San Diego Pit Bull Attack Has Officials Contemplating Ban
New questions raised after local runners attacked by pit bulls.
As two local runners continue to recover from a vicious pit bull attack, San Diego officials and residents are questioning whether the dogs should be banned altogether.
Richard Garritson, 21, and his 20-year-old brother John were jogging with their sister and niece near Valley Center Middle School when they were attacked by a group of four pit bulls. Both brothers sustained serious injuries stemming from the attack, with older brother Richard having to undergo extensive surgery to repair damage to his legs caused by dog bites. The brothers have since stated that they believed one or both of them would die during the attack.
The four pit bulls apparently belonged to a nearby neighbor, whom the Garritsons knew. The dog's owner surrendered the animals to San Diego County Animal Control last week and requested that they be destroyed. Animal control officers reported that the four 7-month-old pit bull mixes were very aggressive but could not pinpoint what spurred the attack.
The vicious attack on the Garritsons comes just one month after a pit bull savagely attacked a 75-year-old Paradise Hills woman. The latest attack has some residents calling for a ban on pit bulls in the area while pit bull advocates say the problem is not with the dogs but the owners. Statistically, pit bulls are involved in approximately 2/3 of all dog attacks that occur nationwide and account for the vast majority of deaths following a dog attack.
As of yet, there is no word on whether the owner of the pit bulls that attacked the Garritsons will face criminal charges. The victims have also declined to say whether they will seek damages from the owner to pay for their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. Under California law, dog bite victims may seek compensation for injuries if the dog owner is proved to be negligent or careless.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a pit bull or other vicious dog, you may also be entitled to file a personal injury claim against the dog's owner. The law firm of Nadrich & Cohen LLP specializes in assisting dog bite victims in the San Diego area and throughout California in getting the compensation they're entitled to.
Call our Injury Hotline today at 1-800-718-4658 to speak with a member of our dog bite injury team. Your initial case evaluation is always free and there is never a fee unless we recover a judgment on your behalf. Call today to get the expert legal help you need to prove your California dog bite injury claim.
