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Tag Archives: dog attack

December 15, 2016 News
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Another pit bull dog attack leaves victim with devastating injuries

New York – This recent dog attack has left a young woman fighting for her life in a local hospital. Reports show that the woman was mauled by what appeared to be a pit bull dog sometime after midnight on a city street. It is unclear as to why the dog was outside without a leash, as is required by law to prevent just this type of assault. Police say that the owner was unable to stop the dog from continuing the attack and they were therefore forced to shoot and kill the dog. Meanwhile, the assault victim suffered horrific dog bites all over her body, including a severe arm injury. Hospital officials say that doctors were forced to amputate her injured arm in order to save her life. She continues to remain hospitalized after the arm amputation in very serious but stable condition. Police and investigators continue to look into the situation to determine if there was any dog owner negligence that created a dangerous situation to the public. A top New York injury attorney warns that the dog owner can face both criminal charges and a personal injury lawsuit in such a case. The owner of the dog was hit by a bullet during the incident but it is unclear whether this was from a police bullet that ricocheted or if the man was caught in the path of fire. Investigators are also looking into these details. Find out more about this pit bull dog mauling here.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Gromkey Blackwind [License]

December 29, 2015 News
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Repeat dog attack in Brooklyn leaves questions about citizen safety

New York – Another pit bull attack occurred in a residential neighborhood of Brooklyn. This time the assault was on another dog but only a few years ago the attack was on a restaurant owner at the same residence. In the 2010 episode, the worker suffered severe injuries during the attack, when three pit bull dogs belonging to the same home owner lunged at the victim. The man was mauled by the dogs and taken to the emergency room for bite and crush injuries. Citizens in the city have expressed concern regarding the safety of people who live and work in the area. Some have asked why the dogs haven’t been taken away from their owner, saying that it’s negligent to allow them to continue to roam free after they have been known to injure people. They exclaim that pedestrians, bicyclists, workers, children, dog walkers and many others are at risk for being attacked by a dog. This constitutes a dangerous condition that puts everyone at risk or injury or death. The police have apparently determined that they can’t do anything since the assaults have taken place on private property. However, community activists warn that city officials, including police, bear some of the responsibility along with the dog owner who allows the dogs to roam around without a leash or muzzle. They note that the next dog attack victim may suffer even more injuries or even wrongful death. In the meantime, the public is being urged to file a civil lawsuit, such as a personal injury lawsuit, if they were injured by a dog. A victim who was bitten by a dog can speak to an experienced attorney to learn more about his or her rights. Find out more about this dangerous situation here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: BoostinChick [License]

September 25, 2015 News
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Dog attack injure man on his way to work in the Bronx

New York – Two pit bull dogs attacked a man while he walked along a city street in Belmont. The assault was captured on video when bystanders watched in horror and some tried to help the victim. The assault victim explained that he was walking along and saw the pair of dogs walking without a leash. He said that he was not afraid and thought they were friendly, even reaching out his hand as if to say hello. According to some reports, the owner of the dogs began yelling at the man and that’s when the dog mauling began. The pit bulls jumped on top of the man and repeatedly attacked and bit him all over his body. He suffered extensive injuries, including dog bites to his face, chest and both arms. Trauma surgeons later had to repair the man’s injured ear, which had been amputated. After many attempts by bystanders, the man was finally rescued but the dogs apparently attacked some of the other people at the scene as well.

New York City residents were in an uproar over the dangerous incident, saying that police and city officials haven’t done enough to ensure their safety. Note has been made that the 911 dispatcher needed to be told and retold the location of the dog attack many times before actually responding. A recording of the 911 call reveals that the caller, while understandably upset, had clearly reported the address of the emergency call over and over again. However, police and rescuers appear to have been delayed due to the dispatcher re-asking the same questions. Ultimately, it was bystanders who had to step in and come to the victim’s aid since police had not arrived more quickly. In addition, some public activists have noted that the owner of these dogs has been reported in the past for similar problems. They complain that city officials have not done enough to remove the animals from her charge, creating a very serious and hazardous condition for everyone else. The dangerous dog owner was arrested and charges assessed. You can find out more about this assault and her arrest here.

Illustrative Photo Credit: maplegirlie [License]

October 15, 2014 News
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Owner of dogs who mauled woman convicted in court

A woman was assaulted and bitten by a dog while walking for exercise several months ago. The dog attack resulted in the 63-year-old woman suffering fatal injuries. Police say that the woman was severely injured by dog bites over her entire body, including an arm amputation, face lacerations and head injury. The dog owner was arrested during the investigation after he was found to have marijuana plants growing in his house. Police explain that the man used his pit bull dogs to protect his drug manufacturing even after being warned multiple times of the aggressive nature of his dogs. Witnesses note that the dog’s owner was well-aware of the dangerous situation that his wild dogs posed but ignored the public safety hazard. This allowed prosecutors to pursue a murder charge against the man. This month, the court found the man guilty of murder due to the wrongful death of the woman as a result of his negligence.

A New York law firm with expertise in dog mauling lawsuits explains that this is an unusual conviction. Unfortunately, owners of a dog that’s involved in an assault usually are able to claim innocence by claiming that they had no knowledge of the dangerous nature of their pet. In these cases, sometimes a civil case, such as a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit may be successful even when a criminal case is not. This may not place the dog owner into jail but can allow the dog attack victim or his/her family to recover money to pay for medical bills for injuries or even a funeral, if applicable. A victims of a dog assault is advised to seek the counsel of an injury lawyer with experience in dog mauling cases. Find out more about this dog attack here.

Illustrative photo by English: Lance Cpl. M. C. Nerl [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

May 21, 2014 News
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New York ranks 7th highest in dog attack lawsuit payouts

An industry report shows that just one insurance company in New York State paid out $6.4 Million in dog bite attack claims last year. Specialists say that the statistics are similar for other insurance carriers who pay hundreds of millions of dollars to injured victims of assaults by dogs. They explain that very often the dog attack could have been prevented by simply putting the canine on a leash or containing it inside of a fence. However, many dog owners are negligent and create a dangerous condition for others that share the sidewalks, streets and public parks. Public safety activists note that dog owners sometimes think that their dog is safe and well trained while the reality is that even small things can set the animal off, triggering a vicious assault. Even dogs that are on a leash as well as small dogs can pose a threat and require close monitoring, especially while in public. The unsuspecting assault victim, often young children, can suffer severe and evening life threatening injuries in the matter of seconds. Common dog attack injuries include lacerations, cuts, broken bones, head injury or even internal bleeding. The long-term effects of the trauma can lead to infections, brain damage, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dog bite associated diseases and even death.
Police relate that local, state and federal laws regarding dog safety are in place to prevent injuries and wrongful death due to someone being attacked by a dog. In response to inquiries, they answer that owners of dogs that bite someone face fines and personal injury lawsuits. In some circumstances, the owner may face criminal charges for battery, especially if the dog was a known danger or the owner knowingly created a hazardous condition. Homeowner and renter’s insurance policies often contain a third party liability policy that helps cover the cost of a negligence lawsuit and medical bills arising from dog bites. Victims of a dog assault can speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer for further advice. This can include a general passerby, visitor or even a workman injured while at work. Check out more about the frightening reality of dog attacks in New York.

Illustrative photo by Karen Arnold [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

October 13, 2013 News
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Two victims of dog attack in New York

New York – An elderly woman and her son were assaulted and bitten by a pit bull dog early this past week. Police had to shoot and kill the dog in order to stop the assault. The two injured victims were rushed to local hospital emergency rooms in Westchester, NY with multiple bites and injuries. The dog bites were being evaluated by the trauma doctors according to reports. Police say that the dog attack began when the family members began fighting and the dog became enraged. Public safety activists warn that this is another example about the dangers of some dogs and the need for additional safety precautions. They point to other victims that were assaulted by a dog as proof that some dog owners don’t properly protect the safety and health of the general public around them. Specifically, pit bulls are known to be very friendly and docile one minute, only to violently turn into an attack dog that can hurt, disable or even kill a victim when something upsets them. Other types of dogs can also be dangerous and need to be dealt with carefully. Activists note that dog owners often ignore basic leash laws or other safety guidelines, creating a hazardous condition for everyone else. Most areas of New York, and even the country, have laws in place that require a dog to be on a leash when out in public. Other pet safety guidelines commonly include a requirement to place a muzzle on a potentially dangerous dog that may bite others. Some dog owners try to downplay the potential dangers involved with owning these pets but repeated deadly dog attacks around the country tell a different story. Citizens that walk along the sidewalks and in the parks of many New York neighborhoods often complain about the safety hazard of dogs running around without a leash and attacking them or their children. A personal injury lawyer explains that this is not just a violation or the law but can leave the dog’s owner liable for injuries and emotional trauma caused to a victim. The owner can be held personally responsible and face a personal injury lawsuit if found guilty of negligence in properly securing their dog. Assaults by dogs have been well known to lead to death of victims both young and old. Wrongful death cases can also be brought against the dog owners, especially when negligence or neglect of safety has occurred. Read more about the recent dog bite attack here.

Photo by I, Jlantzy [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons