California Injury Blog
At least two dog bite cases have been reported out of Riverside County just over the last few weeks.
According to a KABC news report, a 5-year-old boy in Thermal was bitten on his face and an arm by a German Shepherd mix.
The boy was apparently playing with other children and had converted a discarded weed eater box into a costume.
When the boy took off the costume, the dog
bit the boy at least twice. It is not clear how the dog got loose and ran out of its yard.
In another incident, according to a report in The Desert Sun, a 1-year-old Cathedral City girl was rushed to the hospital after she was bitten in the face by a pit bull. The girl was bitten in her ear, lip and check. She is expected to recover. The girl’s family owned the pit bull and surrendered the dog to the authorities after this incident.
During our more than 35 years of personal injury law practice, our law firm has represented a number of children who have been victims of brutal dog attacks. We wish these two children the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Children and Dog Attacks
According the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. Almost one in five of those who are bitten, about 885,000, require medical attention for dog bite-related injuries and half of these are children.
In 2012, more than 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs. Among children, the rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9. Children are also more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bites.
Liability Issues
If your child has been attacked and injured by a dog, please remember that your child has legal rights. Under California law, dog owners can be held financially responsible for the injuries and damages caused by their pets.
California’s Civil Code Section 3342 states: “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.”
Injured victims of dog attacks can seek monetary compensation to cover medical expenses, hospitalization, cost of cosmetic surgery, psychological counseling, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Injured victims or their families would also be well advised to contact an experienced injury attorney in Riverside County who will fight for their rights and help ensure that there are fairly compensated for their injuries, damages and losses.