Virginia & Norfolk Wrongful Death Example: Fatal Dog Bite Incident

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with the tragic loss of a man who was bitten by a dog in Seattle, according to The Seattle Times.  Kenneth Bock went to the hospital with severe pain in his leg after the dog bite incident, and doctors found a blood clot and discovered that he had developed an infection from the bite.  Specifically, Bock was diagnosed with Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis, a bacterium often found in cat or dog saliva, which led to tissue necrosis and multiple organ failure.  According to the Bock family attorney, Chris Davis, the dog bite victim suffered a painful death (he died 10 days after he was bitten).

Attorney Chris Davis and Bock's family members claim that the dog's owner, Konrad Haskins, knew that "Buddy," a Redbone Coonhound, had a history of biting people.  Even though Haskins was aware of the dog's tendency to bite people, they claim, he still let the Coonhound roam without a leash.  Haskins and his attorney argue that Buddy was on a leash the day of the dog bite.  The dog owner also claims that Buddy was in his SUV when Bock reached through the window to pet the dog, prompting the bite.  Davis and the Bock family, however, have stated that the dog was wandering the property of the mini storage company when the bite occurred.  Davis explains that a dog's owner can be held liable for injuries or death from a dog bite if the owner was previously aware of the dog's potential harm to people, According to Davis, veterinary records revealed that Buddy had bitten people when he was a puppy.

Although this incident occurred in Washington state, fatal dog bites can occur anywhere, including Virginia.  As a Virginia wrongful death lawyer serving the families of fatal accident victims in Norfolk, Eastern Shore, Nassawadox, Newport News, Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, and other areas in the state, Lawrence Land is familiar with the indescribable pain of sudden loss.  At the law office of Lawrence Land, we express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Kenneth Bock.  If you have questions about dog bite cases in Norfolk or another part of Virginia, feel free to contact Lawrence Land online or toll-free at 800-800-1911 for free resources and answers to your specific concerns.