A 64-year-old woman was hospitalized after she was injured in a dog bite incident on January 1, 2010 in Watsonville, a city in the San Francisco Bay Area. According to a news report in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, the woman was walking in the neighborhood the afternoon of New Year’s Day when a pit bull broke free of a tether in an unfenced backyard and attacked the woman, biting her on her left calf. Officials are considering filing charges against the dog owner.
City’s Dog Bite Ordinance
The owner handed over both his pit bulls and a 6-month-old puppy to authorities. Both dogs will be euthanized. The male pit bull, which attacked the woman, was intact, while the female was unspayed. Investigators are in the process of deciding whether the owner violated state codes or the city’s vicious dog ordinance, which went into effect December 10. Under the new law, if a dog is at large and bites a person, the owner can be charged with a criminal misdemeanor.
California Dog Bite Laws
The victim in this case may seek civil remedy as well. California has a “strict liability statute in dog bite cases. This essentially means that the dog owner is responsible for personal injuries or damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog in a public place or in private property, provided they are there legally. 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.”
Contacting an Experienced Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries as a result of dog bites or a dog attack, please consult an experienced California dog bite lawyer who will help protect your legal rights and make sure you receive fair compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of reconstructive surgery, lost wages and emotional distress. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free and confidential consultation to injured dog bite victims and their families.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.