California Injury Blog
A toddler was severely injured in a Riverside County dog attack after his family’s pit bull attacked him and ripped off his ear.
According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the dog attack occurred the morning of November 5, 2014 in the backyard of a home on Pontiac Avenue in Jurupa Valley.
The child, who is 18 months old, was
being watched by his grandma, when he was attacked.
The ended up outside the backyard with the dog when his grandmother thought he was taking a nap. The dog ripped off the child’s left ear. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment. The dog was put down. The dog’s owner said there had been no prior incident with the animal. The incident is still under investigation.
Dog Attacks and Children
According to Dogsbite.org, there were 32 dog bite fatalities in the United States in 2013. Pit bulls contributed to 78 percent of these deaths while making up only 6 percent of the total U.S. dog population.
Together pit bills and rottweilers accounted for 81 percent of the total recorded dog attack deaths in 2013. This same combination also accounted for 74 percent of all fatal dog attacks during the nine-year period between 2005 and 2013.
Preventing Tragic Incidents
Researchers say that a number of serious and deadly dog attacks involving young children occur when a child is visiting or living temporarily at the home of a relative or family friend who owns a pit bull or rottweiler. There are several steps we can take to ensure that our children are safe:
• Do not leave an infant or toddler alone with any dog • Avoid new or temporary situations involving children and dogs • Do not allow your child to approach a chained dog • Avoid encounters with a pack of loose dogs • Do not allow your child to approach a vehicle with a dog inside.
• Children should not pet strange dogs or lean their faces close to dogs • Never startle or tease a dog that is sleeping or nursing puppies
Understanding Your Rights
If your child has been bitten by a dog, please understand that he or she has legal rights. Under California law, dog owners can be held financially responsible for injuries and damages caused by their pets. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, hospitalization costs, expenses for cosmetic surgery, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
An experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.