Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States (2000-2009).

Objective: To examine potentially preventable factors in human dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs) on the basis of data from sources that were more complete, verifiable, and accurate than media reports used in previous studies.

Design: Prospective case series.

Sample: 56 DBRFs occurring in the United States from 2000 to 2009.