Three-Year-Old Girl Seriously Injured In Hemet Pit Bull Dog Attack At Daycare Center On Mayberry Avenue
HEMET, CALIFORNIA (April 6, 2022) – A three-year-old girl was seriously injured after being attacked by pit bull at Hemet daycare center.
Riverside County police officials are saying that the dog attack took place at a home being used as a daycare center. The toddler was attacked by a two-year-old pit bull mix in the backyard of the home.
The owners of the home called 911 and paramedics and police arrived at the daycare. The girl was taken to the hospital and received 180 stiches. She was viciously bitten on her face, arms and stomach.
Animal control officers captured the dog and described it as “powerful and aggressive.” Officers will keep the dog for ten days pending any protest from the owner. After that period the dog could be euthanized.
It remains unclear if there will be any citations following the Hemet dog attack. A full investigation into the Hemet daycare dog attack remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In California Pit Bull Dog Attacks
Dog attacks are extremely common in the United States. According to information from the Centers for Disease Control, around 4.5 million people living in the United Sates are attacked by dogs. About 800,000 of those bites require medical attention. Pit bulls, Australian Shepherds and Bull Terriers were statistically most likely to be involved in dog attacks. There are a number of measures that can be taken in order to prevent dog attacks.
- Dog owners should properly secure their animals at their home.
- Don’t approach unfamiliar dogs.
- Don’t disturb dogs when they are eating, sleeping or nursing puppies.
- Don’t encourage dogs to play aggressively.
Dog owners in California are held strictly liable in the event their animal attacks someone. According to California Civil Code Section 3342, “The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.” The owner of a dog will typically be automatically liable if their animal attacks someone. Defenses against dog bite liability could include assumption of risk and comparative fault.
- Assumption of Risk: Dog owners will typically not be liable for dog bites when the person handling a dog has assumed some level of risk to being bitten. For example, a veterinarian or veterinary assistant has assumed the risk of being bitten by the animals they care for. See, for example, Nelson v. Hall (1985) 165 Cal.App.3d 709, 712, 715.
- Comparative Fault: A dog owner may not be liable if their animal attacks someone that was provoking, attacking, harassing or antagonizing it.
A dog owner is automatically liable for damages if an owner knew or should have known of a dog’s dangerous tendencies or vicious nature. Consider, for example, Priebe v. Nelson (2006) 39 Cal.4th 1112, 1115–1116; Thomas v. Stenberg (2012) 206 Cal.App.4th 654, 665. If the dog that attacked someone was owned by a business owner, their company could potentially be vicariously liable. Victims of dog attacks tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Bite injuries
- Lacerations
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Infections
Even if a victim physically recovers from a vicious dog attack, they may still suffer from long term psychological trauma such as PTSD. Any person that is injured in a dog attack may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A dog bite injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A California Pit Bull Dog Attack
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to the toddler injured in this Hemet dog attack. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim and all the other children who attend this daycare. This is a horrific and senseless attack that should not have taken place. No child should ever have to suffer through something so horrific and possibly totally preventable.
Have you or someone that you care about been attacked by a dog at a Hemet daycare? Our team of child safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that victims get the medical and financial support that they need to completely recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a dog attack we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
