Norfolk Dog Bite Lawyer
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 | 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 | January 13th, 2014
January 13, 2014
Each year, an estimated 4.7 million Americans are the victims of dog bites. The Norfolk Dog Bite Lawyers with the law firm of Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain these attacks result in hundreds of thousands of victims seeking medical treatment for the injuries they sustained.
Such numbers have prompted the state of Virginia to evaluate what it can do to reduce the number of canine attacks in the state and many feel the state’s dangerous dog registry is the first great step towards that goal. In an article from The Carroll News, Carroll County Supervisor, Sam Dickinson, stated dogs that attack and injure a person or a companion animal are placed on the list. Owners of animals placed on the list can face increases in homeowner’s insurance rates as well as having to face a requirement to keep the animal muzzled in public.
Carroll County District Attorney, Jim Cornwell, went on to point out animals placed on the list are then divided into two categories, those who are dangerous and those who are vicious. Dogs that are considered to be vicious are terminated immediately, while those considered to be dangerous are allowed to live if owners meet certain standards of care.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley’s team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers applaud the efforts being made to better protect the public from dangerous dogs and are hopeful the registry successfully reduces the number of attacks that occur in the state.
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 | April 15th, 2013
April 15, 2013
A woman from Chesterfield was hospitalized recently after suffering a Virginia Dog Bite Injury in an attack by a neighbor’s pet. Reports indicate the attack happened on the afternoon of March 20 at a residence located on the 9000 block of Husting Court.
The victim stated she was simply delivering a notice letter to a neighbor’s home when the animal leapt over a five foot high fence and latched onto her arm. She went on to explain the dog began to shake its head violently, tearing her fleshing and leaving gaping lacerations in the victims arm.
NBC 12 News stated the victim freed herself and got to safety before paramedics rushed her to the hospital to undergo emergency surgery and testing.
When asked about the incident, the owner of the animal acknowledged the canine’s dangerous temperament, but stated he had “Beware of Dog” sign posted. The owner also stated the dog had bitten before, but the case was dismissed because the sign was posted.
Experts say having such a sign may not necessarily take liability from an owner in the event of an attack though. Experts explain owners of an animal bear the burden of proving they didn’t have knowledge the animal presented a danger.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley may be able to help if you have been hurt in a dog attack that occurred at no fault of your own.
by | March 18th, 2013
March 18, 2013
A man has been charged with crimes in connection to a Virginia Dog Bite incident that left two young children seriously injured. WRIC 8 News explains the attack occurred at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, along Corann Drive in King William County, Virginia.
Reports from deputies with the King County Sheriff’s Department indicate the two children, an 8-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy, were outside playing together when a neighbor’s dog began chasing them. The animal pursued the children into the yard of another neighbor and began to attack them both.
The young girl sustained serious injuries to the neck as a result of the attack and also had her thumb bitten off by the animal. Her male friend sustained injuries to the chest. Both were transported to a local hospital to receive treatment. The female victim remains in serious condition, while the boy was treated and released.
Law enforcement has charged the dog’s owner with owning a nuisance animal and allowing a dog to run at large. The dog in question has been taken into the custody of Animal Control Deputies pending further investigation into the incident.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley recognize how devastating injuries from an animal attack can be. That’s why the firm would like to wish both victims a full and speedy recovery from their injuries.
by admin@gotechark.com | December 17th, 2012
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.
