California Injury Blog
Los Angeles County Dog Attack Injures Three
Three people including a 79-year-old woman were injured in a Los Angeles dog attack, KTLA News reports. The incident occurred on March 19, 2009 in the 11900 block of Hiawatha Street in Chatsworth when the elderly woman with a walker was attacked by two large boxer dogs. The dogs bit the woman and knocked her to the ground. Two men, who heard her screams for help, tried to get the dogs away from her. The dogs attacked the Good Samaritans as well.
One of them – a 58-year-old man – was bitten on the right wrist and suffered “serious injuries that are potentially debilitating,” according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials. Another 51-year-old man got a three-inch cut on his arm as he struggled with the dogs. Firefighters eventually managed to confine the dogs to a nearby yard. The animals have been impounded and the dogs’ owner has been identified but not cited or arrested.
I’m extremely relieved that this vicious dog attack did not result in any fatalities. I shudder to imagine what might have happened to the elderly woman had it not been for these two men who came to her rescue. They are the real heroes here and I commend both for their courage in trying to stop this Los Angeles dog attack. I wish all three of the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
I also hope that the dog owner here is held accountable for his or her negligence. Clearly, this horrific dog attack occurred because the two large dogs were running around loose in the neighborhood. Because of this dog owner’s negligence and failure to confine the boxers, three people have been injured. One of the victims has been seriously injured and officials say those injuries are potentially debilitating. This dog owner must be held civilly and criminally responsible for what happened to these unsuspecting victims.
In California, dog owners are liable for damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog “while in a public place or lawfully in a private place.” California’s Civil Code section 3342 also states that the dog owner is liable irrespective of whether he or she knew that their dog was vicious or dangerous. This is known as the “strict liability statute.”
The injured victims in this case should be contacting a reputed Los Angeles dog bite lawyer who will pursue the dog owner and get them the justice and compensation they deserve. Such compensation will reimburse the victims for medical expenses, lost wages, future medical treatment, emotional distress and other damages suffered as a result of the dog attack.