blog home Laguna Niguel

Dog Attack in Laguna Niguel

By Renee Nordstrand on December 18, 2009

http://www.ocregister.com/news/police-224728-woman-friend.html

An unidentified Orange County woman was attacked by a 7-year-old Shiba Inu dog on Wednesday afternoon, the Orange County Register reports.  It is unclear as to whether the woman was in her own yard or a neighbor’s yard when the attack occurred on Via San Sebastian in Laguna Niguel.

Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed the dog after arriving at the scene, while the woman was hospitalized with extensive injuries that will require several surgeries.

As California is a “strict liability state”, the dog’s owner is liable for the injuries inflicted by the Shiba Inu, even if the owner was not negligent in the circumstances of the attack.   California law states (CCP 342 (a)) :

The owner of a dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place, or lawfully in a private place, including the property owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog, or the owner’s knowledge of such visciousness…

If you’ve been the victim of a dog bite attack, please contact experienced dog bite attorneys to discuss your legal options.  At your free initial consultation, our attorneys will answer your questions with care and concern, while ensuring that you receive the best possible representation throughout the duration of your case.