Riverside Dog Attack on Sixth Street Sends Woman to Hospital

An unidentified woman sustained facial wounds and a gaping wound to her arm after being attacked by two pit bulls in Riverside this morning.  According to the Press Enterprise, the victim is between 45 and 50 years of age, and she was attacked while walking her dog just before 11:00 a.m. in the 6600 block of Sixth Street.   Reportedly, the woman's small dog was first attacked by the two pit bulls before being picked up and rescued by the woman.  The pit bulls then turned their aggression toward the woman.  A neighbor had to kick one of the dogs to stop its attack, and the other dog had to be pried from the woman's face.  The victim was rushed to the hospital where she apparently remains.  The two pit bulls were euthanized, and the owner is facing charges for having an unlicensed adult dog and for allowing both dogs to stray off of his property.

Dog Bite Liability Law in California

Under California law, the owner of a dog who bites someone is strictly (automatically) liable for the injuries and damages suffered by the victim (California Civil Code Section 3342).  Regardless of whether the dog or dogs have a known propensity for attacking, the owner is liable.  Pit bulls and pit bull mixes are generally known for being aggressive and having a particularly strong bite.  Consequently, a number of homeowners' insurance policies will not provide coverage if the dog is either a pit bull or a pit bull mix.  In simple terms, these insurance carriers do not want the responsibility of paying for what are often very serious, and sometimes life-threatening, bites.

The Injuries and Aftermath

It is not uncommon for the victim of a dog attack to suffer both physical and emotional injuries. Dog bites occur all too frequently here in the United States, and approximately 4.7 million people per year are attacked, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Unfortunately, because facial bites can often be very deep and jagged, the wounds do not frequently heal well and some cannot even be reduced meaningfully by way of plastic surgery.  Aside from that, victims of horrendous attacks like the one above commonly suffer from a number of emotional injuries, similar if not identical to "post-traumatic stress disorder."  

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, call an experienced dog bite attorney who can help assess the potential for recovering compensation for any injuries and damages suffered.  

SOURCE:  RIVERSIDE: Rescuer describes pit bulls’ attack on woman, The Press Enterprise, PE Bloggers, August 12, 2013, by Brian Rokos