Perkasie, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/07/2015 -- On January 2, 2015, PA dog bite injury lawyer Thomas J. Newell received a telephone call from a Bucks County woman whose Bichon was mauled to death by an unleashed pit bull mix breed dog. The PA dog attack victim wanted to know what her legal options were in filing a dog bite claim in Pennsylvania.

PENNSYLVANIA DOG LAW

When a dog attack happens in PA, there are 2 sections of the PA Dog Law which most frequently apply: Section 305 - Failure to Confine, and Section 502-A - Harboring a Dangerous Dog. Your Pennsylvania dog attack attorney informed her that if the police only charged the negligent pit bull owner with Failure to Confine, there would be no restitution for her vet/cremation expenses.

Only a conviction of Harboring a Dangerous Dog provides the District Justice with the ability to award restitution to the innocent dog owner. Attorney Newell reviewed with her these important distinctions regarding the PA Dog Law.

CIVIL LITIGATION

Unfortunately, under Pennsylvania's civil case law precedent, a dog owner is only able to recover the actual value of the dog, not the amount of vet/cremation expenses. An animal is viewed as chattel, just like a car, and therefore the recoverable cost to repair personal property cannot exceed its value. See Fox v. Ross, Chester County Court of Common Pleas #2011-06012, Judge Griffith's Decision of April 2, 2013.

PENNSYLVANIA DOG ATTACK ATTORNEY

About Thomas J. Newell
PA dog attack attorney Thomas J. Newell provides a free HOME consultation to anyone with a dog bite claim throughout Pennsylvania. Put his 34 years of personal injury litigation experience to work for you. Call him today at 800-980-4842.

For more information about Attorney Newell's dog bite claim expertise, visit http://www.newelllaw.com/

Follow him on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/DogAttackLawyer

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Perkasie, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/19/2014 -- On Dec. 3, 2014, Lehigh Valley dog attack lawyer, Thomas J. Newell, Esquire obtained a PA dog bite claim settlement of $101,000.00. As described in the court filings #'s 222-2013, 223-2013 and 224-2013 in the Lehigh County District Court of Judge Karen Devine, a dog attack took place on 2/16/13 in the 200 block of Jordan Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

COURT TESTIMONY

At the April 29, 2013 court hearing, the Lehigh Valley dog bite victim testified that she was bitten in the face by the defendant's dog as she was about to leave her home. The victim told the Judge that doctors at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown had to use numerous stitches to close the facial wounds.

PA dog warden Orlando Aguirre also testified regarding his investigation of this unprovoked dog attack. The court was informed of 5 prior attacks by this same dog. The Allentown dog owner was found guilty of the PA Dog Law violation of Harboring a Dangerous Dog.

PA DOG BITE CLAIM SETTLEMENT

Once the dog bite victim's medical care had ended, Attorney Newell obtained the medical records, bills and relevant photos. Those documents were forwarded to the defendant's homeowners insurance company by the Lehigh Valley dog bite attorney. The PA dog attack claim was settled for the insurance policy limit of $101,000.00.

LEHIGH VALLEY DOG ATTACK ATTORNEY

About Thomas J. Newell
Thomas J. Newell has represented many Lehigh Valley dog attack victims over the course of his 33 year legal career. He provides a free HOME consultation to all PA dog bite victims. Call him today at 1-800-980-4842. Information regarding 44 of Attorney Newell's settlement awards can be found at www.NewellLaw.com. Follow him on Twitter
@ www.twitter.com/DogAttackLawyer.

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Perkasie, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/05/2014 -- On Dec. 1, 2014, Carmen Rivera of Allentown, PA was found guilty of 2 violations of the PA Dog Law by District Justice Rashid Santiago in Lehigh County, PA in cases MJ-31102-NT-362-2014 and MJ-31102-NT-370-2014.

COURT TESTIMONY

Officer Ner of the Allentown Police Department testified that she was dispatched to the 700 block of Chestnut Street in Allentown after being notified of a dog attack. There, she found the 72 year-old victim with a large dog bite wound to his left leg.

Allentown Animal Control Officer Jeffrey Soldridge gave sworn testimony that the dog in question was a pit bull owned by Carmen Rivera that had bitten 2 other people in the past. The victim informed the court that he was working at his son's property when the unleashed pit bull suddenly appeared and began attacking him.

PA dog bite lawyer, Thomas J. Newell, Esq., testified as to the extent of his client's medical expenses and care, as well as the nature of the Medicare lien. The defendant admitted that her pit bull had attacked the victim and blamed its escape from her house on a defective fence.

PA DOG LAW CONVICTIONS

Judge Santiago found the pit bull owner guilty of Failure to Confine - § 305 of the PA Dog Law and Harboring a Dangerous Dog - § 502A of the PA Dog Law.

About Attorney Newell
PA dog attack lawyer, Thomas J. Newell, Esq., provides his full cooperation with all PA Dog Wardens and local Animal Control Officers in their prosecution of dog owners whose negligence results in injuries to his clients.

Attorney Newell attends all District Justice hearings and willingly provides the Commonwealth and the court with his legal expertise regarding the PA Dog Law.

FREE HOME CONSULTATION

Attorney Newell can be reached at 800-980-4842. You can also contact him via http://www.newelllaw.com/ or by Twitter @ https://twitter.com/DogAttackLawyer

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Perkasie, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/14/2014 -- On May 13, 2014, Bucks County, PA car accident lawyer, Thomas J. Newell obtained a $75,000.00 settlement for a Bucks County resident. As detailed in Pennridge Regional Police Department Report #13-00074, on March 4, 2013, a seventeen year old driver lost control of a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant on Cathill Road in West Rockhill Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The Police Report stated that the driver admitted that he was traveling at 60 mph when he entered a curve in the road. The posted speed limit was 25 mph. The teenager lost control of the car, it went off the opposite side of Cathill Road, striking a wall and rolling over onto its roof.

An eyewitness informed the investigating officer that he observed a passenger being ejected out of the car through the rear windshield. He ran to the young man to render aid and found him dazed and bleeding from the head and face.

Attorney Newell commented on the settlement: "I am happy that the car insurance company made a very fair settlement offer which avoided the necessity of suing my client's friend and classmate. Teenage drivers and high speeds are a potential lethal mixture and we are fortunate that none of the 3 occupants sustained life-threatening injuries."

About Thomas J. Newell
Thomas J. Newell has represented Pennsylvania personal injury victims since 1981. His main office is located just outside of Perkasie, PA in Hilltown Township. To arrange for a free HOME consultation, call Attorney Newell today at 800-980-4842. To review dozens of his car accident settlement summaries, please visit www.NewellLaw.com.

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