Like most states, West Virginia has a lot of dog owners. Many people treat their dogs like members of the family, so it is understandable that they may put out of their minds the inherent danger when encountering unfamiliar animals. As a result, when a dog attacks, it is often a shocking event with the potential for catastrophic injuries.
Not all dogs are friendly to strangers
One man was recently recognized as a hero for his attempts to intervene when two large dogs attacked a woman. The woman was apparently walking away from a home she had visited, and she was carrying bags of groceries in her arms when the dogs broke through the screen door of the home and knocked her to the ground. Witnesses say she was helpless as the dogs took turns biting her on the back, arms and face.
The man happened to be passing by when he saw the attack. He placed himself between the dogs and the injured woman, suffering bites on his own body. First responders airlifted the woman to the hospital. The man’s heroic intervention may have saved the woman’s life, but reports say her injuries may have left her with permanent disabilities.
What happens after a dog bite injury?
Although the owner of the dogs surrendered them to West Virginia authorities to be euthanized, this may be little comfort to the woman who will likely suffer and struggle from her injuries for years to come. Owners of aggressive dogs have a responsibility to keep them under control. When they are negligent in this responsibility, the victims of dog bites have the right to pursue damages through the civil courts.