The family all have fixed fangs in their mouths. Other members of that family include the Black Mamba of Africa, the King Cobra of Asia and the Tiger Snake and Taipan of Australia. Those snakes have earned their horrendous reputations. Thousands of people have died from their bites. But, those snakes also are much larger and have more toxic venom than the shy, retiring coral snake.
Corals usually are less than three feet long.
Their heads are too small to allow for very large fangs. So, the average coral can't bite through shoe leather. By contrast, the King Cobra can reach 18 feet and has formidable fangs. The Black Mamba averages 10 feet and, unlike most snakes, is extremely aggressive and will actually charge at humans. All this does not mean that one should pick up a coral snake bare-handed and put it in a pocket.