New York City Dog Bite Attorney
While we all love dogs, it’s important to remember that they can bite. One may not think of the risks involved with dog bites – an all-too-common source of injury throughout the United States – but these animal bite incidents may be far more serious than most people understand. Dog bites can lead to severe pain, illness, and even death. Victims of dog and other animal bites may need expensive medical treatment and may not be able to work while they recover from their injuries. If you or a loved one has been bitten by someone else’s dog and received injuries, you may have a legal claim. Nicholas E. Tzaneteas is the leading New York City, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan dog bite lawyer, helping injury victims recover the compensation they deserve for their injuries and the consequences of dog bite incidents.
Dog Bites: The Facts
Dog bites are widespread in the United States. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated a week in April as “Dog Bite Prevention Week” — that’s how serious the potential for a dog attack is. Nearly five million dog bites occur each year here in the U.S., according to the CDC. About 800,000 victims will seek medical attention, and about half of these people – 386,000 dog bite victims – will need emergency medical treatment. In some cases, medical care may be ongoing, requiring surgery and long-term therapy for victims to recover from their injuries.
CDC dog bite statistics by breed revealed that pit bulls were involved in most of the accidents and injuries. The pit bull is arguably one of the most aggressive dogs there is, and responsible for close to 300 deaths. But take note, any type of dog can and will bite.
Dog bite injuries can vary in severity and type, but commonly include:
• Lacerations and puncture wounds
• Torn tendons
• Sprains and strains
• Broken bones
• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Neck and back injuries
• Infections
• Rabies and other animal-transmitted viral diseases
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and emotional trauma as a result of a dog bite injury can also occur, particularly in children. Intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood swings, guilt, irrational thoughts and fears, recurring nightmares, sleep loss, mental anguish, and memory problems are all symptoms of PTSD. A dog bite injury frequently leaves scars and disfiguring blemishes that bring back memories of the attack.
Children represent about half of all dog bite injury victims, but dogs can and will bite anyone at any age, potentially leading to injury or even death. In the past 10 years, almost 400 people in the United States have died as a result of bites and other wounds caused by dog attacks.
The medical costs and deaths are only part of the picture. In statistics compiled by insurance companies, over $1 billion in claims are paid out each year as a result of dog bite incidents, usually as claims on homeowners’ insurance policies. Some insurance companies, however, will not insure homeowners who own certain breeds of dogs categorized as dangerous, such as pit bulls. There are separate dog bite liability insurance policies available that insure all types of breeds that dog owners can purchase.
The number of dog bite claims nationwide increased in 2021 to 17,989 from 17,597 in 2020—a 2.2% increase, according to an analysis of homeowners insurance claims data by the Triple-I, an online source for insurance information.
Seeking Legal Help for Dog Bite Injuries from New York City, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan Dog Bite Lawyers
Dog bite victims in the greater New York City metro area may not know how critical an experienced and competent legal expert is when seeking legal help after a dog bite incident. There are three types of laws that hold dog owners liable for their dogs’ aggressions:
- A dog-bite statute: The dog owner is automatically liable for any injury or property damage caused by the dog without provocation.
- The one-bite rule: The dog owner is liable for a dog-related injury if the owner knew the dog was likely to cause that type of injury—in this case, the victim must prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
- Negligence laws: These laws hold the dog owner liable if the injury occurred as a result of the dog owner’s unreasonable carelessness (negligence) in controlling the dog.
For years, the law office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas has helped injury victims – including hundreds of victims of dog and other animal bites — receive the financial compensation they deserve for their injuries.
A dog bite lawsuit is typically filed against the dog owner or handler, and may include property owners and landlords as well. A personal injury lawyer with experience in premises liability and animal bites is needed to successfully navigate the complex arena of these types of cases. Victims of dog bites may be eligible for financial compensation, including:
• Medical expenses
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Future medical costs associated with physical therapy or long-term care
• Temporary and permanent disabilities
• Disfigurement
• Punitive damages
• Lost wages/loss of earning potential
Dog bite victims in the NYC area have specific legal rights. Let the law office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas, an experienced New York City, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan dog bite lawyer, help you preserve your rights and to fight for the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite, seek medical attention immediately and document the injury with photographs. Then, call our firm at (718) 285-9955. As NYC’s premier personal injury attorney, we provide free consultation for dog bite claims.