December 17, 2012
A 2-year-old Virginia girl was seriously injured after a recent dog bite. According to WSLS 2 News, the incident prompted some citizens to begin a push toward reform of Virginia’s “One Bite Rule”.
The child was taken to the home of a family friend. As a dog in the home was sleeping in the bedroom though, the child entered and attempted to pet it. This startled the animal and it bit the child on the nose.
The young girl was rushed to a local hospital where she received stitches and doctors determined she would need reconstructive surgery.
Since this was the first time the animal had bitten someone, Virginia’s “One Bite Rule” states the dog cannot be labeled as “vicious” until another incident occurs, meaning owners are not held responsible until another incident occurs.
However, if a Norfolk dog bite victim can prove that negligence of the dog owner led to the attack, such as not keeping the dog properly restrained or not warning guests of the risks of the animal’s behavior, the victim may be eligible to receive compensation for his or her injuries.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley understand the complexities of dog bite laws and are here to answer any questions you may have if you, or a loved one, have been injured in a dog attack.
