Although many Florida residents with children own dogs, sometimes dogs and kids just don’t mix well. In fact, of all demographics, children are most likely to be bitten by a dog. An attack last year left a young Illinois boy with injuries to his right ear. His mother has filed a personal injury lawsuit in an attempt to claim financial compensation for boy’s injuries.
The attack occurred in Sept. 2012 at another party’s house in Grantfork, Illinois. Their relationship to the boy is unclear, and it is unknown why the boy was visiting their home. According to the lawsuit, the party’s bull mastiff suddenly attacked the boy in a vicious manner. The dog bite caused the top part of the boy’s ear to be ripped and torn.
The boy needed nine stitches to repair the damaged ear. His mother filed a lawsuit against the dog’s owners in Madison County Circuit Court on Sept. 9. The requested damages exceed $50,000.
Even though there are certain breeds of dogs that are more likely to attack than others, any dog can attack at any time. Children are usually the victims of dog bites because they tend to think all dogs are friendly, They are often unable to recognize the warning signs of an imminent attack and as a result, they can be seriously injured, disfigured or even killed.
Should the dog’s owners have been able to prevent the attack? Does the dog have a history of biting or attacking others? Bull mastiffs do have a tendency toward aggression. Plus, they can be territorial, so perhaps the child was playing with the dog’s toy, bone or other possession at the time of the attack.
In any case, the dog owners could be liable for the medical expenses, which is what will be determined by the judge or jury in the lawsuit filed by the boy’s mother .
Source:
The Madison-St. Clair Record, “Dog bite suit filed over Grantfork incident” Kelly Holleran, Sep. 17, 2013
