A man whose dog was being attacked by two pit bulls suffered severe dog bite injuries that required surgery. The incident happened recently on Catalina Island when the injured victim was walking his small dog on the pier. Authorities said that a dog fight ensued among the pitbulls and the small dog and that the victim tried to break up the fight when the pitbulls bit him several times. The dogs have been quarantined while the incident was still being investigated.
Dog Bite Statistics
Dog attacks have grown in the U.S. in recent years. The Center for Disease Control said that over 4.5 million dog bites have been reported every year, causing 750,000 injuries. Just last year, there were 31 fatal dog bite injuries, killing 13 children and 18 adults.
Who Is Liable for Dog Bite Injury
California has a strict dog bite liability statute which makes a dog owner legally responsible for any harm caused by their dog. The owner’s liability subsists regardless of the dog breed or the degree of care that the dog owner exercised in restraining their dog.
Injuries Arising from Dog Bite
Depending on the type of dog and its training, a dog bite can produce at least 150 pounds of pressure per square inch, causing not only lacerations and deep wounds but crushing injuries on the bitten area. This is why surgery is often required to close the dog bite wounds.
Other types of injuries arising from a dog bite include:
- Facial lacerations
- Rabies infections
Rabies can be particularly dangerous because it causes severe neurological injury and can be fatal.
First Steps after Dog Attack
If you or a family member has sustained severe dog bite injury, the first thing to do is to get appropriate medical treatment. The next important step after a dog attack is to seek the legal advice of an experienced personal injury attorney. Your lawyer can evaluate your situation and guide you on your next steps for recovering compensation. Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to past and future medical bills, lost wages, and damages for anxiety, shock, fear, pain and distress.
In Northern California, the personal injury attorneys of Redkey Gordon Law Corp have over 25 years of combined experience, helping injured clients receive treatment from qualified health care providers even without insurance coverage. Our Firm works very hard to produce the best outcomes on all our clients’ legal claims. Call us today at (209) 267-1685 to arrange for a free consultation.