- 18
- August
2010
The tragedies occur far too often: children and others are mauled in California by dogs. Some victims suffer terrible wounds, while others are killed in the attacks. According to California law, in all cases, the owners have strict liability for the damages inflicted by dog bites.
In Concord, three pit bulls attacked a two-year-old boy inside his step-grandfather's garage. The boy died from the wounds and the grandfather was arrested on charges of child endangerment and possessing a mischievous animal that causes death or great bodily injury.
Sitting in jail, an emotional Steven Hayashi told CBS 5 TV, "My life is ruined." He said he wished he had listened to his wife, who had urged him to get rid of the dogs.
Other lives that have also been drastically altered in dog attacks:
- At least two people were attacked by three bullmastiffs in a Los Angeles park. Authorities, who were forced to kill one of the animals, described the large dogs as "extremely aggressive."
- Two large dogs in Murrieta severely injured a six-month-old baby strapped in a baby carrier.
- A pit bull attacked a man walking his dog in Long Beach; authorities had to kill the attacking animal that injured the man.
- In Fontana, three kids were injured when five dogs attacked them. One child required 327 staples to close wounds and another was hospitalized in critical condition. The children are five-, six- and seven-years-old.
- An Apple Valley family lost their three-year-old boy in an attack by a pit bull. The dog attacked while the boy's father went inside the house momentarily to retrieve a toy for his son.
In California, the law is explicit: "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog." The law also states that it doesn't matter if the owner knew or did not know of the dog's viciousness, the owner is still responsible for the damages.
Injuries sustained can include scarring and disfigurement, infection, amputation, and psychological trauma as a result of the dog attack.
If you or a member of your family has been bitten by a dog, contact a California personal injury attorney. In these cases, the owner is presumed to have been negligent in allowing the incident to take place and is responsible for the damages and injuries. A personal injury lawyer can help you obtain fair and full compensation from the animal's owners and their insurance company.









