Man Nearly Killed in Bronx Dog Attack

 A 62-year-old man was mauled and almost killed in a vicious dog attack in the Bronx involving two pit bulls. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the man was heading to a church on Belmont Avenue and East 187th Street when the dogs apparently broke free from their harnesses and began attacking him. The attack was so violent, the Daily News reports, that a priest at the church gave the victim last rites. Police say the dogs’ owner, a woman, ordered the animals to attack the man after an argument. But the victim said later that he didn’t even talk to the woman.

Brutal Attack Caught on Camera
The injuries suffered by the victim were extremely severe. The report stated that he lost a chunk of his arm where he could see the bone. The dogs also ripped off most of his right ear. He was left in a pool of his own blood. A graphic cell phone video of the incident shows the victim trying to escape as the dogs continued to attack him. Eventually two passersby helped get the dogs off the man.
Several neighbors also jumped in to help pull the dogs off. The dogs only relented after police officers and firefighters with hoses moved in. The man was transported to a local hospital where he is said to be in stable condition. He, however, had to undergo five hours of surgery and needs yet another surgery in a week. The dogs’ owner has been arrested and charged with eight counts of assault and two counts of reckless endangerment.
Dog Bite Statistics
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 800,000 people in the United States seek medical attention for dog bites every year and about half of these are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about 16 end up succumbing to their injuries. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children between the ages of 5 and 9. Almost two thirds of such injuries among children aged 4 or younger are to the head or neck region. However, adults can also suffer significant injuries in dog attacks.
What to do After a Dog Attack
If you have been attacked by a dog, here are some of the steps you would be well advised to take:
• Be sure to get the name and contact information of the dog owner or the person who had custody of the dog when it bit you. Also, get the contact information of anyone who may have witnessed the incident.
• Take photographs of the injuries and preserve any physical evidence at the scene such as torn or bloody clothing.
• Seek and medical attention right away. If you are injured and bleeding, go to the emergency room. This will not only put you on the road to recovery, but also create documentation for the types of injuries you sustained and the treatment you received.
• File a complaint with the animal control department in your city or county and cooperate with investigating officers.
• Obtain insurance information from the dog owner including name of the insurance company, contact information, claim number and the amount of money that is available to pay medical expenses. Most homeowners’ insurance policies cover dog attacks, but the dog owner may not know that.
• Immediately after your dog bite incident make sure you or a family member contacts an experienced New York City personal injury lawyer who can help ensure that your legal rights are protected every step of the way and will secure just compensation for your losses.
Damages in Dog Bite Cases
Dog attacks, especially those involving multiple dogs, can leave victims with debilitating injuries. Some of the common injuries sustained in dog attacks include bite and puncture wounds, bone fractures, nerve injuries and internal organ damage. Dog attacks can leave victims permanently scarred or disfigured. Injured victims of dog attacks can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, cost of cosmetic surgeries, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Victims may also be able to seek compensation for therapy and psychological counseling since many are severely traumatized by such incidents.
Compensation for Dog Bite Victims
The experienced New York personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm help dog bite victims get fair and full compensation for their losses. Our law firm recovered $750,000 for a girl who was bitten by a dog, which was the most money recovered in New York State that year for a dog bite.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: New York Daily News