Dog Bite Injury
by | August 25th, 2015
From bite wounds to the chances of disease, there are many risks involved with being the victim of a dog attack. Our Norfolk personal injury attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers explain one young Virginia girl has come face to face with both of these dangers after being bitten by a dog.
Reports from WAVY-TV 10 News indicate the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 19, at around 5 p.m. on Algonquin Trail in James City County. Records show the dog was running loose when the animal and victim came in contact. The 11-year-old girl was bitten on both arms and was also potentially exposed to the rabies virus, due to the fact the animal had not received the required vaccinations.
The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment while the dog was taken into James City County Animal Control custody for a quarantine period.
An attack like this can cause the victim to suffer numerous damages. That’s why Virginia dog bite laws allow the victim of a canine attack to collect compensation from the animal’s owner if the animal has a history of viciousness or negligence on the part of the owner can be established.
Providing evidence to support either type of case can be complicated though. It can be a huge benefit to have legal representation by your side through each step of the legal process. An experienced lawyer can provide you with guidance on how to file a dog bite injury claim and navigate the required legal proceedings.
by | May 18th, 2015
Did you know that in the United States, dogs bite more than 4.5 million people each year? That’s a scary thought! Our Norfolk dog bite injury attorneys at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers point out that an even scarier thought is the fact that more than half of those victims are children.
To help reduce the number of dog bite injuries and fatalities that occur each year, May 17-23 has been declared National Dog Bite Prevention Week. As part of the campaign, several organizations are making efforts to raise awareness about the risks dog bite injuries can pose, as well as educate the public about what they can do to reduce the chances of becoming a dog bite victim.
The American Veterinary Medical Association is doing its part to teach children about the proper way to approach a dog by releasing a series of videos on their YouTube channel. Each of the videos features Jimmy the Dog covering different topics of dog safety, such as the importance of not teasing or scaring a dog, as well as how to recognize an aggressive canine. It’s important to check back to the AVMA’s channel regularly as well, as a new video will be released each day this week.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we understand the impact a dog bite injury can have and our Norfolk personal injury lawyers are hopeful you can utilize these tools to help reduce you and your loved ones’ chances of becoming dog bite injury victims.
by | April 13th, 2015
Estimates from the American Veterinary Medical Association show that each year, as many as 4.5 million Americans will suffer a dog bite injury. More than one-third of those victims are children, considering approximately 360,000 people between the ages of 5 and 9 years old are treated each year for injuries sustained in a canine attack.
To bring into perspective the serious damage that can be done when a dog bites, lets look at an incident that occurred just a few weeks ago here in Norfolk that left several children and adults each suffering a dog bite injury. According to ABC 13 News, the attack happened on Monday, March 30, at approximately 7:35 P.M. on Johnstons Road.
Reports indicate one of the victims said he heard children screaming and ran to the scene. When he arrived, he found five children on the ground with each having suffered a dog bite injury from one of three canines that were in the area. The dogs then turned on the man as well, biting his abdomen and lunging for his neck. He was able to fight the animals off until emergency crews could respond.
Two children and two adults required medical treatment at a local hospital. Meanwhile, the owner of the dogs apologized and stated the animals had escaped from the backyard of the home.
If you or a loved one have suffered a dog bite injury, it’s crucial that you not hesitate to seek legal counsel to discuss your rights. At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our team of Norfolk personal injury attorneys are standing by to answer the questions you have regarding your injuries. Give us a call at (757) 459-CASH to discuss your case.
by | February 2nd, 2015
Police dogs can be crucial to the completion of an officer’s investigation or apprehending a suspect, but they must be used under tight control in order to prevent a dog bite injury from being inflicted on a helpless victim. In fact, a complaint has been filed against an officer with the Norfolk Police Department after his canine inflicted a serious dog bite injury to a young woman’s leg. The incident has been ruled an “unreasonable” use of force.
According to an article from The Virginian-Pilot, the victim was leaving a party on Godfrey Avenue at around 2 A.M. after a fight had broken out on the front lawn of the home. As the victim was leaving with her father and two friends, officers approached and attempted to stop the party to discuss the incident. The victim told officers she didn’t know what happened and attempted to walk away. Officers then released a canine unit onto the victim and the animal bit her leg until she was arrested.
The victim required more than 40 stitches to close the wound and will require plastic surgery to repair the damage that was done.
Since the incident occurred, the Chief of Police stated the officer’s use of force was “unreasonable.” Furthermore, the officer has been placed on administrative duty.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we’ve seen just how devastating a dog bite injury can be. That’s why our Norfolk personal injury lawyers would like to wish the woman who was recently injured a full and speedy recovery from her wounds.
by | October 13th, 2014
Each state in the U.S. has its own set of rules to govern what actions should be taken in the event a domesticated pet attacks a person. In Virginia, we have what’s known as the “One Bite Rule.”
One Bite Rule
This particular law states that an animal must have a history of violent or aggressive behavior before the owner can be held responsible for damages the animal inflicts in an attack. There is a loophole in the law that allows for an owner to be held accountable for a first incident of the animal inflicting a dog bite injury if negligence can be established.
What Happens to Dangerous Dogs and Their Owners?
If a dog is shown to have a history of violence, local animal control officials can take it into custody where it can be monitored for signs of disease. Owners of dangerous dogs may also face criminal or civil charges.
A Virginia Beach man has been charged with crimes in relationship to an attack committed by his dog. Reports from WAVY 10 News say the man faces two counts of failure to control a dangerous dog.
Getting Help After a Dog Bite Injury
Knowing the subtleties of the laws surrounding dog bite injuries is an area the Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley are familiar with and we can certainly help you if you’ve been hurt in an attack by canines. Not only can we answer the questions you have regarding your case, we can also help you collect and submit the necessary paperwork for filing a claim.
Call us today at (757) 459-CASH to learn more about what we can do for you.
by | April 14th, 2014
Dog owners in Virginia have a responsibility to keep their animals restrained at all times in order to protect the public from the risk of an attack that could cause a serious Dog Bite Injury. Failure to meet this requirement by a Portsmouth, Virginia, dog owner has ended with a 12-year-old girl being seriously harmed and requiring extensive medical treatment.
A report from WAVY-TV 10 News explains the victim was sitting on the porch of a Summit Avenue home on Thursday, April 10, when an animal escaped from its home and attacked. The child was taken to the ground by the animal, where she subsequently suffered injuries that would require more than 30 stitches, plastic surgery, and hours of medical care to correct the damage done.
The incident leaves many people wondering what they should do if they find themselves in the presence of an aggressive animal. The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain avoiding eye contact and giving the animal space is the best option; however, every animal and their reactions are different. That is why the firm would add that anyone who is hurt in a dog attack that is the result of the owner’s negligence should discuss their legal options with a qualified attorney immediately.
by | September 9th, 2013
September 9, 2013
The Norfolk Dog Bite Lawyer, Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley, explains that injuries suffered from an attack by a canine can often be quite extensive. For instance, take the case of a 5-year-old boy from Chesterfield, Virginia, who was left seriously injured after being bitten by a dog.
According to an article from WTVR 6 News, the incident occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on the night of Wednesday, August 28, at a residence located on Parkway Lane. Reports indicate the child was in the home with the dog when the animal attacked the boy, leaving him with puncture wounds and lacerations to the head.
Emergency crews rushed the victim to a local hospital for further treatment. Meanwhile, Animal Control was holding the dog responsible for the attack for quarantine.
This type of incident leaves many wondering what they can do to prevent themselves, and their loved ones, from being the victims of an attack.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley’s team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers say one of the best ways to prevent children from being bite victims is by teaching them to never approach or pet strange dogs without permission from the owner. Also, never run or make excessive noise when faced by an aggressive dog. Instead, look down and slowly back away from the animal.
If a person does find themselves the victim of an attacking canine, experts suggest curling into a ball and waiting for the animal to leave before calling for assistance.
by | September 10th, 2012
September 10, 2012
A 22-year-old Virginia Beach woman has filed a lawsuit against the owners of a dog that attacked and seriously injured her while she was employed at a veterinary hospital. According to The Virginian-Pilot, the woman is seeking $300,000 in damages for her injuries.
The Norfolk dog bite injury happened on March 25, 2011, at the Hickory Veterinary Hospital. The dog was undergoing an examination when he became agitated. Despite the owner holding the animal’s mouth and head, the dog broke loose and bit the young woman several times, leaving her with severe laceration and puncture wounds to her face.
The victim has since had to undergo several surgeries and numerous laser treatments to correct the scarring to her face and has lost some feeling in her lips.
The lawsuit was filed after it was discovered that the dog had bitten a person on two occasions prior to the attack and claims that the dog’s owners did not do enough to protect her from injury during the examination since they knew the dog had a history of biting.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say that roughly 4.5 million Americans suffer dog bites each year and receiving compensation for those injuries can be difficult. That is why the firm suggests speaking with a knowledgeable attorney about your legal rights if you or a loved one has been hurt by a dog attack.
