A man sustained serious injuries in a dog bite incident in Los Angeles that involved two loose pit bulls. KPCC Radio reports that the man, who is in his 70s, was walking on the sidewalk along the 17300 block of Burbank Boulevard on December 13, 2009, when he was attacked by two pit bulls. The dogs refused to let go of the man until motorists who were passing by rescued him. Los Angeles police officials say that the dogs escaped from their yard to attack the victim.
I'm glad that this dog bite victim did not sustain fatal injuries in this dog attack. Pit bulls that attack in twos or in packs can be extremely dangerous and can cause devastating injuries or even death. This man was apparently bitten several times on his arms and was hospitalized. But he is said to be in stable condition. I hope and pray that this victim recovers quickly and fully from his serious injuries. He will certainly be in my prayers.
Dog Bite Statistics
According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, pit bulls attack adults nearly as often as they attack children, a characteristic not found in any other breed. The CDC's numbers show that between the years 1979 and 1998 at least 25 breeds of dogs were involved in 238 human dog bite related fatalities. Pit bulls and rottweilers were involved in more than half of these deaths -- about 60 percent.
Dog Owner's Liability
If this news report is accurate, the two dogs that attacked this elderly man were running around loose and were not restrained by the owner. I would question how authorities determined that they escaped from the owner's yard. Was a door left open? Did the dog owner's negligence cause them to leave their home? Have other neighbors seen these dogs roaming the neighborhood on earlier occasions? Have they attacked other smaller pets or other people before this incident?
Despite those questions, it's important to understand that California has a "strict liability statute" when it comes to dog bite. So if your dog bites someone – whether it's on your property or on public property – you could be held liable for the injuries caused. According to California’s Civil Code Section 3342: "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."
An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able advise victims about their legal rights and options in such cases. Dog bite victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, lost wages, emotional distress, pain and suffering and even the cost of cosmetic surgery, which is often required to fix bite marks and scars.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
SLS Consulting