A 5-year-old girl was injured in a San Francisco area dog bite incident involving a vicious dog with a history of prior attacks. According a news report in the Oakland Tribune, the unprovoked attack occurred the afternoon of April 26, 2011. The dog owner, a friend of the girl's family, was visiting the family when the German Shepherd mix named Balto bit the girl on her right ear and severed the tip. The girls' parents took her to a local hospital where she was treated and released.
My heart goes out to this young dog bite victim. It is indeed fortunate that she did not sustain major injuries. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
According to the news report, the dog had a history of prior attacks and will be put to sleep when a10-day quarantine expires May 6. The owner of the dog has said he will not appeal the euthanization. This is also the second dog attack on a child in Fremont in less than a week. On April 25, a 7-year-old girl was bitten by a Labrador retriever mix. She suffered serious injuries such as bites and puncture wounds.
Dog Bite Statistics
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. This dog bite fatality finding is generally consistent with an earlier report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which stated that pit bulls and Rottweilers together account for 60 percent of fatal dog attacks followed by German shepherds.
California Law Relating to Dog Attacks
In this particular case, the dog attacked the child unprovoked and the animal had a history of prior viciousness. 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." This means that in California, dog owners can be held liable for injury or harm caused by their pets regardless of the dog's prior history of viciousness.
Victims' Claim for Compensation
Dog attack victims can seek compensation from the dog owner for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, and even cosmetic surgery where dog bites cause severe scarring. Some scars cannot even be fixed with plastic surgery. Victims or their families would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer to better understand their legal rights and options.
Seriously injured in a San Francisco dog attack case? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a Fremont dog bite incident. Call 800-561-4887. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
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