California Injury Blog
A 12-year-old boy suffered major injuries after a dog attacked him. According to a report on Patch.com, the dog bite incident occurred on the evening of Sept. 15 inside a fenced property in the 1500 block of North Alessandro Street. Officials said the boy lives at the property and had played with the dog in the past. The attack happened as two men working to change a truck battery next door heard what sounded like a pig squealing.
Brave and Timely Rescue
When they ran over to check, they saw the 10-year-old female pit bull holding on to the boy’s right arm and a woman hitting the dog with a broom. One of the men reached over the short fence to grab the dog’s hind legs, which the other man put his arms around the animal’s neck. The pit bull finally released the child.
Officials said the men likely saved the boy’s life. One of the men told officials that the dog was attacking the boy so ferociously that it looked like the animal was trying to eat the child. Emergency responders took the boy to a local hospital to treat severe wounds on his right arm and right leg. It is believed the child was released from the hospital.
The animal’s owner was not home when the attack happened. The dog was not spayed, officials said. It is not clear if the owner will face negligence charges. County animal services and Banning police are investigating the incident.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the seriously injured child. We wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. We commend the actions of the good Samaritans without whose help the boy may have been very badly injured.
Liability Issues
Under California’s strict liability statute, dog owners can be held liable 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.”
In such cases, dog owners can be held financially responsible for damages such as medical expenses, hospitalization, cost of surgeries, rehabilitation, expenses relating to cosmetic surgery and psychological counseling, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Dog attack victims would be well advised to contact a Riverside dog bite lawyer who will help them seek and obtain maximum compensation for their losses.
Source: https://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/12-year-old-banning-boy-suffers-serious-injuries-dog-attack