A 65-year-old man has sustained critical injuries in a dog bite incident in Riverside County involving a pit bull. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the brutal dog attack occurred on October 15, 2010 in the backyard of the man's Murrieta home. Officials say the man was alone with the dog and "disciplining" the animal when it attacked him, biting his arm, throat and groin. Officials say the dog was owned by the man's nephew. Blood and flesh were found all over the patio, the report states. Officers eventually subdued the pit bull with a dart gun. The dog bite victim is in the intensive care unit on a breathing tube. The dog is scheduled to be euthanized after a 10-day holding period with the permission of the owner.

My heart goes out to this critically injured dog bite victim. It is just gut-wrenching to even read the account of this vicious dog attack. I pray for this victim's speedy and complete recovery.

Dog Bite Statistics

Annually, there are about 4.4 million dog bite injuries in the United States of which 800,000 require medical attention. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, pit bulls and Rottweilers account for more than half of all dog bite fatalities in the United States. According to Dogsbite.org, a web site for dog attack victims nationwide, of the 88 fatal dog attacks in the United States in a three-year period between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, 59 percent or 52 incidents involved pit bulls followed by Rottweilers (14 percent).

Are Pit Bulls a Dangerous Breed?

This story once again raises the issue of whether pit bulls as a breed are dangerous. Pit bull advocates will have you believe that these are gentle animals that won't hurt a fly. But numbers tell another story. An overwhelming majority of fatal and serious injury dog attacks nationwide are caused by pit bulls and Rotweillers.

Breed bans are illegal in California. But a number of California counties and cities are introducing ordinances that will make it tougher on owners of pit bulls and other dangerous breeds. Some cities require special permits and others require liability insurance for owners of these dogs. Personally, I believe that all pit bull owners should be required to carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance. An injured victim should not have to pay for the negligence or carelessness of a dog owner. If you have been injured in any dog attack, please contact an experienced Riverside injury lawyer to get more information about your rights and options.

Seriously injured in a Riverside County injury accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a Murrieta dog bite accident. Call 1-800-586-0277. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Riverside injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

Do you believe California should make breed bans legal? Should pit bulls and other "dangerous breeds" be banned?

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