Sacramento Injury Attorneys Blog
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
Articles Posted in Child bit by Dog
California Leads in Dog Bite Claims
Dog Bite Claims in California
A recent study revealed California has the largest number of dog bite claims in the U.S. according to the Insurance Information Institute.
National Dog Bite Prevention Week
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.
Sacramento, CA Ranks High with Dog Attacks on Postal Service Carriers
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.
What if I don’t know who owns the dog that bit me?
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.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
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.
Dog Bite Law and Liability for non-bite Injuries
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:
Dog Attacks on Dog’s Owner
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.
Can a Dog Bite Injury Result in Amputation?
A traumatic dog bite injury can result in amputation of a limb. Often, 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 this kind of life-threatening injury, and it 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 severe dog bite attack.
Can A Dog Bite Break Bones?
Dog bites can cause significant injuries including fractures. Common places that a dog will attack are to the leg, face, hand, or neck. Because a child’s head is close to the level of a larger-sized dog, the head and neck are the most common body parts for a dog bite to occur. The hands, arms, and legs are typical places a dog bite occurs in older children and adults.
The forces of a dog’s jaw and teeth are so strong that they can often crush bones in these places. Fractures tend to be one of the most severe types of dog bite injuries because a victim often has puncture wounds from the dog’s teeth that can become infected on the skin and in the broken bone.