Owner Sued After Man Dies From Dog Bite
The Seattle Times reports the family of a man who died 10 days after being bitten by a dog has sued the dog’s owner.
According to the family of the victim, the Redbone Coonhound had a history of biting people and was still allowed to roam unleashed. The owner has denied the dog was off-leash the day he bit the victim.
The owner and the victim were at a storage facility when the victim was bitten on the finger, drawing blood. The next day the victim severe pain in his leg and went to the hospital where they found a blood clot in his leg. Later an infection he developed was diagnose as Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis – a bacterium common to cat and dog saliva. The bacterium led to multiple organ failure and tissue necrosis – a very painful death.
Although the dog owner contends the dog was in his SUV and the victim reached in the window to pet him, according to state law, a dog’s owner can be held civilly responsible if his or her dog bites someone and the owner knew the dog was potentially dangerous. The dog has bitten another person earlier the same day and veterinary records show the dog bite people as a puppy.
When the dog owner’s insurance policies refused to pay the full amount of two policies – about $1.5 million – to the family of the deceased, they decided to sue.
Labels: Dog Bites, Personal Injury Attorney, Wrongful Death, Wrongful Death AttorneyPosted by 11:58 am