DOG BITE INJURIES INCREASING LAWSUITS IN SAN FRANCISCO, BAY AREA
Dog bites can lead to fatal injuries to victims, and massive legal liability for dog owners. According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year. Out of these 4.7 million people:
- 800,000 people seek medical attention for the bites;
- Half of the victims are children;
- 386,000 victims require medical attention in an emergency facility;
- Approximately 12 victims die from dog bites.
In 2001, San Francisco was shaken up by a particularly malicious dog bite case. The victim, Diane Whipple, was killed in her apartment building when her neighbor’s two dogs attacked her. The neighbors, Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel, were not only liable for civil damages in the form of a wrongful death suit, but were also criminally convicted for involuntary manslaughter.
Dog bites are strict liability cases, which means that as long as the victim was legally on the property where the attack occurred, and can prove that he/she suffered injuries, then the dog owner will be responsible for those injuries. Dog owners are liable for civil damages in the form of medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and possibly even loss of present and future earning capacity. Greenberg & Rudman LLP will advance all costs and expenses related to your dog bite case, and we will not recoup these costs unless we win your case. Please call us now at 1-800-252-9776 (1-800-ALAWPRO) to speak to one of our attorneys if you or a loved one have been injured by a dog. Please also visit our website at www.alawpro.com for more information on dog bites.
