California Injury Blog
A man and his pet dog sustained serious injuries in a Long Beach dog bite incident involving a pit bull, The Press Telegram reports. The brutal attack occurred the night of April 6, 2010 near Livingston Drive and St. Joseph Avenue, in Belmont Shore. Officers who responded to the call saw the man who had visibly suffered several dog bites on the ground holding his small dog, which was also severely injured. Officials contacted the pit bull’s owner at his home, to have him surrender the animal to the custody of Animal Control officials.
However, when the owner brought the pit bill out, it escaped out of its collar and charged a woman and her small dog nearby. Officers tried to subdue the dog, but the dog was unaffected and charged toward them. They then had to fire their weapons, striking the pit bull multiple times and killing it. The man, who had initially been injured by this pit bull, was transported to a local hospital as was his small pet. Both are expected to recover.
My heart goes out to the dog bite victim who was apparently attacked by this loose pit bull while taking his dog out on a walk. It is indeed fortunate that his injuries were not fatal. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. He will be in my prayers.
Dog Owner Negligence
In this particular case, it appears that the dog owner was negligent in allowing his dog to roam loose on the street, without a leash. Based on this pit bull’s behavior on the night of the attack, I would not be surprised if neighbors came forward and said that this dog had terrorized them for a period of time. California law states that dog owners are liable for any personal injuries their pets cause, irrespective of the animals’ prior viciousness.
Law and Liability Issues
In California, a person bitten by a dog sues in state court under California’s Civil Code Section 3342 which 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, victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, loss of earnings, emotional distress, cosmetic surgery to repair scars and even psychological counseling. An experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims about their legal rights and options, as well as about filing a claim for compensation. If this pit bull’s owner also owns a home, then his or her homeowner’s insurance should cover the loss and damages.
Do you think dog owners should be required to carry liability insurance to help pay for victims’ injuries? Leave your comments below.
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.