Nassau County Dog Bite Lawyer

You might have a claim for compensation if you got bitten by someone else’s dog. Our dog bite injury lawyers serving Nassau County can evaluate your situation and let you know if you can pursue the dog’s owner for compensation.

Some of our services include filing your claim, collecting evidence of negligence, negotiating a settlement, and applying county-specific laws to your case. We also offer free case reviews where you can explore your options at no obligation.

We Can Start Your Case at no Upfront Cost

At Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P., we handle dog attack injury claims on a contingency-fee basis. You do not have to pay any upfront legal fees. Our legal fees will be a percentage of your settlement or award. You could say that we bet our paycheck on the strength of the cases we agree to handle. You don’t pay our attorney’s fees if your dog bite injury case doesn’t succeed.

Why Should You Consider Working with a Lawyer on Your Dog Bite Case?

Dog bite laws in New York are confusing. AGM § 123 says that in some situations, a dog owner can escape fault and liability, but in other situations, the owner can face strict liability. With strict liability, the injured person does not have to prove that the injury happened because of the dog owner’s carelessness; they only need to prove that they were hurt.

Sometimes, the plaintiff does have to prove that the dog owner was negligent. With conflicting approaches to dog bites injury lawsuits under New York law, you might want to work with a lawyer to protect your right to compensation.

You Have a Limited Time to File Your Dog Bite Injury Case

Generally, you have up to three years to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York, according to CPLR § 214, but some factors could shorten that time. If your close relative passed away following a dog attack, our state usually only gives you two years to file a wrongful death action, under EPTL § 5-4.1.

The American Bar Association (ABA) warns that if you miss the filing deadline, the law can forever bar you from holding the at-fault party accountable. Working with a lawyer from the beginning can help you avoid such a harsh outcome.

How Much Money Can You Get for Your Dog Bite Injury Case?

As with any personal injury case, the amount of compensation you can pursue will depend on the unique facts of your situation. After all, every dog bite case is different.

Here are some examples of the kinds of money damages a person could seek in a dog bite case:

Medical Expenses

People can typically go after the reasonable cost of the medical treatment they needed for their injuries. These items can include the ambulance, emergency room, hospital, doctors, surgery, physical therapy, and prescription drugs, as well as other necessary goods and services.

After the initial procedures to clean, repair, and close the wounds, many people need one or more rounds of plastic surgery after getting mauled by a dog. The purpose of plastic surgery is to reduce and minimize visible scarring. Some people need skin grafts for extensive tissue damage.

Lost Wages

While recuperating from the dog attack and medical interventions, a dog bite victim might miss time from work without pay. If you missed paychecks in the form of wages, salary, self-employment, or other types of regular income because of your injuries, we can include these financial losses in your claim.

Pain and Suffering

This category honors the physical discomfort and emotional trauma a person can experience from getting attacked by a dog. We can usually go after past and future pain and suffering.

Other Intangible Losses

Dog bite victims frequently experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that makes them terrified to be around dogs or places where dogs might be, like parks and other public spaces.

The jagged wounds from a dog attack can cause significant disfigurement, which can be compensable. Also, PTSD, disfigurement, and long-term physical impairment from their injuries can cause a person to suffer a loss of enjoyment of life.

These Factors Could Apply to Your Injury Case in Nassau County

New York’s laws that apply to dog attacks are complicated. We can talk to you about the facts of your case and evaluate whether any of these factors are relevant in your circumstances:

You Were Bitten By a “Banned Breed”

Nassau County itself does not ban certain dog breeds. However, those residing on properties operated by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) are not allowed to own:

• Pitbulls
• Doberman pinschers
• Rottweilers
• Dogs that are “mixed” with pitbulls, Doberman pinschers, and rottweilers
• Dogs weighing more than 25 pounds

You could have a case if you were injured by one of these animals while on an NYCHA property.

NY’s “One-Bite” Rule

This legal concept means that sometimes, a dog and its owner will not get punished the first time the dog bites someone. New York does not always apply this rule.

You Were Bitten By a “Dangerous Dog”

If a dog attacks someone without justification or has also attacked someone in the past, a judge might declare the dog to be dangerous. This could make the dog’s owner liable for your losses.

Your Injury Resulted From a Leash Law Violation

A judge or jury can consider whether the owner violated the leash law at the time of the attack.

Strict Liability Applies to Your Situation

Although there are some exceptions, the owner of a dangerous dog can be strictly liable for the medical costs their dog causes, regardless of whether they acted negligently.

Additional factors could also be noteworthy, depending on the facts of your situation.

Connect with Our Firm Today to Explore Your Options

The law does not force you to work with a personal injury attorney, but talking to a dog bite lawyer from Rosenberg & Gluck, L.L.P. who serves Nassau County can be a smart decision.

You can call us today at (516) 451-7900 for a free consultation. We are happy to assist Spanish-speaking clients.