[04-22-2023] Mendocino County, CA – Two Women Injured After Dog Bite Accident in Fort Bragg

Two women sustained severe injuries after getting attacked by three pit bulls on Fort Bragg on Saturday morning, April 22, 2023.

According to the Fort Bragg Police Department, officers responded to the scene around 11:33 a.m. on the 400 block of South Harrison Street after getting a report of the dog attack.

Upon arriving, police found an adult woman standing in the driveway with a dog bite wound on her face and deep lacerations to her left forearm. They immediately applied a pressure dressing to the woman’s forearm. After that, they learned there was another woman with the attacking pit bulls at the back of the house.

When medics were tending to the first victim, according to Chief Cervenka, the first officer on the scene made his way to the backyard and discovered a second adult female victim sitting on top of a hot tub with a large amount of blood covering her clothing.

The officer saw that a door to the house was open and discovered that two pit bulls were attacking a third inside. When the officer realized no people were inside the house, he closed the door and trapped the dogs inside.

The second victim reportedly lost a lot of blood due to severe injuries in both hands and arms. She also suffered from leg injuries. Two of the Fort Bragg police officers and a community service officer provided medical care to the victim to slow down the bleeding. They requested a second ambulance to the scene.

Both victims were taken to Adventist Health Mendocino Coast Hospital. However, the second victim’s injuries were so severe that she had to be flown out of the area for treatment.

An FBPD officer who was off-duty helped to confine the dogs. The most aggressive large white/black male pit bull was taken to Ukiah to be euthanized. The tan/white female pit bull, the second pit bull who attacked the third one, was taken for quarantine at the Ukiah Animal Shelter.

The Mendocino Coast Humane Society received the injured second female pit bull, the one that got attacked, for an evaluation from their veterinarian.

The two victims were reportedly familiar with the three animals and were taking care of the K9s at their owner’s house, Cervenka said.

Reputable Dog Bite Attorneys in Fort Bragg

Usually, dog bites are tense and aggressive, especially when several dogs are involved. If they survive, the attack victim will likely have puncture wounds, scratches, or crush injuries. The bite victim may require a rabies shot or other treatment if the dog’s vaccinations are outdated.

Puncture wounds from dog bites can take weeks to heal and cause excruciating pain. Attacks by dogs should receive medical attention as soon as possible. After that, you should get legal advice from a skilled dog bite lawyer.

Contact our firm for assistance if a dog bite or a loved one has injured you. Our Fort Bragg dog bite injury attorneys at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., are knowledgeable about California’s dog bite laws. They can help you file a claim.

Call us at (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I Have a Case?” form.

What to Do After a Dog Bite Accident

After a dog bite accident, here are the things you should do:

Assuming it is safe, it would be best to call the police after gathering information. It allows the authorities to record what occurred during the accident in a central database. They keep it in a file within the police department, and they can access it anytime.

Usually, the police will respond to an accident at the scene of the incident. However, if the authorities don’t arrive, you can contact or visit your local police station to report the accident.

Injuries sustained in a dog attack should be treated medically as soon as possible. Your prognosis may be improved the quicker doctors treat your wounds.

Contact an experienced California dog bite lawyer from our firm.

Dog Bite Injury Statistics

An estimated 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, more than 800,000 people seek medical attention after getting attacked by a dog. Children account for at least half of all bite victims.

Statistics show California had the highest number of fatal dog bites in 2019. Thirty-six dog attacks killed 15 children and 21 adults in 2018.

There are several ways in which dogs can attack you, including biting, scratching, and knocking you over. Dog bites result from a dog biting a person and causing them bodily harm. It is possible for a bite injury to cause infection, deformity, temporary or permanent damage, and even death.

Dog attack laws vary from state to state. Section 3342 of the California Penal Code outlines the steps to take in court in case of a dog bite. A dog bite victim who suffers losses while the owner is lawfully present is liable under this section for those losses.

Since dog bite accidents are so frequent, people should exercise caution when petting other dogs. Some dogs bite even when they are not provoked. That said, avoid physical contact with dogs.