Could a retractable leash sever your finger?

I use a retractable leash for Indy and Lennon, but this really made me rethink that decision. Consumer Reports's blog about the dangers of retractable leashes and particularly how one woman lost a finger. Ouch! Apparently there are more than 16,000 leash injuries that send people to hospitals a year, though it's unclear how many are from traditional versus retractable leashes. As many of the commenters pointed out, technically anything can maim or kill you, but in NYC the maximum a leash can be is 6 feet. Maybe for good reason. Be careful dog walkers!