California Injury Blog
Jesus Martinez, 57, and a police officer were both injured in two separate dog bite incidents involving the same aggressive pit bull. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the dog attacks occurred near State Street in Montclair, the morning of July 9, 2011. Martinez was out walking his dogs when a pit bull attacked him and bit both his arms. A couple of police officers tracked down the dog. The pit bull attacked the officers as well. One of the officers suffered bites to his left hand and his left thigh. The second officer fatally shot the pit bull during the attack. Martinez was treated at the scene of the incident and the officer was treated at a nearby hospital. It is not clear who owned the pit bull.
My thoughts and prayers are with Jesus Martinez and the officer injured in this San Bernardino dog attack. I wish them both a complete and speedy recovery.
Pit Bull Attack Statistics
Any dog can be dangerous and attack at any time, but pit bulls are particularly dangerous because of their size and strength. According to the dog bite victims’ advocacy web site, Dogsbite.org, of the 33 fatal dog attacks in the year 2010, 22 incidents involved a pit bull. About 71 percent of all fatal dog attacks between the years 2005 and 2010 involved a pit bull or Rottweiler. Dog attacks can also result in serious or catastrophic injury to victims.
California Dog Bite Law
California has a strict liability statute when it comes to dog attacks, which means that dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their pets. Under California Statute 3342: “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.”
Liability Issues
Dog bite victims may seek financial compensation for damages and losses including, but not limited to emergency room bills, cost of surgery, other medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Injured victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino dog bite lawyer who will help hold the negligent dog owner accountable.
Seriously injured in a San Bernardino County dog bite incident? 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 Montclair dog attack. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys San Bernardino 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.