Long Island Dog Bite Injury Lawyers

How Can a Long Island Dog Bite Injury Attorney Help?

The aftermath of a dog attack can be traumatic, stressful, and overwhelming. As you recover from your injuries, you may be out of work, and unsure of how to locate the dog’s owner and how to hold them accountable. When you hire a Long Island dog bite injury lawyer at Parker Waichman LLP, they will handle every aspect of your case, providing the legal support and guidance you need during this difficult time. 

Other ways your dog bite injury attorney can help include:

• Investigating the circumstances of the attack
• Gathering evidence
• Assessing damages
• Preparing your claim and filing it with the insurance company
• Handling all communication with the insurance company
• Negotiating fair compensation
• Filing a lawsuit if a fair settlement cannot be reached
• Representing you in court

Can I File a Dog Bite Claim?

Dog bite laws on Long Island are very complex. Some states follow strict liability laws or one-bite rules. The state of New York follows a combination of these laws.

Understanding Vicious Propensity

To recover both economic and non-economic damages in a dog bite claim, you must prove vicious propensity. This will require conducting an in-depth investigation into the dog’s history to determine if the owner knew that the animal was capable of violence. Dog bites must be reported to the county health department, in the county you were in at the time of the attack. The county health department may have records that show the dog has bitten others in the past, which can help strengthen your claim and prove vicious propensity. If the dog displays aggressive behaviors, such as lunging at strangers, growling, or snapping, this can also prove vicious propensity. If you provoked the animal in any way and this resulted in the dog bite, the animal may be exempt from the “dangerous” status. An experienced Long Island dog bite injury lawyer at Parker Waichman LLP can investigate the incident and review the animal’s history to determine if you’re entitled to economic and non-economic damages.

Regardless of whether the animal was provoked, or whether they do or don't have a history of attacking anyone, under New York state law, the owner of the dog is required to pay for the injured party’s medical treatment.

Common Injuries in a Dog Attack

A dog bite incident or attack can cause a variety of injuries, some of which can be life-changing. 

Common injuries sustained in dog attacks include:

Puncture wounds

A dog has strong jaws and sharp teeth that can cause deep puncture wounds that may cause significant damage and can require multiple surgeries.

Broken bones

 The force of a dog’s powerful jaws can cause bone fractures.

Infection

A dog bite can result in a serious infection due to the bacteria in the dog’s mouth.

Scarring and disfigurement

Deep puncture wounds, degloving, and other serious injuries can cause significant scarring and disfigurement, which can require multiple surgeries.

Emotional trauma

A dog bite incident can cause severe and lasting emotional trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, fear of dogs, and depression. Severe attacks can result in life-threatening injuries, such as head injuries, nerve damage, and degloving injuries. Because of this, it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after an attack to protect your legal rights and health. 

What to Do if You Have Been Bitten By a Dog

If you were attacked or bitten by a dog, it’s important to take the following steps to protect your health and legal rights:

• Seek medical treatment
• Contact animal control or the police as soon as possible to file a report 
• Identify the animal and obtain their owner’s name, contact information, insurance information, and address.
• Take photos of your injuries, torn clothing, and other evidence of the attack
• If people witnessed the attack, obtain their names and contact information
• Contact a Long Island Dog bite injury lawyer at Parker Waichman LLP to schedule a free legal consultation.

What is the Statute Of Limitations in New York?

The statute of limitations in New York is three years from the date of the incident. Failure to meet the statute of limitations deadline can result in the dismissal of your case, barring you from recovering compensation for your accident-related losses. When you hire an attorney at Parker Waichman LLP, they will handle every aspect of your case, including ensuring your case is filed within the statute of limitations.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer On Long Island?

At Parker Waichman LLP, our dog bite injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Under this type of payment arrangement, you will pay no upfront fees and if your case is not successful, you owe nothing. This payment arrangement allows victims of dog attacks to obtain experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable legal representation as soon as possible to increase their chances of a successful outcome to their case.

Contact Us Today

If you were bitten by a dog on Long Island and suffered injuries, you must take legal action. At Parker Waichman LLP, our dog bite injury lawyers can help you pursue compensation for medical bills and other losses. We know how traumatic a dog bite incident can be and know that the effects of a dog attack can be long-lasting. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how a Long Island dog bite injury lawyer on our legal team can help.