A South Carolina woman was seriously injured when her dog attacked her. She was visiting relatives in Florida and was staying at an apartment when one of her three pit bull mix dogs attacked and could not be pulled off of her. Authorities reported that an officer responded to the 911 call and tried using a baton and pepper spray but could not get the dog to stop. The officer shot the dog, and the victim was rushed to a local hospital for severe injuries to her arms. She had to undergo surgery and is in critical condition. At this time authorities have no leads to why the dog attacked. All three dogs were held in the apartment until they could be removed from the property. The attack dog later died of its injuries, and the other two are being held at a local animal care facility while the victim recovers.
The CDC reports that there are over 4.7 million dog bits in the US every year. These can range from harmless bites to a full on attack. Pit bull breeds are responsible for 59% of dog attacks with rottweilers coming in second with 14%. It was reported that an average cost of a dog –related hospital stay was approximately 50 percent higher than an average injury-related stay in the hospital. What’s alarming is the victim is already looking at hefty medical bills for their hospital stay. This doesn’t account for any other follow up appointments, physical therapy or any other appointments or costs associated with the dog bite injury. An attorney can determine if the dog owner is liable and responsible for your bites and if so, pursue compensation for your injuries.
The personal injury attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth, LLC have over a century worth of experience in personal injury cases. Dog bites are serious and can result in severe injuries, stress and can be life altering. We work diligently to help our clients recover compensation for their injuries as well as reimbursement for lost wages, specialized appointments and mental and physical stress. Contact us if you have been involved in dog related incident. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your legal needs.