Dog Bites Lawyers in New City, NY: We Help Victims Pursue Legal Justice and Financial Compensation

Dogs. ‘Man’s best friend.’ While many dogs are essential members of the family and serve as loving animal companions, the family dog, like most animals, is capable of harming people when pushed beyond a limit. Though we tend to believe that no dog is born malicious, and no specific dog breed is an inherent threat to the community, the fact that dog bites happen regularly across the country cannot be denied. And some of these attacks can be vicious, resulting in disfigurement or even death.

Just as no one ever wants to think about being injured in an animal attack, few ever think about the legal matters that would follow in the aftermath of such an incident.

If a dog has bitten you or a loved one, you have the right to take legal action against the dog owner. You may even be eligible to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, such as past and future medical expenses, lost wages, disfigurement, emotional distress, and any long-term pain and suffering.

Contact our law firm to discuss your case in more detail. Greenspan & Greenspan proudly serves personal injury victims in Westchester County, Rockland County, and surrounding localities in the state of New York. Our attorneys and associates have decades of experience providing compassionate legal care to clients in need. Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation to learn more about our legal services.

What are the Dog Bite Laws in the State of New York?

Some states have laws regarding animal bites that are simple and narrowly defined. New York, on the other hand, has dog bite laws that are more of a mixed bag.

If a dog bites you or your family member, the dog’s owner may be held strictly liable for your pain, suffering, and medical bills. What ‘strictly liable’ means, in this case, is that dog owners can be held financially responsible for any economic damages (such as lost wages or medical bills) caused by their dog biting another person. There does not need to be any act of negligence to prove that the dog was dangerous. New York considers a dangerous dog to be any dog that has attacked, injured, or killed a person, pet, or livestock animal without cause or justification.

However, the damages you may recover under this part of the law are limited. To receive maximum compensation, you must prove that the dog owner’s behavior was negligent, that they acted maliciously to cause harm, or that they should have known their dog was dangerous.

While the state of New York currently does not have a leash law, certain localities may have passed specific laws requiring that a dog be kept on a leash of a certain length and make.

Does New York Have a ‘One Bite’ Rule?

The so-called ‘one bite’ rule says that a dog who has never bitten a person cannot be considered dangerous and that only after that first bite is it considered a potentially dangerous dog.

New York does not officially have such a law.

However, the one bite rule does inform state laws regarding recovering damages beyond medical expenses, which means the dog owner may not have acted with negligence as to the aggressive tendencies of their pet.

What Services Does a Lawyer Provide for Victims of Animal Attacks?

As your legal representatives, we will attempt to build a case that pursues the most satisfactory outcome for you and your loved ones. To do this, our White Plains injury attorneys will investigate the dog and its owner. If the dog has a history of viciousness, either towards animals or people, it may count towards holding the dog owner negligent. Additionally, if the dog owner has a history of owning violent dogs, then this may call into question just what kind of dog owner they are and if their animals have been conditioned or trained for aggression.

We will also speak with eyewitnesses, review police reports, and examine medical records.

While you heal from your wounds, we will negotiate a fair settlement with insurance companies and handle any contentious other parties involved in the legal proceedings.

Why do Dogs Attack?

Dog bites are often unintentional. Most dogs learn to use a ‘soft mouth’ when playing and interacting with others.

However, sometimes a dog will bite people and other dogs intentionally. This is usually because the animal has been startled, scared, defensively backed into a corner, or is otherwise sick or stressed.

In some rare cases, a dog bites because it has been trained to do so by its owner.

What are Common Injuries of a Dog Attack?

Injuries can range from minor to catastrophic depending on the dog’s size, aggression (whether it was one bite or a mauling), and certain other factors.

Typical dog bite injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Bruises
• Crush and puncture wounds
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Head and neck injuries
• Infection
• Loss of limbs
• Loss of sight
• Mental anguish
• Nerve damage
• Soft tissue damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Wrongful death

Schedule a Free Consultation with Experienced Dog Bites Attorneys in New City, NY

If you’re the victim of a dog bite, you have the legal right to pursue financial compensation from the dog’s owners. Dog bite laws in New York can seem at once simple and needlessly complicated. To ensure that you get the settlement you deserve, hire experienced dog bite injury attorneys as your professional legal counsel.

To schedule a free consultation, call our New City, NY, law office at (845) 422-8060.