New York Dog Bite Injury Lawyers

At their best, dogs are friendly animals that make great family pets. But thousands of people each year are reminded that no matter how human dogs may seem, they’re still animals, with an instinct to protect themselves, their territory and their “pack.” Among large dogs with the strength and breeding to make them dangerous to humans, that instinct can be deadly. If you or someone you love has sustained serious injuries from a dog attack, you should call the dog attack attorneys at Myers, Singer & Galiardo.

A few irresponsible dog owners even take advantage of this instinct to train their dogs to attack, but don’t train or control the dogs well enough. As a result, 386,000 Americans visit a hospital emergency room to treat a dog bite each year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Six thousand more are hospitalized annually, and about 17 die each year, at a cost of more than $164 million a year. The vast majority of victims of dog-attack deaths are senior citizens and children under 14 — including sleeping infants.

Dogs attack by clamping onto victims’ flesh with powerful jaws and sharp teeth, ripping and tearing flesh and breaking the bones beneath. According to a 2001 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most dog bite injuries are scrapes and cuts. These injuries may sound mild, but they can be quite serious in the youngest victims, whose height makes their vulnerable heads and necks easy for dogs to reach. In fact, the CDC’s study found that 64.9% of victims under four years old sustained head and neck injuries, which can include crushed skulls, eye injuries, facial nerve damage and lifelong scarring.

Adults are most likely to be bitten in the arms or legs, but can still suffer broken bones, amputations, significant blood loss, scarring, nerve damage and even amputation. All ages are vulnerable to secondary infections from the dogs’ teeth, which act as primitive syringes that drive disease deep into the flesh of victims. And while they may not be as apparent as a broken bone, victims may also have emotional injuries, such as crippling phobias of dogs, the outdoors or other situations related to the attack.

In New York, owners are liable for their dogs’ attacks on humans, if the owner knew that the dog had a “vicious propensity”.  Importantly, one need not show that the dog previously attacked a person to establish vicious propensity.

“A vicious propensity is not limited to a bite or other attack, but ‘includes a propensity to act in a manner that may endanger the safety of another, whether playful or not.” (Provorse v Curtis, 288 AD2d 832  see, Mitura v Roy, 174 AD2d 1020; see also, Anderson v Carduner, 279 AD2d 369, 369-370).”Marquardt v Milewski, 288 AD2d 928, 732 NYS2d 801.

Thus, the dog does not necessarily get one bite for “free”.  IF the owner was aware of should have been aware of its dog’s vicious propensity and the dog bites someone, the owner is strictly liable for the damage caused.  Bard v. Jahnke, 6 NY3rd 592 (N.Y. 2006).   A good New York dog bite lawyer can help evaluate your case and prove it to a jury. In a dog bite injury lawsuit, you may be able to win compensation for all of your injuries, including past and future medical bills, the costs of missing work days, ongoing therapy, permanent disability and wrongful death.

We have won millions for injured clients, including children who have been attacked by neighborhood dogs.   But you should move fast to identify the dog, its owner and any witnesses and document the full extent of your injuries.  It is often possible to uncover sources of insurance that may be available to compensate the injured party, such as the dog owner’s home owner’s policy.  Or, if the dog lives in an apartment building and has previously attacked persons within the building, the landlord or building owner may also face liability for the negligent failure to take steps to prevent future attacks.  Either way, the experienced dog bite injury attorneys at Myers, Singer & Galiardo can help. For a free evaluation of your case, call us today.