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

Toddler and Orange County Woman Victims of Pit Bull Attacks

A toddler living in Norco was attacked by the family pit bull yesterday, May 28th.  According to the Press Enterprise story, the young girl was fortunate in that she escaped any major bite wounds.  The 19-month-old girl apparently got out of the house and into the back yard when a babysitter opened a sliding glass door to air out the house.  The dog was reportedly dragging the little girl through the yard when the babysitter looked outside.  The toddler was taken to the hospital with what appears to have been moderate injuries, and the dog was quarantined by Animal Control, which is standard procedure in such instances.

See the Press Enterprise story HERE.

Just about one week before the incident above, on May 20th, a 54-year-old woman was attacked just outside her Garden Grove home by a pit bull mix.  The dog, belonging to a neighborhood resident, attacked the woman's 7-week-old puppy and, when the owner attempted to intervene, she was viciously attacked.  Neighbors made numerous attempts to end the attack, but were only successful after sticks and a garden hose initially failed.  The puppy was treated for very serious wounds at a local animal hospital, and the owner likewise received emergency medical treatment at Garden Grove Hospital for wounds to both hands, as well as one arm and her torso.  The Orange County dog bite victim has since retained the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph to represent her interests in the case.

Compensation for the victims of dog attacks should be an important concern for all Californians.   When an innocent victim is bitten and seriously injured by a vicious dog, 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 attorney 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 pit bull 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.