New York City Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

The trauma of a dog bite or attack can last the victim a lifetime, both emotionally and physically. While most dogs are loving, friendly animals, some dogs are aggressive and must be kept secured on their property, requiring strict supervision from their owners when they are taken off the property. If you were bitten or attacked by a dog in New York City, you must take legal action as soon as possible. At Parker Waichman LLP, our New York City Dog bite injury lawyers can investigate the incident to uncover the truth and hold the negligent dog owner responsible for your medical bills. In some cases, you may also be able to pursue additional compensation and hold the negligent owner liable for other related damages. During this challenging time, while you focus on your recovery and moving forward with your life, let our NYC dog bite injury lawyers handle your case and help you recover maximum compensation for your losses.

New York City Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

New York City Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

The trauma of a dog bite or attack can last the victim a lifetime, both emotionally and physically. While most dogs are loving, friendly animals, some dogs are aggressive and must be kept secured on their property,  requiring strict supervision from their owners when they are taken off the property. If you were bitten or attacked by a dog in New York City, you must take legal action as soon as possible. At Parker Waichman LLP, our New York City Dog bite injury lawyers can investigate the incident to uncover the truth and hold the negligent dog owner responsible for your medical bills.

In some cases, you may also be able to pursue additional compensation and hold the negligent owner liable for other related damages. During this challenging time, while you focus on your recovery and moving forward with your life, let our NYC dog bite injury lawyers handle your case and help you recover maximum compensation for your losses.

How Can a New York City Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Help?

If you were bitten by a dog, you may have sustained life-changing injuries that can require ongoing medical treatment, including reconstructive surgery. If you’re unable to work or you missed a significant amount of work as you were recovering from your injuries, you must take legal action as soon as possible. At Parker Waichman LLP, our dog bite injury lawyers can help during this time, in many ways, including:

  • Investigate the incident
  • Gather evidence
  • Contact animal control to learn whether the dog has a history of attacks
  • Identify the dog’s owner
  • Calculate damages
  • File paperwork
  • Handle all communication with the insurance company
  • File a lawsuit, if necessary, and represent you in court
During this time, while you focus on your recovery, let an experienced dog bite injury lawyer on our legal team handle every aspect of your case and fight for your right to fair compensation.

What to Do After a Dog Bite Incident

If you were bitten by a dog, your top priority is getting medical attention. Your next priority should be contacting a New York City dog bite injury lawyer at Parker Waichman LLP.

The following steps will help you protect your health and legal rights:

Seek Immediate Medical Treatment

Regardless of how severe you believe the bite to be, you must have a medical evaluation as soon as possible. Even a harmless, minor bite can result in a serious, life-threatening infection.

Document the Incident

Document the details of the incident. Take photos of your injuries, and the scene where the attack took place, and note the time, date, and location of the incident. Write down a description of the dog and anything the owner of the dog said.

Report the Incident

Contact animal control or law enforcement to report the incident. Doing so will create an official record of the attack, which can help strengthen your case.

Obtain Contact Information

If anyone witnessed the incident obtain their names and contact information. Witness testimony can help corroborate your account of the attack. If you’re able to identify the dog’s owner, obtain their name, insurance information, and contact information.

Contact a Dog Bite Injury Attorney

Schedule a free legal consultation with an experienced dog bite injury lawyer at Parker Waichman LLP as soon as possible. Bring any evidence and documentation you have to your consultation. This can include your medical records, police report, medical bills, and photos of your injuries.

NY Dog Bite Laws

In some cases, the dog’s owner may not be the only party that can be held liable for your injuries and other losses. 
The following parties can be held liable for a dog bite incident:

  • Owner of the dog
  • Landlords
  • The individual responsible for pet-sitting or watching the dog
  • Property owners
An experienced dog bite injury lawyer can determine if you have a claim against multiple parties. Naming more than one defendant can help the injured party maximize their compensation.

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Our law firm is ready to represent you in your injury case. We’ve helped many New York residents as well as those needing help nationwide. Contact our team for a free case consultation today.

I highly recommend this law firm for their excellent work on my case. Tina went above and beyond to ensure a successful outcome. Her dedication and hard work were evident throughout the entire process. She was always available to answer my questions and provided clear communication every step of the way. The firm as a whole was professional, knowledgeable, and provided exceptional service. I am grateful for their expertise and highly recommend them to anyone in need of legal assistance.
Danny Mulholland
a year ago
It was a pleasure working with Michelle Josama and Michael Zaransky. Michelle was very pleasant and courteous. Michael was very professional. Both made me feel like they really care. I would highly recommend them. Great team.
Crystal Moore
6 years ago
Parker Waichman LLP helped me with my case. It all started with a visit from Jorge Peniche who was extremely professional, courteous and detailed with my case. All of my questions and concerns were addressed. I was provided with evidence, my emails, phone calls and inquiries were addressed in a timely fashion with great guidance and care. I am very grateful and appreciative as I had never been through this experience. They were great, a special thanks to Jorge Peniche, who was amazing, the lawyer in my case, Denny Tang and the nurse at the firm. Greatly appreciated. Kindly, Kathy
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5 years ago
I was pleased with how they handled my case from beginning to end. They were also very good with providing information and returning calls. Positive Professionalism
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3 years ago

NY Dog Bite Laws

New York’s dog bite laws consist of a mixture of strict liability and the one-bite rule. One-bite rules can be complex. Typically, if it’s a dog’s first time biting someone, their owner will not be held liable for damages, other than medical bills.
In New York, the mixed liability laws apply as follows:

  • The owner of the dog is strictly liable for the cost of medical treatment for any dog attack
  • The owner of the dog is only liable for additional damages if they knew or should’ve known that their animal had a history of biting
While the dog’s owner can be held strictly liable for medical bills, it can be challenging to hold them responsible for additional damages. Dog owners are also held strictly liable if the incident involved a dangerous dog.

Dangerous Dog Laws in New York

The state defines dangerous dogs as:

  • The dog attacks, injures, or kills a human or another animal
  • The dog has acted aggressively, in a way that causes a reasonable person to believe the animal could cause imminent or serious harm
However, if there is justification for a dog acting aggressively or causing death or injury, the dog may not be considered dangerous.

Damages After a Dog Bite Incident

Regardless of whether a dog has attacked anyone in the past, the owner of the dog can be strictly liable for medical bills. If the owner of the dog was negligent, or if the animal has a history of viciousness, the injured party may be entitled to additional compensation for the following types of damages:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of income
  • Disability
  • Emotional distress
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

And more.

At Parker Waichman LLP, a New York City dog bite injury lawyer on our legal team will focus on maximizing the verdict or settlement you secure.

Types of Dog Bite Injuries

A dog attack can result in devastating injuries that can impact the victim’s life forever. A dog’s claws, powerful jaws, and sharp teeth can cause significant injuries, including:

  • Puncture wounds
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Broken bones
  • Evisceration
  • Eye injuries
  • Nerve damage
  • Facial injuries
  • Permanent scarring and disfigurement
  • Injured ligaments and muscles
  • Wrongful death
A dog attack can also cause emotional injuries, such as anxiety, distress, PTSD, depression, and more.

Contact Us Today

A dog bite can result in devastating, disfiguring injuries, PTSD, and significant financial burdens. If you were bitten by a dog in New York City due to a negligent dog owner, Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced dog bite injury lawyer and learn how we can help you recover the compensation you’re owed.
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If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident or have been injured by another party in some other way, we are here to stand up for your rights. Our personal injury attorneys have been representing injury victims and their families in Long Island and throughout the nation since the early 1980s.