California Injury Blog
Four people were hospitalized with injuries after being attacked in a recreational vehicle by a pit bull who had just given birth to a litter of puppies.
According to a KTLA news report, multiple agencies responded to an emergency call in the Santa Ana River near Wilderness Avenue. When they arrived at the scene, first responders found four victims – three men and a woman – with bite wounds.
All four were transported by ambulance for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Injuries Reported
Officials say the dog first attacked her owner inside the RV and then bit two of the owner’s friends. The fourth victim tried to pull one of the others out of the RV and was bitten on his arms. Graphic photos released by Animal Services revealed a bloody scene with red stains smeared all over the vehicle’s floor and on the grate outside.
Investigators still don’t know what prompted the initial attack but noted that the fact that the dog had just given birth may have been a factor. The dog was surrendered by the owner to animal control officials to be put down. The pit bull’s nine newborn puppies were also euthanized, officials said. The agency would have needed a foster parent right away to bottle feed the puppies or a mother dog that would have just given birth.
This incident comes just two weeks after another dog attack in the area. In that case, a man was fishing on the evening of July 26 when he was injured by two dogs not too far away from the location where this recent attack occurred. The authorities still haven’t located those dogs. Officials are asking anyone visiting the area to exercise caution.
Laws and Liability Issues
Under California law, dog owners can be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages, and losses their pets cause. 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 can seek compensation from the dog owner for damages including medical expenses, lost income, cost of hospitalization, cosmetic surgeries, permanent injuries, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, an experienced Riverside dog bite lawyer can help you seek compensation for your losses and hold the negligent dog owner accountable.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/4-hospitalized-including-dogs-owner-after-being-attacked-by-new-pit-bull-mother-in-riverside-area/