California Injury Blog
Two loose pit bulls killed a cat, chased a woman and bit a man the morning of June 23, 2017. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, several eyewitnesses contacted police to report that two dogs had killed a cat in the 3100 block of South Lowell Street. Police said the dogs then went after a woman, but she managed to run away. That’s when they tried to attack a small dog that was being walked by a man near Alton Avenue and Bristol Street.
The man then got between his dog and the attacking dogs and wasinjured. His injuries are not believed to be serious, but he was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Officers took the dogs and they were going to be sent to animal control authorities. Officials are also trying to find the dogs’ owner.
It is indeed fortunate that no one was seriously injured in this dog bite incident. We wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Dangerous Dogs
A five-year review of dog-bite injuries from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, published in 2009 in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, found that almost 51 percent of the attacks were from pit bulls, almost 9 percent were from Rottweilers and 6 percent were from mixes of those two breeds. In other words, roughly two-thirds of the hospital’s dog-attack injuries involved just two breeds, pit bulls and Rottweilers. Other studies confirm these statistics. A 15-year study published in 2009 in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology revealed that pit bulls, Rottweilers and German shepherds were responsible for the majority of fatal dog attacks in the state of Kentucky.
Laws and Liability Issues
Under California’s strict liability statute, 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 of dog attacks can seek compensation for injuries including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, cosmetic surgery, psychological counsel, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and help ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected.