An infant was seriously injured in Minneapolis after being mauled by a dog, reports the StarTribune (https://www.startribune.com/baby-mauled-in-minneapolis-dog-attack-that-also-left-mother-injured/570094382/). The same dog went after the child’s mother when she tried to stop the dog and save her baby’s life, according to the local police.
According to the police report on the incident, this vicious attack occurred in the evening on Penn Avenue North in the City of Minneapolis. Officers were called to the address in question for an “animal attack” and arrived to find both of the victims in critical condition.
Lisa Clemons, who is a civilian and part of the crisis response team for the local police department, reported that the child’s mother received serious injuries to her hands as a result of the attack. She was hurt when she attempted to free her child from the dog’s mouth. The extent of the child’s injuries have not been released, although Clemons noted that the child was just eight months old.
K.G. Wilson, also a civilian member of the crisis response team and a noted anti-violence activist, told local news organizations that he was informed the dog in question was a pit bull.
City spokesperson Casper Hill confirmed that the city’s animal control officers took possession of the animal after the attack. Animal control later euthanized the dog, but they did not release any further information because the case is still considered open.
Dogs are not always “man’s best friend,” and a dangerous dog can serve as proof of that. According to DogsBite.org, there are 4.5 million dog bites every year, and one out of five of those bites becomes infected (https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-quick-statistics.php). In just 2018 alone, around 27,000 people had to undergo reconstructive surgery to repair damage done by a dog bite.
Unfortunately, children make up a significant portion of dog bite fatalities, partly due to their size and lack of strength when compared to a dog. Over the period from 2005 to 2018, 27 percent of all dog-bite-related deaths were children aged two and under. During that same 15-year span, a total of 61 children under the age of one died from injuries sustained in dog bite attacks, and it was pit bulls that were responsible for half of these tragic deaths.
On top of everything else, dog bites can leave victims out of work as they recover and with a pile of medical bills that must be paid. Injury stays for these bites in a hospital average around $18,200 per incident, which is higher than the average cost for stays related to other types of injuries.
People who fail to control their dog and/or knowingly harbor a dangerous dog can be held liable for the damage their dog inflicts on other people. If you have been the victim of a dog bite, you might be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering and other losses stemming from the incident. Speak to an experienced dog bite lawyer in Denver, CO about your case as soon as you can to protect your right to receive fair compensation for what happened.
Thanks to Richard J. Banta, P.C. for their insight into personal injury claims and dog bite injuries.