Jun 14, 2021
A tragic story out of Elizabeth, New Jersey, surfaced last week, leaving a community mourning. A 3-year-old boy died after falling from a window at his parent’s home and landing in the backyard. Subsequently, the toddler was mauled by two dogs owned by the family.
At approximately 5:25 p.m. on June 9, Elizabeth Police Department officers responded to a home and found a toddler with serious injuries, according to multiple media reports. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the child had fallen approximately 10 feet.
The boy, whose identity has not been released, was taken to local Trinitas Regional Medical Center. He was pronounced dead just after 6:30 p.m. Authorities stated it is not yet clear what caused the child’s death, according to a local FOX 11 report.
The backyard area where the boy fell was enclosed by a fence, and the two dogs reportedly attacked immediately after the fall. “I heard something like bang and then I heard someone was screaming like, ‘Help! No stop, no stop!‘” a neighbor who declined to give her name told NJ.com.
The dogs were reportedly secured by animal control workers at the scene and then taken to an undisclosed location. Information regarding the breed of the dogs was not immediately released, but an ABC News report from June 12 identified the animals as pit bulls.
In an interview with WABC, Maria Rocha, a neighbor, said she witnessed the moments immediately after the dog attack. “I saw the mother, she was full of blood in her hands, her shirt,” Rocha said. “And I was like, ‘what happened?’ so I came here because it was full of police and she told me, ‘My baby, my baby, I went to the bathroom and my baby fell out the window.'”
The incident remains under investigation and no charges have been filed up to this point. The 3-year-old boy was the only individual who sustained any injuries in the incident.
NJ.com reported shortly after the attack that city officials were moving to euthanize the two dogs. “The dogs are currently quarantined, and the City is moving towards euthanizing them,” said Kelly Martins, spokeswoman for Elizabeth.
The NJ.com report also cited a woman who lives in the area as describing the dogs being “aggressive” and having seen the animals “jumping and barking” whenever she walked past.
On June 13, Clara McGregor – actress and daughter of actor Ewan McGregor – revealed she had been the victim of a dog bite via an Instagram post. “When a dog bite lands you in the ER 30 mins before the red carpet,” McGregor wrote, along with a picture showing cuts and scrapes under her eye and along her nose from the dog bite attack.
The actress reportedly went to the emergency room after the dog bite and then proceeded to a premiere event for the upcoming film, The Birthday Cake. McGregor posed for pictures on the red carpet with the dog bite marks visible on her face and reportedly received an outpouring of support from fans.
Additionally, on June 9 a local media outlet reported on a gruesome dog bite attack in Kampsville, Illinois. A FedEx delivery man was making a routine stop at a home when two dogs escaped and proceeded to attack him.
According to a local sheriff, two American bulldogs unlatched a door and ran towards the driver, eventually biting him and causing serious damage to his arms.
“At the scene, it was bad. It’s the worst I’ve seen,” Sheriff William Heffington said to local NBC affiliate, KSDK. The homeowners arrived back at the scene shortly after the dog attack occurred. The FedEx driver reportedly needed immediate medical attention.
“It was bad enough to send him to the hospital by air,” the sheriff said.
The sheriff expressed disbelief, noting the dogs had no prior history of aggressive behavior or complaints. “Neighbors come and go too,” the sheriff said. “That’s why it was surprising they attacked.”
Due to the severity of the dog bites, the state of Illinois is reportedly involved in the matter.
The dog owners were served summonses and must appear in court. The courts will reportedly decide what happens next, and the KSDK article noted euthanasia is a possibility.
“The owners are pretty upset about the whole thing too. They couldn’t believe what they saw from their dogs. I know the homeowners are having trouble dealing with this and they feel really bad about it all,” Sheriff Heffington said.
The dogs are currently being detained by authorities. The FedEx driver’s family set up a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the extensive medical bills.
FedEx issued the following statement following the dog bite:
First and foremost, our thoughts remain focused on the well-being of the individual involved in this incident. There is no higher priority for FedEx Ground than the safety and security of our team members and we are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities at this time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur annually in the United States. Of those nearly 5 million dog attacks, roughly 800,000 require medical care. Dog bite injuries were highest among children between the ages of five and nine years.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provides the following tips for preventing dog bites involving children:
Additionally, the ASPCA provides the following tips for preventing dog bites involving adults:
As we’ve noted in previous blogs, even if you sustain a minor injury from a dog bite, you may be eligible for compensation. Enduring pain and suffering on top of medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma deserves maximum financial compensation to ensure a complete recovery – physically, emotionally, and financially.
The experienced team of dog bite attorneys at Dordulian Law Group (DLG) are here to help you after an unfortunate attack. We’ve helped countless dog bite victims recover maximum damages awards for various types of injuries – major and minor.
If you experienced a dog bite injury, don’t wait to file a claim. Contact our expert attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.
We’ll fight to ensure the animal owner is held responsible for all of your financial losses resulting from the dog bite injury, as well as any non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, psychological trauma, and more.
Don’t put your dog bite claim in the hands of a firm that will not treat it with the dedication and attention it deserves. Contact the best dog bite lawyers in California led by former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian. With over 100 jury trial victories, Dordulian has the experience needed to help you recover the damages award you deserve.
DLG’s 98% success rate and history of recovering over $200,000,000 in settlements and verdicts is proof that when you bring us your dog bite personal injury claim, we’ll fight aggressively as your dedicated advocate to ensure you are able to move forward without having to worry about mounting medical bills or lost wages. Contact us today online or by phone at 866-GO-SEE-SAM to learn more about how we can help you win your dog bite injury claim.
Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.
Do you have a case? Let's find out.