A walk in the woods turned dangerous for a man at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton recently. The man was walking a trail near where his family was holding a cookout when two pit bulls began running straight towards him. He tried to run from the animals, but fell. The dogs attacked the man’s face, arms, and back. Thankfully, the dogs owners were nearby and were able to pull their pets off the victim. The victim’s fiancee called 911, and first responders arrived to treat the man’s wounds. The dogs involved in the attack are being held at the Peninsula Animal Shelter. A judge will determine if they will be released back to their owners.
Legal Options for the Victim
The victim took a measured approach when speaking to WAVY about his experience. He says he doesn’t blame the dogs, but the owners instead. “I don’t know how these dogs were raised, but they were vicious to me,” he explained. We encourage the victim and anyone else who has been attacked by dogs off of their leash in public to speak with an attorney. It’s illegal for dogs to be off leash when not at home or in a dog park. The victim may be able to seek compensation for his damages associated with the attack.
Virginia Dog Bite Statutes
Virginia has a “one-bite” policy in place for dogs. Dog owners will only be held liable for injuries if the owner knew the dog was dangerous and had a history of biting people. Still, the owners in this incident may still be found negligent for having their dogs off leash in public.
Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer
The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC has helped victims of personal injuries for over 30 years. If you were attacked by a dog because of someone else’s negligence, contact us for a free consultation.
