3-Year-Old Girl Badly Bitten By Dog In Inland Empire

On Easter Sunday, a little girl in the Inland Empire was attacked by a rottweiler-mastiff mix.  The 3-year-old girl, Hayleh Harger, received such serious bites she had to be transported by air to Loma Linda University Medical Center.  According to KTLA news, the wounds on Hayleh's head and face required 100 stitches and staples to close.  Hayleh's mother, Debra, found her daughter in the dog's mouth and is the one who rescued the 3-year-old from further harm.  The dog had apparently been brought over to the Hargers' house by a neighbor who was watching the dog for a friend.  The owner of the dog is being sought by authorities and, the animal may have to be euthanized, according to officials.  


See the KTLA news story and photograph HERE.


All too often dogs attack small victims, particularly children.  When the bite or bites are to the face or head, the result can be especially devastating.  Aside from the pain of the injuries when they occur, there is sometimes the long-lasting injury to the child's emotions.  A dog attack like the one above can leave a young child physically and emotionally scarred for years.  Plastic surgery may help to erase the physical scars, but the emotional injuries may be even harder to remedy.  For these reasons, and others, dog owners are strictly (automatically) liable when their animal bites someone, regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten anyone else in the past.  While there are defenses available to the dog owner, such as assumption of the risk, the majority of the time the owner is found wholly liable for the injuries and damages to the victim.


Compensation for the victims of serious dog attacks should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a child is bitten and seriously injured, the dog’s owner should be held accountable for all of the injuries and damages suffered by the victim and their family. An Orange County dog bite lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.


Have you or a family member been the victim of a dog attack?


Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.