Personal Injury Lawyer Report » Dog Bite

2-year-old Killed in Dog Attack

Lorraine — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:59:07 +0000

A toddler who was fatally injured in a dog bite incident in the San Francisco Bay Area the morning of July 22, 2010 has been identified by local authorities as 2-year-old Jacob Bisbee. The Contra Costa Times reports that the fatal dog attack occurred in the family's home when Jacob walked into the garage and was attacked by three pit bulls belonging to his step-grandfather, 52-year-old Steven Hayashi. Jacob died at an area hospital. Hayashi has been arrested in connection with the incident on child endangerment charges.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the parents and family members of Jacob Bisbee. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.

Dog Bite Law

According to numbers released by Dogsbite.org, pit bulls and Rottweilers accounted for 70 percent of all dog attacks causing serious personal injuries or fatalities in the United States over the last five years.

In this particular case, the attacking dogs were owned by a family member. Under California law, if your dog attacks and injures another person, the dog owner can be held liable. California has a "strict liability law" when it comes to dog bites. California’s Civil Code Section 3342 states: "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness."

Compensation Issues

It would be in the best interest of an injured dog bite victim to seek the counsel of an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will hold the negligent dog owners accountable. In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages (where applicable), cost of hospitalization and even cosmetic surgery and psychological counseling.

Do you believe pit bulls should be banned in California or nationwide? We would like to hear your opinions on this important issue.

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

2-year-old Killed in Dog Attack is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Report

Long Beach Dog Attack Causes Serious Injuries

Ron — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:54:44 +0000

A man and his small dog were seriously injured in a Long Beach dog bite incident involving a pit bull. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the horrific attack happened near Livingston Drive and St. Joseph Avenue the night of April 6, 2010. The man and his dog were on the roadway when officers arrived. Both were severely bitten. When officers contacted the pit bull owner and attempted to confiscate the animal, the pit bull lunged at the officers. At that time, police shot the dog and killed it. The man and his pet were hospitalized with injuries, but are expected to survive.

I sympathize with this innocent victim who was doing nothing more than walking his dog in his neighborhood. I hope he has a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this injured victim in your prayers.

Unleashed Dog

Based on this news report, it appears that this aggressive pit bull was running loose in the neighborhood without a leash. It wasn't until police approached the dog owner that he actually leashed his dog. California law states that dog owners are liable for any personal injuries their pets cause, irrespective of the animals' prior viciousness. According to California’s Civil Code Section 3342 which states: "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness."

Claim for Compensation

Injured victims in dog bite cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, loss of earnings, emotional distress, cosmetic surgery and even psychological counseling. Victims or their families would be well-advised to contact an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer who can advise them about how to file a claim for compensation. In California, the dog owner's homeowner's insurance will also cover damages in dog bite cases.

What are some tips you would give to dog owners to prevent their dogs from attacking others?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Lawyer Report" They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

Long Beach Dog Attack Causes Serious Injuries is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Report

Girl Injured in San Bernardino Dog Attack

Ron — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:06:29 +0000

A toddler sustained serious injuries in a dog bite incident on March 1, 2010 involving a pit bull. The San Bernardino Sun reports that the 4-year-old girl was visiting her uncle at his apartment in the 1600 block of E. Kingsley Ave. in Pomona where the dog attack occurred. Authorities say the girl may have surprised the sleeping dog. The pit bull bit the girl on the face. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The dog was neither licensed nor had current rabies shots. The pit bull was taken into custody by animal control officials.

Frightening Attack

I sympathize with this little girl and her family for what they are going through now. I hope and pray that the girl did not suffer serious disfigurement or deep scarring that cannot be fixed by cosmetic surgery. A number of young victims mauled by dogs do live with their physical scars for the remainder of their lives. I hope this child has not sustained any catastrophic injuries and pray for her quick and complete recovery.

This news report does not clearly state who was watching the girl at the time of the attack. We also do not know how the dog got provoked or whether the pit bull had any prior history of aggression.

Dog Bite Statistics

Despite what pit bull activities say, statistics show that these animals are prone to be aggressive. According to Dogsbite.org, a Web site for dog attack victims nationwide, of the 88 fatal dog attacks in the United States in a three-year period between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, 59 percent or 52 incidents involved pit bulls followed by Rottweilers (14 percent), American bulldog and Husky (5 percent each). This dog bite fatality finding is more or less consistent with an earlier report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which states that pit bulls and Rottweilers together account for 60 percent of all fatal dog attacks.

Claim for Compensation

California has what is known as a "strict liability statute. What that means is if you are a dog owner in California and if your dog bites someone, then you are liable for the injuries caused. If the dog owner also owns a home, then his or her homeowner's insurance should cover the loss and damages just as an at-fault party's car insurance covers damages in a car accident. An experienced California personal injury lawyer can help injured victims and their families obtain fair compensation to cover medical expenses, hospitalization costs and cosmetic surgery expenses in such dog bite cases.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

Girl Injured in San Bernardino Dog Attack is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Report

Terrier Injured in Pit Bull Attack

Lorraine — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:45:40 +0000

There was a report of a terrifying dog bite incident at a dog park in Patterson, California, which almost killed a little dog. The Patterson Irrigator reports that 63-year-old Rachel Newcomb and her son Ron Toscano, took their 12-pound American terrier, Tiny, for a walk in the dog park. Without any warning, a large pit bull brutally attacked Tiny, taking the terrier in its jaws and tearing it apart.

A Horrible and Bloody Attack

Newcomb says the scene was horrible and bloody, with the pit bull ripping apart the terrier's stomach and intestines. Newcomb and Toscano battled with the pit bull to get their dog back. The pit bull then turned on Toscano, who was recovering from heart surgery, and bit him on the wrist. The two children who brought the 100-pound pit bull to the park were not able to control the dog at all. So far, Tiny has undergone $3,000 worth of surgery. Doctors say the dog may not be able to walk again.

I deeply sympathize with this dog owner for the horrifying experience she went through. I hope Toscano's injuries were not serious. I'm glad that no other children or adults suffered serious personal injuries during this vicious dog attack.

California's Dog Bite Laws

In the state of California, dog owners are responsible for injuries caused by their pets – be it in public property or private property. The only exception is when the victim is trespassing, for example, trying to commit an assault or burglary. California’s Civil Code Section 334 states: "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness."

In this particular case, officials have not been able to track down the pit bull or its owner. I fear for the neighborhood or the community where this dog is still roaming around. There's another dog attack waiting to happen. In such dog attacks authorities should confiscate the dog and penalize the owner. In this particular case, Newcomb could seek compensation to cover medical expenses and emotional distress. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to help dog bite victims with their claim for compensation and better explain their legal rights and options.

Terrier Injured in Pit Bull Attack is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Report

Toddler Mauled to Death in San Francisco Area Dog Attack

Lorraine — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:51:47 +0000

A toddler suffered fatal injuries in a San Francisco area California dog bite incident. According to a KSEE news report, the fatal dog attack happened on October 23, 2009 in a Delhi home when a 1-year-old child being watched by a babysitter was suddenly attacked by the sitter's pit bull. The 65-pound dog then grabbed the child by the throat and dragged him around the yard.

The babysitter apparently tried to get the dog to let the child go by stabbing it several times with a fork. Finally, she called 911 and the child was soon rushed to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The babysitter is not facing charges yet pending an investigation.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of this child, especially his grieving parents. This family will certainly be in my prayers.

Dog Bite Statistics
According to Dogsbite.org, an advocacy group for dog bite victims, in 2005, out of 28 U.S. fatal dog attacks in 2005, the most fatalities were in California (four incidents), followed by the states of Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Virginia, with three incidents each. Of the 28 fatalities, pit bull type dogs were responsible for 57 percent. It is estimated that pit bulls account for about 2 to 9 percent of the American dog population. Here is another telling statistic: Pit bulls and rottweilers together account for 75 percent of all fatal dog attacks in the United States. The report also finds that 46 percent of the attacks happened to children 11 years and under and 46 percent happened to adults 21 years and older.
California Dog Bite Victims Have Rights

Based on this news report, the babysitter could be held liable for the child's fatal injuries because she was caring for the child at the time and more importantly, because it was her dog that fatally injured the child. California's strict liability statute (California’s Civil Code Section 3342) states: "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness."

The parents of this child would be well-advised to consult with an experienced
personal injury attorney in San Francisco, who has successfully pursued negligent dog owners on behalf of injured victims and their families.

Toddler Mauled to Death in San Francisco Area Dog Attack is a post from: Personal Injury Lawyer Report