Dog Attack Statistics And California Laws

The dog Attack statistics show that there are millions of people bitten by dogs every year, this includes bites that are extremely serious, that include as many as 6,000 people that have been hospitalized. One of the highest numbers in the statistics for dog bites are children, and often the canine is a family member, neighbors, or friend.

Dog attack statistics and the California Laws, include the dog attacks that occur in Los Angeles, these dog attacks that include children are in many cases serious, because they receive bites to the face. Statistics show that as many as 77 percent of the dog attacks involving children result in bites to the face, neck and head.

The dog bite attack that involves a child is not only serious, but it can have long lasting affects, including fright, nightmares and fear of canines. Medical costs can be extremely expensive, because not only is there the bite that will need medical attention, but there is often surgeries, including scar removal surgery at a later time after the wounds have healed.

When a child is involved in dog attack statistics and California laws, this means the parents need to be represented by a skilled dog attack lawyer, to ensure their child is protected. This protection includes getting the best possible recovery possible to pay for current medical bills, future medical bills and therapy when needed.

Being a part of these statistics are not fun, and they have the protection of the California laws, because dog owners are held responsible for their pet, even when they are not present when the dog attack occurs. Owning a pet is a responsibility, that includes keeping their dog under control at all times, and making sure, they are up to date on their shots. This is something that the parents of a child bitten by a canine needs to be concerned with, that the animal is up to date on their shots. This because not only are there things like rabies to be concerned with, there are other diseases. Infection is also a large problem with dog bites, it is a myth their mouths are clean and germ free.

When there is a dog bite attack in the city, there are skilled dog attack Los Angeles attorneys. These attorneys understand the California laws that will help to protect the dog attack victim, and provide for their current and future medical bills.

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SUV Rollover Accident Fatally Injures Canine Passenger

March 21, 2009

According to reports there was a SUV rollover accident that fatally injured a dog that was riding in the vehicle when it was ejected.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Denise Quesada the accident occurred in the northbound lanes of the 55 Freeway when a Ford Explored rolled over and ejected the canine that was riding in the vehicle into the southbound lanes. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 50 year old Melissa Donaldson a resident of Long Beach. Donaldson was transported to UCI Medical Center with minor injuries and the canine was transported after being treated at the scene of the accident by Orange County Animal Services. The canine died while being transported for medical treatment according to Ryan Drabeck spokesman for the Orange County Animal Services.

The rollover accident occurred south of Chapman Avenue at approximately 2:58 p.m. in the northbound carpool lane.

Due to the accident a SigAlert was issued for the 55 Freeway and it backed up traffic on both the 55 and the 22 Freeways.

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Man Killed By His Own Bullmastiffs

March 18, 2009 ( by Otto Smyth)

According to reports by Los Angeles personal injury lawyers, the animal services was mauled to death by two bullmastiffs he owned and was possibly trying to breed.

The man whose identity is being withheld until notification of his family members according to an animal services spokesman John Welsh, was a 38 year old man who was found at the rear of his home.

His home was located at 41625 Morningside Court and the authorities were notified at approximately 5:13 p.m. stating that the man was bleeding extensively. Sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez found the man in his back yard, along with two full grown Bullmastiffs.

The male dog a 3 year old Butter weighted approximately 115 pounds and the female a 2 year old Ebony weighing approximately 90 pounds have both been euthanized according to animal services spokesman John Welsh.

The 38 year old mans death has been labeled suspicious and is being investigated as a dog mauling. The is an autopsy scheduled to confirm the cause of death.

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Two Separate Dog Attacks Reported

December 21, 2008 (by Otto Smyth)

According to reports by dog bite lawyers in Los Angeles, there have recently been two separate dog bite attacks, the first occurred in the Rubidoux area.

According to the sheriffs office spokesman Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez the first of the two dog attacks occur on Friday afternoon when a man was taking a smoke break in his backyard when what has been termed family pets attacked and killed the man who has not been identified pending notification of family. The man was attacked by a male and female Pit Bull.

Deputies were contacted and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sgt. Gutierrez it is unclear if the man was the owner of the Pit Bulls. Animal control officer were called and captured the dogs that will be euthinized.

The second dog bite attack occurred in Orange County in the vicinity of Laguna Hills according to County Animal Care Services spokesman Ryan Drabek, three Mastiff’s had to be euthanized after they attacked two people.

It is suspected a gardener might have left a gate open, which is how the dogs became loose, seriously biting a woman and biting a man in the leg when it struck them with a shovel so they would release the woman. The man has been identified as Ed Barnard, who stated the Mastiffs while attacking the woman shook her like a rag doll. This is when he and another neighbor got the dogs off of the woman and when Barnard was bitten in the leg.

The woman who was attack was said not to have life threatening injuries from the three Mastiff’s who weighted approximately 100 pounds each, attacked her.

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Pit Bull Owner Convicted Of Dog Attack On Mailman

October 18, 2008 (by Otto Smyth)

According to reports by California savage dog bite attorneys, Sheri Moody age 54 of Westminster was convicted in an Orange County court after a biting attack on a mail carrier.

After Moody was found guilty of a misdemeanor of owning a vicious animal, which originally was a felony count, has been sentenced to serve either 30 days in jail or she must perform community service. Moody has also been ordered to pay restitution and according to the rules of the three years of probation she has been placed on she will not be allowed to own any canines for three years. Moody must also give up a mixed breed Shepard canine that she currently owns.

The attack occurred in September 4th of 2007 when the mail carrier David Carroll was delivering mail to the house next door to the Moody home when the pit bull attacked Carroll severely injuring him with numerous bites to the face. The pit bull named Maggie was euthanized after the incident.

According to Raymund Diaz this was not the first incident of an aggressive animal owned by Moody, another of Moody’s pit bull mixes attacked a woman in Moody’s home. Moody appealed a decision of the city of Westminster in a decision that had been made to euthanize the canine, whose name was Brutus. Brutus was euthanized and the woman testified in the current trial.
Diaz stated that this conviction and sentencing is the community speaking, if Moody can not control her animals then the court needs to do it for her.
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Jennifer Lopez' Husband Marc Anthony to Be Joined in Dog Bite Lawsuit

September 5, 2008 (by Otto Smyth)

According to reports by dog bite lawyers in Los Angeles, the attorney of flight attendant Lisa Wilson, William Cafaro has stated they will be adding Marc Anthony to the dog bite lawsuit that was filed after Plaintiff Wilson was aboard a private jet in which Lopez, Anthony and their guard dog Floyd were passengers when she was attacked by the canine.

According to court documents filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, Wilson who works for NetJets Inc., had been given instructions how to behave around the dog. Approximately an hour into the flight from the Republic Airport in Farmington, Long Island, N.Y. to Burbank California the dog lunged at Wilson when she was walking past the canine. Floyd attacked Wilson biting her pants leg causing her to fall. According to Wilson and her attorney this caused her to fall injuring her back and has been unable to work.

In the suit Wilson is seeking $5 million dollars in damages from Lopez and Nuyotican Productions a company owned by Lopez.

Marc Anthony is being added to the suit after Lopez’s attorney stated that the dog is not owned by Lopez but by her husband Marc Anthony. Cafaro, Wilson’s attorney stated the issue of dog ownership would be determined in court.

If you or a family member have been the victim of a dog bite attack there are experienced dog bite attack attorneys, in Orange County skilled personal injury attorneys can be reached by calling 888-400-9721. newspersonal injury attorney los angeles.

Dog Bite California Style

Redondo Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Santa Monica, and other Orange County and Los Angeles cities all have one thing in common when it comes to dog bites. Dog bite California Style is the rule of law. The dog bite law in California takes precedence over the "one bite rule," that is used in some other states. The "first bite rule," and "one free bite rule" are all different names for the same legal doctrine that is used in determining if the owner of a dog or other domestic animal can be held liable for injuries that the animal may have caused. This common law protected the dog owner from civil liability if his animal had never bitten anyone before. That is why it is called the “one free bite rule”.

But it was repeatedly argued in court that the name “one bite rule” or “first bite free rule” is wrongly named because when an injury was suffered, the rule didn’t only apply to a dog bite but to other types of injuries as well. It also did not require liability if the owner had prior knowledge the dog had the propensity to bite. But once a dog had bitten the first time, any bites after that, the owner was to be held strictly liable. This actually worked against the owner if the victim was antagonizing the animal or if the dog bit someone while protecting the property or person of the owner. The owner was still liable. Eighteen states in the U.S. use the “one bite rule”. The others have modified dog bite rules.

California Civil Code section 3342 (part a), states the following:
3342. (a) 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. A person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner within the meaning of this section when he is on such property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of this state or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or when he is on such property upon the invitation, express or implied, of the owner.

The above portion of California Civil Code section 3342 is only part of what is known as California’s dog bite rule. The Civil Code makes dog bite California style a liability or Knowledge “scienter” Rule. This “scienter” rule makes the owner liable for any injuries caused by a dog whether he has prior knowledge that the dog might bite or not. Simply stated, the owner is liable just because he owns the dog and is legally responsible for what it does. Some owner protections do apply in certain circumstances however, such as if the dog-bite victim was trespassing or not or the dog was provoked.

In all dog bite cases, consulting a California Dog Bite lawyer is highly recommended.
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