A 77-year-old woman is recovering from injuries she suffered in a dog attack after the animals attacked her during a morning stroll. According to an NBC Los Angeles news report, the victim was bitten several times by two dogs. The incident occurred near the intersection of College and Norwood avenues just north of La Sierra University’s campus. Officials said the woman did nothing to provoke the Italian Mastiffs as she walked through a residential area.
Brutal Unprovoked Attack
Officials said both dogs charged and pinned the woman against a fence, inflicting injuries to her hip and neck. The woman was able to break free and get help and the dogs ran back to their owner’s property. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. Animal control investigators found the dogs in the 11000 block of Norwood in a fenced backyard.
The owner apparently told police that her dogs “could not have escaped the yard.” However, officers spotted fresh blood on the driveway and the victim identified the two dogs as the canines that attacked her. Both dogs were seized along with the puppies. A public hearing will determine whether the dogs should be classified as public threats and euthanized or if the owner should get them back on the condition that she keeps them muzzled and contained to the yard.
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.”
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, you may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of cosmetic surgeries, permanent injuries such as scarring and disfigurement, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Injured victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Riverside dog bite lawyer who will help protect their rights and help them seek fair and full compensation for all their losses.
Source: https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Dog-Attack-Riverside-77-Year-Old-494844391.html