A 31-year-old woman was seriously injured in a dog bite incident after she was attacked by two American bull dogs while walking her own pets. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the vicious dog attack occurred in the 200 block of East O Street in Colton, the morning of October 16, 2011. Officials say the woman was walking her dogs with her 11-year-old son when the two loose dogs charged the woman's pets and began to fight with them before turning on the victim. The woman suffered several bites on her chest and one of her legs. Her son used his skateboard to defend his mother by hitting the dogs. He was not injured. The woman was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The dogs' owners have been cited for several municipal code violations.

My heart goes out to this injured dog attack victim. I wish her the very best for a speedy and full recovery. I commend the young boy for bravely defending his mother against the attacking dogs. He very likely saved his mother from further injury by hitting and driving the dogs away.

Dog Bite Statistics

Nearly 5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 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), and American bulldog and Husky (5 percent each).

California Dog Bite Law

Based on this news report, the dogs' owners have been cited for violating various laws including the city's leash laws. Under California law, dog owners, in addition to being criminally prosecuted for negligence that causes injury, can be held financially responsible for the victims' injuries and damages.

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."

Claim for Compensation

In this particular case, the injured woman can seek compensation to cover all medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, cosmetic surgery, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Dog bite victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.

Dog Bite Attorneys in San Bernardino

Laws regarding dog bites in California can be considered strict compared to other states. If you are bitten by a person's dog they can be held liable, even if it is the dog's first offense. Do you feel this is fair? Yes No Depends on the severity of injuries Depends on if the victim is an adult or a child Current Results

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Bob Ferguson, 78, was injured in a dog bite incident in San Jose when he was attacked while walking his own small dog. According to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News, the injury dog attack occurred on December 29, 2010 in the Blossom Hill neighborhood of San Jose. Two large dogs attacked Ferguson causing severe bite injuries to his left ear, head and arm. He was taken to the emergency room for treatment. Officials are investigating the incident as a dangerous dog attack. The boxer and Labrador that attacked Ferguson could be allowed to live if the owner buys liability insurance and takes strict measures to secure the dogs.

My heart goes out to Bob Ferguson for the serious injuries he has sustained. This dog attack could have been a lot worse had a neighbor not intervened and chased the dogs away. I wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. He will be in my thoughts and prayers.

California Dog Bite Law

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." What this law means is that the dog owner whose pet injures someone can be held financially responsible for the attack, regardless of the dog's history when it comes to aggression. The only exceptions are when an animal is being abused or provoked or when a dog bites a trespasser or burglar.

Compensation for Dog Attack Victims

Victims of dog attacks can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, cosmetic surgery or even psychological counseling. Children and even adults who are victims of dog attacks are often traumatized by the attack and require psychological counseling in order to deal with the feelings of fear they experience. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise dog bite victims about their legal rights and options.

Seriously injured in a San Francisco injury accident? 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 San Jose dog attack. Call 800-561-4887. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Francisco personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

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A female pit bull was turned over to authorities after a fatal Orange County dog bite attack where a little terrier was brutally mauled to death. According to a news report in the Dana Point Times, resident Mary Bestgen was walking her terrier on August 10, 2009, near Baby Beach in Dana Point, when a loose pit bull suddenly charged, grabbed the little terrier and began mauling it. A group of men came to her aid and finally freed the terrier from the pit bull's hold.

Tragic Dog Bite Incident

Bestgen rushed her dog to the vet prepared to pay more than $800 for emergency care, but she was told to put her dog down because it was too badly injured. His bones and internal organs were completely crushed. City animal control officials have begun an investigation into the incident. Bestgen said she observed that the dog had a leash, but that no one was holding the leash. A Dana Point city councilman later blogged about this incident calling it "gruesome" and "unimaginable." And in the end, he writes: "Quite frankly, this could have happened to a child just as easily."

As a dog owner myself, I feel for Mary Bestgen, who witnessed her beloved dog being mauled by this pit bull. My heart goes out to her for the trauma she must have gone through.

This incident is another case in point of how certain breeds of dogs, especially pit bulls, can go completely out of control suddenly and without warning. I would be interested to know whether this pit bull had a history of viciousness or a history of attacking other animals or humans. If this had been an attack on a child or even an adult, the dog's owner could be facing criminal charges and civil liability.

California Dog Bite Law

California has what is known as a "strict liability statute" 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."

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured as a result of a dog bite, please consult with a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer, well-versed with dog bite cases, who will explain your legal rights and options. If the dog owner was negligent and that negligence resulted in your serious injuries, the dog owner should be held criminally and civilly liable.

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A 17-month old boy was severely injured in a Los Angeles dog bite attack on July 28, 2009 after the family's pit bull grabbed the toddler by his face and mauled him at their home in Redondo Beach, California. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the dog attack took place when the child reportedly touched or pulled the pit bull's tail. The child's mother pulled the dog's jaw off her son's face and called police. Redondo Beach police officials said the child suffered severe dog bites in the face, puncture wounds and eye injuries. The toddler was taken to an area hospital.

The pit bull was apparently still agitated and remained in a back room of the house. It took two animal control officers to corral the dog as two other police officers stood by. A vicious dog investigation is underway. This attack comes only a week after two loose pit bulls killed a smaller dog, just blocks away, although the two incidents were not connected. In that incident, the pit bulls attacked a young girl walking her dog. When the girl picked up the dog, the pit bulls reportedly pulled it from her arms and killed it.

My heart goes out to the little boy who was so brutally mauled by this animal in his own home. It's indeed fortunate that his mother was able to get the pit bull away from her child. This could have been a lot worse. I wish this little boy the very best for a quick and complete physical and emotional recovery given the trauma he has undergone. Please keep him in your prayers.

Dog Bite Statistics

Pit bull rights activists and other animal rights groups will argue that these dogs are adorable animals that are no less aggressive than any other breed of dog. But statistics tell a different story. 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 fatal dog attacks.

Strict Liability in California Dog Bite Cases

A number of California cities are starting to impose more stringent regulations on pit bull owners including restraining, spaying and neutering, and requiring liability insurance coverage. Insurance coverage is an important issue because in cases where the negligent dog owner does not have liability insurance the dog bite victim is forced to bear the costs and expenses. If your dog bites someone – whether on your property or in a public place – California's strict liability statute states that you will be held liable for that individual's injuries unless he or she was on your property illegally.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries as a result of dog bites or a dog attack, please consult an experienced California personal injury lawyer who will help protect your legal rights and make sure you receive fair compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of reconstructive surgery, lost wages (where applicable) and emotional distress.

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Laguna Hills resident, Dr. Elaine Christian, has filed a Orange County dog bite claim against the city after she was mauled by three bull mastiffs in December. According to an article in The Orange County Register, the California dog bite lawsuit states that the city should have done more to protect her from the dogs. The 61-year-old Christian was the victim of a vicious dog attack on December 18, 2008. Christian alleges that the city was aware of specific incidents that should have prompted an investigation into whether the dogs were "dangerous or vicious" dogs.

The dog owner is identified in the claim as Leslie Rodriguez. The claim also gives several examples of the bull mastiffs' aggressive behavior. The claim includes instances when the dogs were loose in the neighborhood, when a woman was accosted by one of the dogs in her garage and another time when the mastiffs got into a dog fight in Newport Beach. Christian alleges that the city is liable because it was aware of general deficiencies in Orange County Animal Care Services' dealing with dog bites and had noticed the dogs were "potentially dangerous or vicious," but failed to use reasonable diligence to ensure the animals were properly restrained.

Christian says she has suffered extensive physical and emotional personal injuries as a result of the Southern California dog attack with medical expenses amounting to more than $150,000 so far. Among her personal injuries were cuts to the right forearm and left thigh, right and left lower leg, buttocks, right flank and left and right hip. She also suffered several cuts, bruises and puncture wounds all over her body.

California has a "strict liability statute” when it comes to dog bite cases. This essentially means that the dog owner is responsible for personal injuries or damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog in a public place or in private property, provided they are there legally.
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."

If this news report is accurate and if the allegations made in the claim are true, not only the city but also the dog owner should be held liable for the dog bite personal injuries and emotional trauma caused to the victim, Dr. Elaine Christian. The city apparently did very little in spite of the dogs' history of viciousness. This incident need not have happened. It could have been prevented had the city's animal control department taken the appropriate steps and charged the dog owner for negligence.

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Orange County officials have said that a German Shepherd involved in an April 20, 2009 Newport Beach dog attack when it bit a 2-year-old boy, has been released from quarantine and will not be euthanized. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the dog attack injured Connor Errington who stopped to pet the unattended dog that was tied to a tree outside a restaurant. The owner was eating at a restaurant close by. Little Connor suffered significant facial injuries as a result of this dog bite. He had to get several stitches to get the wounds closed up.

The dog was quarantined two days after the Newport Beach dog attack to monitor it for rabies, but as of April 30, 2009, it has been cleared and released. Orange County animal control officials say an investigation into the Orange County dog bite incident is ongoing. They will examine the dog's history of aggression but will wait until the investigation is complete before releasing further details. It's possible that officials will impose steps such as a mandatory muzzle, required liability insurance and "Beware of Dog" signs at the animal's Anaheim home, but it's also possible that no disciplinary measures will be taken.

I'd be interested to find out if this dog had a history of aggression or viciousness. I hope authorities take a closer look at this dog to determine its viciousness.

Connor Errington's family, if they have not already done so, would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County dog bite attorney, who will help protect the victim's rights. California 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."

Note that the law says it is not necessary for the plaintiff in a California case to prove that the dog was known to be vicious or had a propensity to bite. One bite is alone sufficient to support liability. Under California law, all the injured person must prove to recover damages for a dog bite injury is:

• The defendant owned the dog
• The dog bit the plaintiff
• The plaintiff was lawfully on the premises where the bite took place
• The bite caused the plaintiff injuries

Based on the law, there is no question that the dog's owner is liable for the dog attack, the personal injuries Connor suffered and the related damages caused by the dog bite.

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Dog bite fatalities can be found throughout the United States. DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' support group, has released their first three-year report on dog bites in the United States. This report covers the three-year period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008 and analyzes data gathered from 88 fatal dog bite incidents. What did this report find about dog bites in America? Here are the results at a glance:

• Of the 88 fatal dog attacks, pit bulls were responsible for 59 percent or 52 incidents. The data also shows that pit bulls commit the vast majority of off-property attacks that result in deaths.
• Pit bulls are more likely to kill an adult than a child. In this three-year period, pit bulls killed more adults than they did children – 54 percent of those killed were adults.
• Of the six victim age groups documented, the 55 and older group suffered the most fatalities (26 percent) followed by the 2-4 age group (22 percent)
• Based on breed of dog, pit bulls accounted for 59 percent of fatal dog attacks, 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 fatal dog attacks.

Facts and numbers do not lie. It is time that we stop denying this information. California prohibits breed bans. However, a number of California cities and municipalities have started imposing more stringent regulations on pit bull owners such as restraining, spaying and neutering, and requiring liability insurance coverage. Insurance coverage is an important issue because in cases where the negligent dog owner does not have liability insurance the dog bite victim is forced to bear the costs and expenses associated with his or her personal injuries, which is extremely unfair. This study also dispels the myth that pit bulls or dogs in general attack only young children. As California dog bite attorneys, Bisnar | Chase is representing several adult dog bite victims who have undergone severe physical and emotional trauma as a result of such dog attacks. We will not rest until we have obtained justice and fair compensation for these injured victims.

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A 2-year-old boy suffered a severe facial injury in a Newport Beach dog bite incident the afternoon of April 20, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. He is now recovering from a serious dog bite to the face by an unattended German Shepherd at the Newport Pier. The boy apparently had petted the dog, which was tied to the tree without incident while walking by with his parents. A few minutes later, standing about 2 feet away, the child wanted to say goodbye to the dog when it lunged forward, jumped on him and bit the boy without any provocation.

The mother said she kicked the dog in the head to get it away from her son. The German Shepherd dog bite resulted in six stitches. The boy's face was so swollen after the dog attack that it was hard for doctors to determine whether the child's nose was broken. The dog's owner was located and was able to provide documentation of rabies vaccinations. Officials will be placing the dog under quarantine to watch for any symptoms of rabies. A decision on whether to euthanize the dog will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation, Orange County Animal Control officials say.

I'm relieved that little this little boy is recovering from this horrific dog attack case. I hope and pray his dog bite injuries heal and that he also recovers emotionally from this incident. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

I agree with the mother that this owner was irresponsible to leave his dog unattended although it was tied to a tree. I hope Newport Beach police are also looking into whether this German Shepherd had a history of attacking humans or other animals. However, California has a "strict liability statute" when it comes to California dog bite cases, which means a dog owner is responsible for personal injuries or damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog in a public place or in private property, provided they are there legally.

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."

The family would be well-advised to retain the services of an experienced Orange County dog bite lawyer, who can help them protect their son's legal rights and make sure they get fair compensation to pay for medical expenses and future medical treatment if necessary. Bisnar | Chase has represented families of young dog bite victims and we have seen in many cases that children often need plastic surgery to help remedy the scars. In some cases, the scars cannot be repaired. Children and adult dog bite victims also suffer emotionally and psychologically and often need therapy to deal with their fears and apprehensions stemming from the attack.

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