Pit Bull Attack Leaves Young Victim On Long Road To Recovery

Six-year-olds should be living care-free lives full of friends, school and play.For Tyah Norris, her life is one of pain and recovery.

On August 24th little Tyah was viciously attacked by 3 pit bulls.The focus of the attack was to Tyah's face and head.When Blackman Township Public Safety Officer Randy Hengesbaugh arrived on the scene, he didn't think an ambulance would come quickly enough to save her life.Against protocol, he took Tyah to Allegiance Health himself.The family believes he saved her live.

Tyah was ultimately taken to the Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor where she was hospitalized for nearly 3 weeks.She had surgery to repair damage to her eyes, nose and other features.Since her release, she must return to the hospital on a weekly basis for further treatment.Her family says that at night, Tyah has to wear tubes in her nose to keep her airways open. The scars to her cheek and around her swollen eyes are reportedly clearly visible and may be permanent.The left side of Tyah's face is numb and she can only achieve a half-smile.It is reported Tyah's head must be wrapped in gauze as there is no skin beneath it. Surgery is scheduled for October 19 where doctors will harvest skin from Tyah's thigh and use it to repair her head.She will likely need 3 - 4 more surgeries in the next 6 months.

How did this happen?Tyah says that a girl 4 years older than her invited Tyah into her yard.The yard was enclosed by a 6-foot wooden privacy fence.Inside the yard is where the attack occurred.The dogs were owned by the homeowners and have since been euthanized.The owners are being charged with a felony for keeping a dangerous animal that caused serious injury. The owners of the dogs claim that the dogs were not previously violent and that they cautioned the 6-year-old about going in the yard.

Michigan is a strict liability state in regards to dog bites, meaning a dog is not allowed "one free bite" as in some other states. No matter whether the dog has shown aggressive behavior in the past or if it has already bitten someone before, the dog owner may be held liable for the victim's injuries. The only exception would usually be if the victim was trespassing or provoked the dog in some manner.

If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog, you may be able to work with an attorney to file a claim against the owner to recover financial compensation for your injuries. At Freedman & Freedman, your initial consultation is free. We can meet with you in person, over the phone or can even travel to your home or to the hospital in order to discuss your case and what we can do for you.

Contact a Detroit Personal Injury Attorney at Freedman & Freedman today to talk about your claim and how you can bring the dog owner to justice.

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