Dogs can be great pets and friends. But dog attacks are also on the rise in the Los Angeles area, and they can cause life-threatening injuries. According to CBS Sacramento, insurance companies in California paid $65,000,000—with the average award being $33,700.00—in dog bite claims in 2013.
News Stories Show How Serious Dog Attacks Can Be
Recent news stories about dog attacks in California shows how severe this problem is. These vicious attacks led to hospitalizations for the victims and in one case, criminal prosecution of the dog owner:
- On October 14, 2014, CBS Sacramento reported that a woman was attacked in her Modesto home by four pit bulls. A relative came to her rescue and was bitten too. Both were hospitalized in critical condition, and the four dogs had to be killed by the police.
- On March 4, 2015, NBC Southern California Local News reported that a woman was criminally charged with three felony counts of “failure to control a mischievous animal” by the Los Angeles District Attorney after her Akita attacked four people in a 1 ½ year period. The dog had viciously attacked a woman in April, 2013, and mauled a seven-year-old boy the following year. Then in November, 2014, the Akita savagely attacked a man, ripping off part of his face. If convicted, the woman could face over four years in prison.
- On February 13, 2015 the Oceanside-Camp Pendleton Patch reported on a tragic dog attack on a boy. A police dog—a Belgian shepherd dog—lived with a Rialto police officer and his family. The police officer left his four-year-old son for a few minutes to go upstairs. When the boy went into the backyard, he was mauled by the police dog. A neighbor heard the boy’s cries and tried to rescue him by prying the dog’s jaw open. The boy was injured so badly that his lower leg had to be amputated. The dog is most likely going to be euthanized.
These are just three news stories; there are many more. As they show, dogs can be vicious and can cause life-threatening and permanent injuries, like the disfigurement of a victim’s face or loss of his limbs. If you were the victim of a dog bite, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional anguish from the dog owner and his homeowner insurance company.
Have you or a family member been injured in a dog attack? Share your experiences in the comments.
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