California Car Accident Reports

A man has been seriously injured after a dog bite incident in Los Angeles. According to a news report on KPCC's website, the dog attack occurred in the 17300 block of Burbank Boulevard the night of December 13, 2009. The victim, who has been identified only as a man in his 70s, was walking on the sidewalk when two pit bulls escaped from their yard and attacked him. Passers by apparently helped scare the dogs off and rescue the man, Los Angeles police officials said. The man sustained several dog bite injuries on his arms and was taken to an area hospital. He is said to be in stable condition. Animal control officials are investigating this dog attack.

It is indeed fortunate that this elderly dog bite victim was not fatally injured in this attack. This could have been a lot worse had passers by not intervened and chased the dogs away. I wish this injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep him in your prayers.

Dog Bite Statistics Involving Pit Bulls

According to DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims' support group, between 2006 and 2008, there were 88 fatal dog attacks in the United States. Pit bulls were responsible for 59 percent of the incidents, their study found. The data also shows pit bulls commit the vast majority of off-property attacks, which result in deaths and that pit bulls are more likely to kill an adult than a child. During the study period, 54 percent of the fatal dog attack victims were adults. Based on this news report, it appears that the two pit bulls were loose and not restrained by the owner.

Dog Bite Liability Issues

California has a "strict liability statute" when it comes to dog bites and dog attacks. 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."

Under this law, the owner of the two pit bulls here, could be held financially responsible for the serious injuries caused to the victim. I trust local law enforcement authorities will investigate this case thoroughly and hold the dog owner criminally liable, if there was any negligence involved. The victim would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who has an excellent track record of pursuing dog bite cases, to find out more about their legal rights and options.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm 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.