A large dog that officers identified as a pit bull or pit bull mix, bit a man and one of two dogs he was walking in downtown Los Angeles the afternoon of Nov. 28. According to a KTLA news report, officers responded to the scene near East Fifth and Crocker streets. Witnesses said the large dog was running around loose when it suddenly targeted the men and his two small dogs. Police described the attack as “vicious.” The victim was on the ground and other men in the area trued to pull the dog off him, but it would not yield.
The victim was holding one of his pets when the larger dog approached him, bit him and locked his mouth around the other animal’s head. A police officer had to shoot the dog. The victim and his dog were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. They are both expected to recover. Investigators are still trying to determine if the large dog belonged to anyone and if the owner could be subject to charges.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim and his dog. We wish them the very best for a quick and full recovery.
Dog Bite Statistics
According to a study from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, and 800,000 of those bites require medical attention. The U.S. population is approximately 325.7 million people as of 2017. That means a dog bites one out of every 69 people. Pit bulls and rottweilers are among the dogs that attack people most often. Those two breeds are also responsible for a vast majority of fatal dog attacks in the United States.
Law and Liability Issues
Under California’s strict liability statute, dog owners can be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses they cause. This is true regardless of whether the bite or attack occurs in a public or private location or whether or not the dog has committed similar attacks in the past.
Injured dog bite victims can seek compensation for damages including but not limited to medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, scarring, disfigurement, cost of cosmetic surgery, psychological counseling, pain and suffering and emotional distress. In addition to suffering serious physical injuries, dog attack victims tend to suffer major psychological and emotional distress. Injured dog bite victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles dog bite lawyer who can help them seek and obtain fair compensation for their injuries, damages and losses.
Source: https://ktla.com/2018/11/28/dog-shot-by-police-after-biting-man-in-downtown-l-a-police/