A security guard that was attacked by a Rottweiler and pit bull in 2010, while working the overnight shift in a NJ factory, has been awarded $563,000 in damages, which, according to the victim’s attorney, is one of the largest dog bite settlements in New Jersey, where liability laws governing dog bites are becoming more …
A security guard that was attacked by a Rottweiler and pit bull in 2010, while working the overnight shift in a NJ factory, has been awarded $563,000 in damages, which, according to the victim’s attorney, is one of the largest dog bite settlements in New Jersey, where liability laws governing dog bites are becoming more favorable towards victims. The dog bite victim’s injuries were so catastrophic that he was left in a coma-like state following the attack, intubated in a hospital bed for ten days. He was bitten all over his body by the dangerous dogs and sustained permanent scarring and muscle damage, which he continues to struggle with today. If you have suffered serious injuries in a dog bite accident in Oklahoma, or if you lost a loved one in an attack by a dangerous dog, consult our knowledgeable attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center today to discuss your legal options.
Devastating Injuries Inflicted by Dangerous Dogs
As Samuel Akinsanya left his office at 5:30 in the morning in July 2010, he heard growling in the hallway, and before he could react, the Rottweiler and pit bull, both of whom had escaped from their cage in the factory where Akinsanya worked, pounced on him. “They jumped at me. I was trying to fight,” Akinsanya, 43, said about the attack. “I was trying to defend myself but they were biting me all over my body.” According to Akinsanya, he fought the dogs “for almost an hour before police came to rescue me.” Following the attack, the pit bull choked itself to death because it was thrashing around as police tried to subdue him, ad the rottweiler was eventually returned to its owner.
Liability for Dog Bite Injuries
Akinsanya sued the dog owner, Jose Acosta, and the building’s landlord, and an arbitrator eventually awarded him $563,000 in damages. Acosta, who kept the dogs in a chain-link enclosure inside the factory, was found liable for 85% of the damages, and the building’s landlord was also found liable and ordered to pay 15% of the damages. According to NJ law, a landlord can be held liable for dog bite injuries if he fails to warn those inside his building that dangerous dogs are present, or if he does not make the premise safe for those hired to work on-site, such as security guards. Similar to Oklahoma, to recover damages for dog bite injuries from a dog owner in NJ, a victim must prove only that the defendant owned the dog, that the dog bit the plaintiff, and that the plaintiff was in a public place or lawfully on the owner’s property at the time of the attack.
Our Experienced Attorneys Can Help
Every year, 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs, 885,000 of whom require medical treatment for their injuries, reports the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Even more alarming, approximately 65% of those who end up in hospital emergency rooms are children between the ages of five and nine. If you or your child has been injured in a dog bite accident in Oklahoma City, or elsewhere in Oklahoma, don’t hesitate to protect your legal rights. Contact our reputable lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center as soon as possible to explore your possible compensation options. You may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog owner, in order to seek fair and timely reimbursement for your dog bite injuries and medical expenses.