Dogs are the most popular pets in the United States, with nearly half a million dogs in New York state alone. And while man’s best friend enjoys unprecedented favor among pet owners, dog ownership is not without its issues. Per the Center for Disease Control, there are nearly four and a half million reports of dog bites each year in the United States. What do you do if you or someone you love are the victim of a dog attack? Our attorneys at the Law Offices of Yuriy Moshes are proficient in New York dog bite laws, and can help you with your case. All you have to do is visit our website to arrange for a free consultation with one of our dog bite injury lawyers.
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New York Dog Bite Lawyer
In 2017, the New York City Department of Health released a study that shined a spotlight on more than 6,300 dog bites that resulted in visits to the emergency room in just 2014. That resulted in more than $17-million in expenses for those and other related hospital stays. Every year, New York sees about 4,000 reported dog bites.
Children are more likely to be dog bite victims than adults, often because they don’t understand the potential unpredictability of dogs. Sometimes dog bites can even be fatal. A good dog attack lawyer can help you understand who can be held responsible for your dog bite attack.
Understanding New York’s Dog Bite Laws
If you or a loved one are the victim of a dog bite attack, the statute of limitations in New York is three years from the date of incident. That’s why it’s important to consult an attorney to understand your rights and how dog bite laws in New York apply to your case. New York takes a hybrid approach to dog bite cases. It imposes strict liability meaning the owner is strictly liable for medical expenses from a dog attack. But the owner can’t be liable for additional damages unless the dog has a proven history of aggression or the owner is negligent.
Who Is Responsible For My Injuries
As mentioned the owner can be held strictly liable for medical expenses incurred in a current dog bite case. Other parties can be sued for damages under New York’s shared fault rule.
- Landlords
- Property owners
- Dogsitters
- Dogwalkers
This means you can potentially go for damages from parties other than just the dog owner.
What Can Our NYC Dog Bite Injury Attorney Do For You
Time is of the essence with having only 3 years from the date of incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Our dog bite injury lawyers can discuss legal options with you. We also investigate, negotiate, or take your case to court to maximize your compensation.
Review Your Legal Options
How severe was the injury? Did you have to have surgery? Did you have to spend time in the hospital? Did you lose out on wages from work? Did you incur, and are you incurring ongoing, medical expenses? A dog bite injury lawyer can review your case and legal options to determine the best course of action and compensation to pursue.
Investigation
A dog bite injury attorney will investigate the circumstances of a dog attack. They will talk with neighbors of the dog owner to see if they’ve ever witnessed any past events of aggression from the dog. The attorney will also consult with dog bite and behavioral experts. Look into whether proper precautions were taken that could’ve prevented the dog attack.
Negotiation
Our attorneys will work to negotiate a settlement which includes complete coverage for your medical expenses. We will work with or negotiate with insurance companies and other potentially liable parties for any and all eligible compensation not coming directly from the dog owner. We will also work toward securing the dog to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
We Handle All Dog Bite Injury Cases in New York
The Law Offices of Yuriy Moshes handles any and all dog bite cases for New York City as well as statewide. We know the legal ins and outs of these cases to help you recover and get on with your life as quickly as possible. Fill out the form on our website for a free consultation to get the process started today.
Aggressive Incidents
New York law classifies a dog as dangerous if it attacks and injures or kills a person or animal without justification. It can also be considered dangerous if a reasonable person believes the dog could pose “a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious injury or death”. The New York Supreme Court has also ruled that a jury can consider several factors in determining whether a dog shows a “vicious propensity”, including fighting with other animals, growling or teeth baring, use of a dog muzzle and past complaints against a dog.
Non-Aggressive Incidents
A dog cannot be considered dangerous or aggressive in the following circumstances
- If the victim instigated the attack through “teasing” or taunting or abusing the animal
- The person was injured in the act of committing a crime against the owner or the owner’s property
- The dog was acting out due to pain or an injury
- The dog was protecting itself or its owner from the person it attacked
In these cases, expert testimony and evaluation may be needed to determine if the dog attack falls into a justified or “not-dangerous animal” category. Military and police dogs are also exempt if an attack happens while “on the job”.
Dog-on-Dog Aggression
A dangerous dog’s owner can be held liable if the dog attacks another pet, service dog, guide dog or hearing dog.
Compensation Our Dog Bite Attorneys NY Can Pursue
Our attorneys can pursue damages in a dog bite personal injury case. Due to strict liability, the dog owner can, at minimum, be held responsible for medical expenses for the immediate event. But whether they’re liable for other damages depends if the owner knew the dog had a history of being dangerous and could hurt a person. If it can be proven the dog had a history of aggressive and violent behavior other damages like lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent damages can be sought and awarded. Below is a breakdown of some of the additional damages possible:
Lost Wages
- Lost wages due to not being able to work while recovering
- Lost future earning capacity if on temporary or permanent disability
Pain And Suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Wrongful death
Permanent Damages
- Permanent injury resulting in reduced quality of life
- Scarring
- Permanent disfigurement
Other Related Losses
- Property damage
Why Choose Us As Your NY Dog Bite Injury Lawyers
There are many facets to a dog bite personal injury case. We will pursue every means possible (medical costs from the owner, additional damages from insurance companies and other parties like landlords or property owners) to collect the maximum amount of compensation you’re entitled to. We work with the community to get a complete picture of what happened, especially to keep it happening again to other innocent victims.
Contact An Experienced Dog Attack Lawyer in NYC
Owning a dog can be a very rewarding experience. But for the times a dog may turn unpredictable and attack someone, the dog bite injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Yuriy Moshes are ready to assist you with your personal injury case.
Call us today, or visit us online for a free consultation
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