Two women from Oxford, Connecticut were hospitalized after being attacked by a German Sheppard. The dog, owned by a neighbor, crossed the street from its home and chased down the women. It jumped on the women, aged 49 and 37. Both women suffered wounds to their arms and legs as a result of the attack. An ambulance took the women to a nearby hospital for treatment. No information is available about the severity of the bites caused by the dog.
According to police reports, the dog first attacked one of the women, but the owner was able to stop the attack. Thereafter, the dog broke free from its owner and attacked the other woman, who was attempting to help the first woman attacked by the dog.
The dog’s owner was charged with two counts of allowing the dog to roam and two counts of having a nuisance animal. The owner also received a citation for having an expired rabies certificate for the pet.
Liability for Connecticut Dog Bites
Although not the case in every state, dog owners in Connecticut are subject to strict liability when their pets injure others. According to the law in Connecticut, dog owners are liable for “damage to either the body or property of any person,” caused by their pet. One exception exists when those over seven years of age are injured by a dog while they are “committing a trespass or other tort, or [were] teasing, tormenting or abusing,” the animal.
Those who have been injured by a dog bite may be able to receive damages to cover the expenses associated with their injuries and other potential losses. Consulting with a skilled personal injury attorney is one way to ensure just compensation is received.
Source: Norwich Bulletin, “Connecticut women attacked by German shepherd,” August 17, 2012.
Our firm handles situations in which individuals sustain injuries due to dog bites. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our New Haven dog bite injury page.
