8-Year-Old Saves His Friend from Violent Dog Attack
An 8-year-old boy from Florida showed tremendous bravery last week when he rescued his best friend from a violent dog attack. Aaron Dingman was playing at his friend Lucas' house, when Lucas' dog lunged at Aaron, mauling his face.
The dog sliced Aaron's face open. When Aaron tried to punch the dog in self defense, it chewed at his thumb. Aaron's hand was torn open by the dog bite. After that, Lucas jumped in and helped his struggling friend, pulling the dog off of Aaron before he sustained any additional injuries. Had Lucas not intervened, the dog may have killed Aaron.
Aaron went to a local hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. He still has not been able to return to school yet. A plastic surgeon treated the lacerations on his face earlier this week, and Aaron has been recovering well.
Lucas' family has decided to put the dog down to prevent other violent attacks. It is uncertain whether Aaron's family will sue to receive compensation for medical expenses and emotional trauma caused by the dog attack.
If you have been the victim of a dog bite attack in the Ft. Lauderdale or West Palm Beach, Florida area, please contact the Law Offices of Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A. today to schedule a consultation.
Labels: dog bite
2 Dogs Get Loose, Attack People at Missouri Mall
Two pit bulls got loose in the parking lot of a Columbia, Missouri shopping mall and attacked several people nearby. Police have confirmed one dog bite victim. He was attacked when he tried to divert the attention of the dogs while they were chasing a woman in the parking lot. Police are expecting to hear reports of other victims shortly.
Police officers shot and killed one of the pit bulls at the time of the attacks. The other dog escaped and is still on the loose. The dogs' owner was arrested and charged with assault and obstructing police operations.
The dog on the loose is a gray pit bull with a white chest. He is believed to be heading towards his trailer park home in Columbia. Police have ordered the dog's owner to notify them immediately if the dog shows up so that they can have it evaluated by animal control.
Dog owners have an obligation to take the proper measures to ensure that their dogs do not attack innocent people they come into contact with. This obligation is heightened when a dog has demonstrated a history of violence or is a breed known for dog bite attacks, such as a pit bull. When dog owners fail to take the proper precautions with their pets, they are guilty of negligence and can be held liable for damages sustained in the dog bite attack.
If you have been the victim of a dog bite attack in the Chicago, Illinois area, please contact the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
Labels: dog bite
New Law Requires Dog Owners to Provide Victims with Information
Ottawa County, Michigan has just passed a new law requiring dog owners to provide dog bite victims with information following the incident. The information exchanged must give the victim the dog's and owner's names, the dog's age, and its vaccine history. This information must be provided at the time of the dog bite incident.
Dog owners who fail to provide victims with this information will face a 93 day jail sentence and/or a $500 fine. If you leave the scene of your dog bite accident, you may also face an additional misdemeanor resulting in 93 days in jail.
The purpose of the law is to facilitate proper medical treatment after a dog bite injury so that the likelihood of contracting a serious disease from the dog is reduced.
If you have been injured in an attack by a dog, it is important to consult an experienced dog bite attorney at once. Often, injuries sustained in dog bite accidents are very severe and may lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement if not treated properly. You may be entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses and psychological trauma caused by your disfigurement.
If you have a dog bite claim in the Flint, Saginaw, or Lansing, Michigan area, please contact the Law Offices of Jay Trucks & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
Labels: dog bite
Young Girl Killed by Dog
Brianna Nicole Shanor, an 8-year-old girl from Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, died Monday after being attacked by a dog.
Shanor had been staying with William Renda, a friend of her mother, for the past month. Renda has several large dogs on the property. The dog that attacked Shanor was a mixed-breed dog weighing over 100 pounds.
Shanor walked past the dog on her way into the house. The dog, which was on a 15-20 foot chain, bit her in several places, including her neck. When Renda went to check on the girl, he found her lying inside a nearby trailer. She was taken to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save her life. The dog has been quarantined after the incident.
Dog bite injuries can be very serious, especially when the dog attacks a young child. If you have been the victim of a dog bite, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. It is also a good idea to consult an experienced dog bite attorney. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries.
It is uncertain whether or not Shanor's mother will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the dog's owner.
If you have suffered injuries from a dog bite in the Columbus, Ohio area, please contact the Law Offices of Robert W. Kerpsack Co., L.P.A. today to schedule a consultation.
Labels: dog bite
When Good Dogs Go Bad
In many states, there is something called the "one-bite" rule for dogs. This means that dog owners are generally not liable if their dog attacks someone, and that dog has been well behaved showing no vicious tendencies in the past. However, with the continuing popularity of animals, and the fact that twice as many Americans own pets as have kids, the odds of being attacked by even a good dog have gone up. Fighting breeds, such as pit bulls, are popular, and though these breeds are illegal in some cities, people still own them. The Lawsuit In Bridgehampton, New York, a lawsuit is before the New York State Court of Appeals involving a Labrador mix named Scooter, Scooter's owner, Juan Abel Mendez, and eight-year-old Danielle Bernstein, whom Scooter bit. Scooter is what we would generally consider a good dog and had never shown any aggressive tendencies in the past. However, in 2003, Scooter was in Mendez's toy store, a place that attracts children, when Danielle walked in. For reasons probably only clear to Scooter, Danielle was bitten in the face. She received 40 stitches as a result of the bite. Mendez was "beside himself" when Scooter bit Danielle. This lawsuit, and lawsuits like it, raises the possibility that one-bite rules in many states will be thrown out and replaced with more stringent laws. Reasons? We hear about stories all the time in which pit bulls, chows, and other "aggressive breeds" maim and kill children and adults. The argument here often comes down to: Is it because these breeds are aggressive, or is it because their owners are irresponsible? Or was the dog being teased? Does the Bridgehampton case rest on theidea that Mendez is a bad owner, or that Scooter was having a bad day? Like people, dogs don't feel like putting on a happy face every day. Maybe Scooter just felt off that day. And breeds smaller than Labradors can’t be overlooked. Breeds, Large and Small We don't often hear about Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, or other small dogs attacking people, but it does happen. People own Labradors more than any other breed because they’re perceived as a nice, kid friendly, outgoing sort of dog in the suburbs. They are also good for bird hunting. Around the time 101 Dalmatians is released, and re-released, kids begin to beg their parents for Dalmatian puppies. The thing about Dalmatians is that they tend to be territorial and can be rambunctious. Put these two qualities in an otherwise "good breed" together with small children, and accidents can occur. What it comes down to is dogs will be dogs, and, though they're considered man's best friend, they are still animals. Even the breeds that have been around people for centuries will display flares of what we, as civilized people, consider violent behavior, but to them it is completely in line with their animal nature. Dachshunds might be a sweet, funny dog, but put your face too close to their mouth while they're playing with a ball, then the same kinds of injuries could occur as with Scooter and Danielle. This is not to say Danielle did something like this. Perhaps she simply tried to pet Scooter. But 40 stitches and a lawsuit later, New York is re-examining its one-bite rule. Reality Because we live in a world where the law of man takes precedence over the law of the jungle, we try to keep dogs' natural tendencies on the proverbial leash. Yet people are still getting bitten. Since we obviously can't take the dogs to court, we have to look to their owners. Dog bites send hundreds of thousands of people to the emergency rooms every year, and oftentimes these occurred with non-aggressive breeds, or pets whose owners swear have never shown violent behavior in the past. Again, the one-bite rule, which many states have, will allow the owners off the hook, but sometimes someone needs to take responsibility. If you find yourself on the receiving end of a dog bite, you do have options. Please contact an experienced injury lawyer to discuss what to do if you wish to take legal action. Labels: dog bite
|
