On August 5, 2012, a resident of American Falls, Idaho was severely injured after being attacked by two of her neighbor's pit bulls. The woman was talking on the phone that morning when she heard a ruckus coming from outside of her home. She walked out to find that her dog was being viciously attacked by two other neighborhood dogs, and subsequently tried to pull her pet free. Once she was able to get the two pit bulls away from her own dog, they then proceeded to launch an attack on her arms and face. When the incident was finally over, she was taken to a hospital to be treated for the serious injuries that she had sustained—leading to more than three hours of surgery to reconstruct the damage that was done to her ears, scalp, arms and hands.
After investigating the attack, it was discovered that the two pit bulls had jumped the fence of the yard in which they were kept, and were left to roam the streets unleashed. The American Falls Police Chief has since confirmed that the dog owner has been charged with four different misdemeanor counts, "two charging her with owning a dog that attacked or bit a person and two charging her with a dog at large." Although the victim did not suffer life-threatening injuries, the two dogs were taken into custody by the police department and taken to an animal shelter to be euthanized.
Dog bite laws in most states across the U.S. mandate that the owner of the dog can be held solely responsible for any instance in which their pet attacks another person, so if the victim decides to pursue legal action, she may be able to recover damages for the pain and suffering that she has endured. If you or a loved one has been injured in a similar event, you should not hesitate to take the appropriate action. By speaking with a knowledgeable legal professional and reviewing the circumstances of your attack, you will be able to better understand your rights to claim compensation. For more information, contact our firm today.