Eight-year-old Jak Allen and his little brother, 4-year-old Lucas, were injured in a California dog bite incident as they were playing in their front yard in a Sacramento neighborhood. According to a recent news report in the Sacramento Bee, the dog attack occurred the night of August 19, 2009 as the mother of the boys, Elizabeth Allen, with Jak and Lucas close to her, was chatting with a neighbor who had brought her leashed Rottweiler along.
The dog suddenly attacked Lucas who had been walking in its direction, and gripped him by his throat. Elizabeth tried to pry the dog's jaws off him, but the dog charged at her. When Jak leaped forward to help his mom and his younger brother, the Rottweiler clamped down on his right arm. The dog's owner pulled the leash, but it didn't help. Jak had deep wounds to his right arm and Lucas suffered severe cuts that required 100 stitches and three days in the hospital.
My heart goes out to the Allen family for all the trauma and pain they have suffered. A dog attack not only results in serious personal injury, but also has an impact on victims' emotional and psychological well-being. I hope and pray that Jak and Lucas have a quick and complete physical and emotional recovery from their serious dog bite injuries.
National Dog Bite Statistics
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 3.5 million children in the country are bitten by dogs. The CDC estimates that by age 12, half of all children in the United States will have experienced a dog bite. Annually, there are about 4.4 million dog attack injuries in the United States of which 800,000 require medical attention. According to CDC statistics, pit bulls and Rottweilers account for more than half of all dog bite fatalities in the United States.
In this particular dog attack case, it seems to me that the Allen family got along and probably still gets along well with their neighbor, the dog owner. However, the father, Kenneth Allen, raises a very important point here. He tells the newspaper that for the safety of the community "people should not have dogs or walk dogs they cannot control." This Rottweiler was absolutely out of control and it is fortunate that the mom was able get her boys away from the dog and get out of there. This incident could have been a lot worse.
I know the family will now be facing enormous medical expenses, including the cost of reconstructive surgery to mend the scars. In some of these dog bite cases, the scars are irreparable and children live with them for a lifetime.
California Dog Bite Law
California has a strict liability statute when it comes to dog bites. In California a person bitten by a dog sues in state court under 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."
In such dog bite cases, victims are able to seek compensation to cover all medical costs, including cost of cosmetic surgery and psychological counseling. The Allen family would be well-advised to consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer who can explain to them their legal rights and options. The best personal injury law firms always offer a free and comprehensive initial consultation to injured victims and their families.
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 source for the facts 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, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.
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