If you have been attacked and bitten by someone else’s dog, you are eligible to recover compensation under New York personal injury law. After a dog bite, however, there are certain measures you must take to make sure that your rights are protected. An experienced New York personal injury lawyer will be able to inform you on what actions are required.
After a Dog Bite | Questions to Ask the Dog Owner
If you’re here, there’s a good chance that you or someone you care about was attacked by a dog. The question you may have is, “What should I say or ask the owner of that dog?” First, you want to find out if the dog has had proper vaccination for rabies. You also want to find out, either through the owner or other sources, whether that dog has bitten anyone in the past. Did that dog have the propensity to cause harm? That’s very important if you’re going to pursue a claim against the owner of the dog.
After a Dog Bite | Determining Liability
If you were seriously injured by a dog, you very well may have a case. Depending on the circumstances, you will have a case against the dog owner if they were negligent (acted in a way that let this incident happen or did not take preventative measures). This will vary case to case, but typically the liability falls on the owner of the dog.
Let’s say, for instance, you were walking down the street and all of a sudden, a dog comes bounding out of a house and attacks you. Perhaps the owner of this dog did not have their front door closed or their fence locked, and their dog got out. This would be where that owner was acting negligently.
You may be worried if you noticed a “BEWARE OF DOG” sign placed on this person’s property. It is understandable that you might be concerned that this would affect your ability to bring a claim, however this type of sign does not hold any weight of significance if this dog owner did not take measures to prevent their dog from attacking. A sign like that is not going to mean much if you were an innocent passerby that was severely hurt because someone else was being careless.
Choosing the Right Attorney for Your Case
Getting the right attorney for your dog bite case can mean the difference between settling for much less than you deserve or getting every penny that you are entitled to. Some lawyers will not prepare your case to get the most out of it as they can. They’re content with a settlement offer. You want someone dedicated to protecting your rights. The right lawyer will be willing and able to take this case to trial. The insurance companies will do everything in their power to limit what you get, but a trial lawyer knows how to fight against them. Don’t hire the lawyer who does general practice, you need someone who specializes in dog bite cases. That, and finding an experienced lawyer, is of the upmost importance.
An experienced New York dog bite lawyer should be contacted as soon as possible so they that can begin to gather vital information for your case. Please call our office today for a free consultation to learn more about how we can get you full and fair compensation for your injuries.
