A 4-year-old boy is in the hospital after being severely injured in a dog attack. Jasper Debow Bridgeman was bitten by the family’s Rottweiler while at his grandmother’s home, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Paramedics airlifted the boy to St. Joseph’s hospital.
The dog got behind the boy and bit him on the neck and it took beating the dog on the head with a shovel to get it to release its grip. One ear was severed, and he is fighting for his life, according to news reports.
According to the CDC, each year, over 400,000 children in the United States require medical attention after being bitten by a dog, and over 20,000 need reconstructive surgery, which will most likely be required for little Jasper. Many of these attacks are from a family dog.
Our lawyers have handled many cases like this where a child was severely disfigured in a dog attack. When it is a family pet, there are issues of guilt and anger, and it is often hard for family members to understand that often the only way to get compensation for a child is to sue the dog owner, even if that owner is a parent.
In these cases, we recommend that both parents consult with one of our attorneys to hear an explanation of the law behind dog bite compensation. We can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), 612-338-0202 or via our free consultation form.