowing these signs can help you to avoid dangerous dogs and keep you and your children safe.

1. A dog is in its own yard with no master present. In 2008, 78% of fatal dog bite attacks were from dogs in their own yard.

2. The dog is a Pit bull, Rottweiler, Akita or Chow. These four breeds are responsible for the majority of fatal dog attacks. In 2008, 65% of dog bite fatalities were by pit bulls.

3. There is more than one dog. Dogs have a pack mentality and even normally docile dogs may become uncharacteristically violent or vicious when in a pack. In 2008, 39% of dog bite fatalities involved multiple dogs.

4. The dog is chained or tethered. Dogs that are tied up are often dangerous. In 2008, 9% of dogbite fatalities involved chained dogs.

5. The dog is male. Male dogs are several times more aggressive and more dangerous than female dogs, particularly unneutered male dogs.

6. A new dog or a new household member. Dogs do not like new situations. A new dog in a house should be considered dangerous at least the first 60 days. A person who is new to a household where a dog lives may be in danger of attack for their first 60 days in the home. In 2007 and 2008, one-fifth of fatal dog attacks involved a new person or a new dog sharing a household for a sixty days or less.

Dog bite law in California is complicated. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, contact the Orange County personal injury attorneys at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis and Leslie at 866-981-5596. We can listen to your story and advise you on your rights. For help finding a personal injury attorney, request our free book "Avoid Lawyer Advertising Hype! A Lawyer's Method for Finding a Lawyer."