California Injury Blog

A 12-year-old girl was injured in a dog bite incident in Riverside County, the afternoon of January 29, 2012. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the dog attack occurred near East Rider Street and Evans Road in Perris. Officials have quarantined the pit bull involved in the attack and the young victim has been hospitalized for her injuries. The extent of her injuries has not been reported and it is not clear if the dog's owner will be cited or charged in connection with this attack.

My heart goes out to the girl who has been injured in this dog attack. I wish her the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

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A Moreno Valley woman and her 6-year-old son were injured in a dog bite incident, the morning of January 24, 2012. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the incident happened on Indian Avenue near Sunnymead Boulevard in a residential neighborhood as the woman was walking with her son and pushing a stroller with a young child. It was then that a 120-pound bull mastiff jumped a chain link fence from a nearby yard and began attacking the boy.

Officials say the big dog latched on to the boy's head partially severing his right ear, before biting the woman in her left hip. The child in the stroller was uninjured. The owner of the dog arrived at the scene and took control of the animal. Both, the woman and the boy have been hospitalized with dog bite injuries and are recovering. The dog has been handed over to animal control. It will likely be euthanized, officials say. The dog's owners have not been cited pending an official investigation.

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Dogsbite.org, a national advocacy group for dog bite victims, has filed an amicus brief in a landmark appeals case in Maryland. The case involves the parents of a young boy who are seeking to hold the landlord accountable for injuries inflicted by a tenant's pit bull. According to the brief, which was filed this week, the plaintiffs' hope in this case is to show that landlords can be held liable when their tenant's dog attacks a person. A news release issued by Dogsbite.org states that the group filed the brief with a view to "dispel the many myths about pit bulls perpetuated by pit bull advocates and national animal welfare organizations." In this particular case, Solesky v. Tracey, the claims against the dog's owners were discharged in bankruptcy.

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An estimated 10-20 people are fatally injured each year from dog attacks, with most of the victims being young children. Nationally, around 4.7 million dog bites happen every year. These numbers are shocking, and many are quite honestly, completely preventable. With the rise of pets and overall population density in Anaheim, California, we have seen an increase in dog bite cases with saddening consequences.

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Brothers Richard Garritson, 21, and John Garritson, 18, were severely injured in a San Diego dog bite incident after they were attacked by a pack of dogs, the evening of November 27, 2011. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the brutal dog attack occurred when the brothers were out for a run with their two sisters and 9-year-old niece. The incident occurred on Cobb Lane near Coolwater Ranch Lane. Richard Garritson was airlifted to a hospital with bites to both his calves, while his brother, John Garritson, was hospitalized with less serious injuries. Officials say the brothers were trying to fend off six dogs that attacked them. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to both these men who have been mauled in this dog attack. Apparently, Richard Garritson is a competitive runner who was training to win a scholarship to Cal State San Marcos. Tragic! I pray for both the victims' speedy and complete recovery.

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California is a unique state when it comes to dog bite cases and personal injury. Other states stipulate that there is a "one bite" rule, meaning the first time a dog bites somebody, they have a mulligan of sorts. They have one "gimmie" to put it crudely. California doesn't have this caveat to our dog bite law.

California law says that the first time a dog bites somebody, the dog's owner can be brought up on charges of negligence and endangering individuals. Knowing this simple fact could mean many more dog bite cases in the coming months.

All one needs to prove to have a strong dog bite case is:

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Sadly, dog bites in Orange County are on the rise. It's a fact that while dog ownership has stayed about the same, dog bites and attacks have gone up significantly over the years. A growing population is most likely the cause and over-crowding of neighborhoods and apartment complexes.

Another good website to check out is aboutdogbites.com, which has virtually everything you'd need to know regarding dog bites and dog attacks in Orange County.

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Unfortunately, dog bites are here to stay. Dog ownership has not declined in many years and bite rates have done nothing but gone up. This is most likely due to a growing population and over-crowding of many areas in Orange County. Several cities here are stacked with apartment buildings and apartment complexes which are basically breeding grounds for dog attacks.

Sadly, most of the victims of dog bites are children and even worse, most of the injuries are to their faces and necks. While fairly common, many people are unaware of dog bite cases. There are a few things you should know about dog bite cases in Orange County.

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Dog bites are a serious threat in Orange County. Hundreds of bites occur every year and even more go unreported. Knowing what steps to take in the unfortunate case that you or a loved one is bitten can make all the difference.

The 5 most important steps to take after being bitten by a dog are as follows:

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Although there hasn't been much of an increase in dog ownership, the rate of dog bites in Orange County have risen significantly. Whether this is due to a growing population, overcrowding of neighborhoods, or simply coincidence, it's happening. Dog bites account for about 4.7 million injuries each year in the United States with many more incidents going unreported.

Most of the time, children are the victims of these dog bites with injuries occurring to the face and neck. Adults are also attacked but on a much smaller scale. What people don't know about these injuries is that the victim's are often due large sums of damages.

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It's a sad and unfortunate fact, but dog bites happen every single day to the tune of 13,000 across the United States. Many more happen but go unreported because the victims don't think they have a case against a dog. The truth is, they do.

The dog bite attorneys of Bisnar | Chase have collected millions of dollars for their clients who have been attacked by a dog. However, there are a few things you need to prove before you have a good case.

Continue reading "California Dog Bite Guide" »

Milford Fonza, a 67-year-old retired fire chief, was severely injured in a dog bite
incident in Glendora, early morning on October 10, 2011. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Fonza was walking in the 1600 block of S. Sunflower Avenue when he was attacked by two pit bulls. Fonza told officials he fought the pit bulls for nearly four minutes with his walking stick. He sustained puncture wounds to his arms, legs, torso and groin and also suffered a separated or broken shoulder. Glendora Police Officer Matt Fenner who was on patrol at the time saw Fonza struggling with the dogs. He hit one of the dogs with his car and then shot and killed the other dog as it charged at him. The dog hit by the car also died shortly after the incident. Officials are still looking for the owner of the dogs.

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Although the shores of Huntington Beach are beautiful, dog bites continue to happen and dampen the spirits of the city's residents. The boardwalk and quaint city streets are wonderful places to spend time, raise a family, and enjoy outdoor life, but that can all be ruined with a terrifying dog bite or attack.

It might not seem like dog bites are a regular occurrence, but unfortunately, they are. In the United States alone there are about 4.7 million dog bites every year. That's nearly 13,000 per day! More go unreported as well. Needless to say, Huntington Beach is not immune to that statistic.

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Unfortunately, man's best friend can sometimes turn aggressive and dangerous causing dog bites and dog attacks. Of course we love our pets, but often times, their animal instincts take over and the outcome can be devastating.

Many people don't think these attacks happen very often, but they do. Over 4.5 millions dog bites occur in the United States every year. The victims of these attacks are usually children and the injuries usually occur to the child's face. Some serious cases have even resulted in death.

Continue reading "Dog Bites Becoming A Problem" »

With so many people in one place, it's inevitable there will be dog bites in Huntington Beach. Boardwalks and city streets are prime walking territory for dogs and their owners, and with a growing population, incidents are bound to happen. Dogs are mostly tame, but when provoked, can be lethal.

It might not seem like dog bites happen all that often, but there are over four and a half million dog bites every year in the United States. The rate of dog bites is going up way faster than the rate of dog ownership. This phenomenon has not escaped the attention of Huntington Beach residents.

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David Powell, his daughter and another 6-year-old girl were injured in a San Diego dog bite incident involving a pit bull. According to a 10News report, the dog attack occurred the morning of August 28, 2011 on Auburn Drive, near Euclid Avenue, in the City Heights area. Powell is not the owner of the dog but he was taking care of it at the time of the attack. The dog escaped its chain, jumped a low fence, and attacked the two 6-year-old girls. One of the girls required stitches because of multiple cuts to her face, arms and fingers. The other girl sustained a bite to the neck, while David Powell was bitten on his hand. Officials are investigating the incident.

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Jaqueline Sharp, 46, was seriously injured in a San Bernardino dog bite incident involving two pit bulls. According to KCDZ radio, the dog attack occurred on Balboa in Yucca Valley, the morning of July 25, 2011. Officials say the woman was viciously attacked by the two dogs in a neighbor's driveway. Other neighbors who witnessed the attack restrained the dogs and contacted the authorities. Sharp was severely injured in the attack and suffered multiple dog bites to her arms. It is unclear from the report who owned the dogs, if they had a history of being dangerous, or what they were doing off-leash.

My thoughts and prayers are with Jaqueline Sharp following this horrific dog attack. I wish her a complete and speedy recovery.

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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.

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Emako Mendoza, 75, is in critical condition following a dog bite incident in San Diego when she was attacked by her neighbor's two pit bulls, the morning of June 18, 2011. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the serious injury dog attack occurred on Alleghany Street, near Potomac Street, in Paradise Hills. Mendoza was in her own backyard, when the two pit bulls escaped through a hole in the neighbor's fence and mauled her. She remains in critical condition after one of her legs had to be amputated. Both dogs were euthanized following the attack. The dog owner is under investigation.

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Police have arrested the owners of two dogs that were involved in a dog bite incident in Barstow, which left a 52-year-old woman seriously injured. The victim was walking down Riverside Drive on December 29, 2010 when a Rottweiler and a Rottweiler-pit bull mix lunged at her and bit her on her legs, arms and chest. Neighbor Laura Hamilton saw the dog attack and came to the woman's rescue. She was able to scare the dogs off and rescue the victim with a pickup truck.

Police say that the woman would have died, had Hamilton not rescued her in a timely manner. Police shot the two dogs when they lunged at officers as well. One of the dogs died and another ran away. The severely injured victim is still recovering. The dog owners, 55-year-old Ronald Ferrell and 38-year-old April Hearn, are facing felony charges.

My heart goes out to this injured dog attack victim. Such vicious dog attacks can certainly lead to serious injury or death. I hope this woman's injuries were not catastrophic. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

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