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I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento dog bite lawyer. Dog bite victims describe an attack as a terrifying event. Experience has shown us that an angry or frightened dog can do serious damage when it bites a human being. Please know that if you’ve been recently attacked, you’re not alone.
With Elk Grove’s upcoming Dog Days of Summer Picnic 2015, it’s important to keep the following ordinances in mind for the safety of everyone who attends:
Animals Must Be Licensed
Failure to license an animal in Elk Grove could result in fines and fees up to $500.00.
A recent study revealed California has largest number of dog bite claims in the U.S. according to the Insurance Information Institute.
The number of dog-bite claims nationwide decreased by 4.7 in 2014, however, the average cost per claim increased by 15% from last year. The average cost per claim nationally from 2003 to 2014 has increased more than 45%. The increase in costs per claim over the years is attributed to higher medical costs, larger settlements and awards to victims.
Despite the decrease in dog bite claims nationwide, the study noted that California continued to have the largest number of claims at 1,867 with an average claim cost of $33,649 and a total value of $62.80 million in claims paid out in 2014.
It’s National dog bite prevention week, May 17 – 23.
The CDC reported 4.5 million people in the U.S. were bitten by dogs last year. Most dog attacks happen to children, the elderly and postal workers.
The American Veterinary Medical Association is sponsoring National Dog Bite Prevention Week to help stop dog bites by educating the public about dog behavior and pet ownership. Information provided on dog bite facts and prevention can be found here.
Dog attacks most frequently occur on small children, the elderly and Postal Service carriers. Dog bites to postal workers continue to rise every year. The USPS reported 29 postal workers were attacked while working in Sacramento county last year.
A total of 5,767 postal employees were attacked by dogs last year. Eighty cities comprise the top 30 rankings.
California has 9 cities in the top 30 rankings as follows:
If you were bitten by a dog and don’t know who owns the dog, contact animal control as soon as possible and file a report. You will be required to give them a description of the dog so that they can try to identify the dog and locate the dog’s owner.
Every year approximately 4.7 million people in the U.S.A. are bit by a dog. Most people are bitten by a dog that is owned by either a family member, friend or neighbor. Others are bitten by a stray dog or a loose or lost pet.
The following steps will help increase your change of finding the owner of the dog that bit you:
The most common dog bite injuries can be painful, require long recovery times, and be costly to treat. Some of the most commonly reported injuries that occur as a result of dog bites include:
• Puncture wounds – These wounds, often caused by a dog’s teeth, tend to be deep and therefore prone to infection.
• Facial scarring requiring reconstructive surgery – These procedures are costly and not always covered by insurance. In addition, injuries to the face often cause the victim to undergo emotional trauma.
Other than a dog bite, there are many non-bite injuries that can cause injuries to someone. In California, dog bites fall under strict liability dog bite law. For non bite injuries, a victim can seek compensation from the dog owner under California’s negligence rules.
Some of the ways a dog can severely injure someone include the following:
• Scratching – dog scratches can be minor or severe deep wounds.
Unfortunately, dog attacks on Dog’s Owners continue everyday. It is estimated that approximately 30% of pit bull owners have been killed by their own dog. Despite statistics that certain dog breeds are reported as being more dangerous than others, we continue to hear dog owner’s tell themselves that their family pet would never harm anyone including themselves. We have all heard comments such as “my dog would never bite anyone” or “my dog would never hurt me”. The truth is, dog attacks do occur, even against the pet’s owners. Education is the key to protecting not only the public but also the dog owners and their family members.
Recently, in the bay area of California, it was reported that a 40 year old women was at home, when at some point, she was brutally attacked by the family pet Pit Bull. The dog attacked her face, arms and legs causing life threatening injuries. She was life flighted to the hospital for supportive care.
Most pit bull owners swear that their pet would never attack them. Despite contrary belief, the Pit Bull has demonstrated that it is a more dangerous breed and will attack just about anyone, including their owners and children living in the family home. Oftentimes, after a tragic incident occurs, we hear “it was a freak accident” from the pet owners family members. The graph below by the Center for Disease Control reports fatalities of pet owners continue to rise.
A traumatic dog bite injury can result in amputation of a limb. Oftentimes, losing a finger, hand, foot or leg is not uncommon. In California alone, there have been many severe dog bite attacks where a victim has lost a limb. There are many factors in handling a California dog bite case involving these kind of life threatening injuries and requires the help of only an experienced dog bite attorney.
Recently, in Southern California, a four year old boy had to have his leg amputated (below the knee) after a serious dog bite attack. See full news report here.
Amputation resulting from a dog bite can occur under the following circumstances;
Sacramento Injury Attorneys Blog