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Escondido Man Injured in Pit Bull Attack

An Escondido man has sustained serious injuries in an attack involving pit bulls. The victim Tom Atkinson says he was jogging in his gated neighborhood in Escondido, when the two pit bulls attacked.

The two dogs had just attacked another dog nearby, and then pounced on Atkinson. Both dogs bit him on the hand and thigh, and wouldn’t let go even after Atkinson began to hit and punch them.  Finally he managed to pry himself loose and run away, but the dogs began to chase him. They lunged at him again, and his time he suffered serious wounds on the forearm and thigh. His doctor says he has suffered a deep bite on the forearm that will require stitches, and has another deep bite on the thigh.

Animal control officers managed to retrieve the dogs. Since then the two dogs have been euthanized with the owner’s permission.  According to animal control officers, one of the two dogs has a history of attacks. It had been involved in a previous attack just a few months ago.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are an estimated 4 million dog bites every year.  However, most dog bites are not reported. Many others do not require medical treatment.  It’s fairly easy to believe that these figures are actually quite inaccurate. The real number of dog bite attacks in the country every year is likely much higher than that.

Most dog bite attacks involve little kids. Children may be more trusting of animals making them more susceptible to an attack. Besides, some breeds of dogs may consider children prey, increasing the chances of a vicious attack.  Among children, those between the ages of five and nine years are more likely to be involved in an attack.

Not all dog bites will require immediate medical attention.  Sometimes, an attack may leave a person with nothing more than mild scratches, that do not puncture the skin. However, when an attack has left you with a bite or puncture wound that has broken the skin, it’s wise to seek emergency medical care immediately. In case the attack involves a strange dog, there may be no way of knowing the animal’s immunization history, and therefore, precautions to protect the victims against rabies and tetanus must be taken immediately.

In case of a dog bite attack, California dog bite lawyers would advise the following precautions

• Seek medical treatment for your injuries.
• Report the attack as quickly as impossible.  Animal control officers may be aware of other attacks involving the same animal.
• Note down the appearance of the dog. Once you’re able to get away, note down minute details about his appearance before you forget these details. This can help identify the dog if it was a stray one.
• Consult with an expert dog bite attorney in California.  California has strict laws protecting victims of dog bite attacks. Under California’s strict liability laws, an owner can be held liable in an attack even if the dog had not previously attacked anyone.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of dog bites. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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3 responses to “Escondido Man Injured in Pit Bull Attack”

1. Ohio personal injury lawyer writes:
   

   Another cool post. Looking forward to more of your writings

   @ February 20th, 2010 at 02:29
2. Ohio personal injury lawyer writes:
   

   Very interesting blog. I would definitely put you on my favorites list.

   @ February 20th, 2010 at 02:32
3. George G. writes:
   

   Gotta watch out for those pitbulls!

   @ June 10th, 2010 at 16:00