California Personal Injury Attorneys

I recently came across a horrifying dog bite incident, which occurred in a California dog park that resulted in a small dog being gravely injured and its owners bloodied and bruised. According to a news report in the Patterson Irrigator, a quiet Sunday afternoon walk in the dog park turned into a nightmare for 63-year-old Rachel Newcomb, son Ron Toscano, and her dog, Tiny. The little 12-pound American terrier was suddenly and brutally attacked by a 100-pound pit bull in the dog park. The two children, who brought the pit bull to the park, had no control over the large dog.

Newcomb says what ensued “looked like a scene from ‘Shark Week.’” Tiny was in the pit bull’s jaws, blood dripping from her stomach and intestines hanging out. Both Newcomb and her son tried to pull the dog away. Newcomb says she still has nightmares of a dog’s snapping jaws in front of her face. Toscano, who was just out of the hospital after heart surgery, was bitten in the wrist. The little dog barely survived. The family has spent more than $3,000 for surgery and it’s still uncertain whether Tiny will walk again. The dog rests on a pillow and eats baby food with a tube to drain fluids and a morphine pain patch.

My heart goes out to the Newcomb family for what they have been through. To see your pet being torn apart in front of your eyes is simply gut-wrenching and terrifying. I hope the dog recovers and that Toscano did not suffer serious consequences as a result of the personal injuries he suffered. It is indeed fortunate that no one else was seriously injured. I’m relieved that this did not happen to an infant or a young child in the park.

The story mentions that Newcomb first asked the children who brought the pit bull into the park whether the dog was safe and that the children assured her it was friendly. The children apparently left with the dog soon after the attack and no one has been able to track down the dog or its owner after that. This is scary. That dangerous, vicious dog is still out there in the community. This dog needs to be confiscated and the owner held responsible for this incident.

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 case, Newcomb can seek compensation from the dog owner for vet bills and other incidental medical expenses, and certainly, emotional distress. The family may want to consult a knowledgeable California personal injury lawyer, who has successfully obtained compensation for dog bite victims.

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.