You are relaxing in a park. The sun is out. The wind is calm. It’s a beautiful day.
Until an energetic dog runs past the frisbee it was chasing and charges directly at you instead. A bark, a bite, and the next thing you know you are having your hand bandaged.
Injured Due To A Dog Bite And Have Questions? We Can Help, Tell Us What Happened.
Dog bite injuries are not uncommon. But holding the dog owner responsible for your injuries can be challenging. Skilled dog bite injury attorneys at Proner & Proner are experienced in handling all aspects of dog bite injury claims, successfully recovering damages for dog bite victims.
New York Laws On Dog Bites
Every state has its own laws regarding dog bites and what the owner’s liability is for an injury caused by their animals. In New York, the laws on dog bites state that the owner of a “dangerous dog” is liable if the dog inflicts injuries on a person, another person’s companion animal such as a service dog, or to livestock.
New York statutes define the term “dangerous dog” as a dog that meets the following criteria:
- A dog that — without any justification — attacks and injures or kills a person, pet, or farm animal
- A dog that behaves in a manner that causes a reasonable person to believe that the dog poses a “serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death.”
A law enforcement dog that is carrying out its duties cannot be considered a “dangerous dog.” Determining whether or not the dog that caused your dog bite injury is considered a “dangerous dog” can be complicated. The knowledgeable dog bite attorneys at Proner & Proner offer a free case evaluation to determine the merits of your dog bite injury case.
Who Is Liable For A Dog Bite In New York?
New York’s statutes regarding a “dangerous dog” hold a dog owner “strictly liable” for all medical expenses that are incurred as a result of injuries sustained by a “dangerous dog”. In this scenario, if a “dangerous dog” causes injury, the owner of the dog is required to pay the injured party’s medical expenses, or the cost of treatment incurred for pets or livestock that have been injured.
But what about a dog bite from a dog that is not classified as a “dangerous dog”? For damages stemming from a dog bite or dog-related injury from a dog that is not classified as a “dangerous dog”, the injured victim may seek protection under personal injury law. In order to file a personal injury claim, the injured party must demonstrate that the dog’s owner was negligent.
Negligence is at the heart of all personal injury claims. In the case of a dog bite, the injured party must demonstrate that the dog’s owner failed to exercise reasonable care which could have prevented the injuries from being inflicted. This may be in the form of restraining the dog with a leash, putting the dog out of the way, or another action.
NYC Dog Owners May Be Charged With Criminal Liability
In certain situations, a dog owner may be charged with criminal liability for a dog bite injury. Dog owners may be charged with a misdemeanor if the following criteria are met:
- The dog owner exhibits negligence in allowing the dog to bite someone
- The dog had already been declared a “dangerous dog”
- The injury sustained by the victim is a “serious injury”, one that causes serious disfigurement, loss of a body part or organ, or death.
Owners facing criminal charges relating to a dog bite injury are not precluded from also facing civil liability if the injured party files a personal injury claim in the civil court. Dog bite victims who have sustained serious injury should consult with an experienced dog bite injury attorney to discuss their case.
What Our Clients Say
Here are some of our clients’ testimonial videos
All You Have To Do Is Call 212-986-3030 To Receive Your Free Case Evaluation.
Types Of Compensation For Dog Bite Injuries In New York
In filing a personal injury claim for a dog bite injury, the victim seeks to recover compensation for their injuries and other losses. Dog bite victims may receive compensation for any of the following:
- Medical expenses incurred as a result of the dog bite injury
- Pain and suffering
- Future medical expenses related to the injury
- Property damage
- Lost income due to time away from work
- Loss of enjoyment
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of consortium
The results-driven dog bite attorneys at Proner & Proner are dedicated to protecting the rights of injured victims and holding the responsible party accountable.
Recover The Compensation You Deserve For Your NY Dog Bite Injury
At Proner & Proner, our experienced personal injury attorneys understand how traumatic a dog bite injury can be. In addition to the physical pain, many dog bite victims also experience emotional suffering. When you have been harmed because a dog owner was negligent, you deserve to recover just compensation for your injuries.
Our skilled personal injury attorneys are available to discuss your dog bite injury claim, answer your questions, and present your legal options. Contact our office to schedule a complimentary consultation with a member of our team.
Client Testimonials
Here’s what some of our clients have to say about us!
Got into a motorcycle accident and went to Proner&Proner. I received great services and excellent results, I would definitively recommend the services. It was a great experience for me, A++ attorneys.
When I felt I needed legal support after a motorcycle accident, I sought out an attorney who was a motorcyclist as well. Fortunately, I found Mr. Proner. The concern I received was a comfort. The firm’s contact with me while working on my behalf was reassuring and the results certainly made a bad experience easier to put behind me. My gratitude to Proner & Proner.
Mitchell Proner is an amazing and very experienced trial lawyer, who takes care of his clients. He represented me in a car accident case, kept me very informed during the lengthy legal process and got me the settlement that I expected. His friendly office staff was always willing to assist and answer any questions I had. I recommend Mitchell Proner to all my friends and family!
I am very grateful for the services they were very quick and they dealt with my case right away. Thank you very much.
Mitchell Proner is an excellent lawyer. He took our case and did the right thing. We recommend him 100% to anyone. His staff are professionals and they care about their clients.
Greatest Lawyers I ever had. Answer any and every question I ever had. They treated me as one of the family. I can’t say enough about this firm. Thank you so much for all you guys did.
Awesome experience, excellent service, very professional and fast resolving my case. My number one attorney – definitely recommended more than once. Thank you!
FAQs About Dog Bite Claims In New York
Every state establishes legal deadlines for filing a claim in the state’s civil courts, known as the statute of limitations. In New York, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the time the injury occurred.
This three-year deadline is a firm deadline. If you have sustained a dog bite injury in New York, you must file your personal injury claim in the courts before this deadline expires. Otherwise, the courts will dismiss your case and you will be unable to recover any damages.
In most situations, when you have been invited into a house or onto a property to perform a job, the property owner has a legal responsibility to take reasonable actions to protect you from any injury. If the property owner has a dog, the owner may be responsible for removing the dog from the premises or keeping the dog at a distance. The circumstances surrounding dog bites vary significantly from one to the next, so it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced dog bite attorney regarding your particular situation.
Personal Injury Verdicts & Settlements
Related Pages
In The Press
Hit and Run
Attorney Mitchell Proner was on hand when the motorist accused of hitting a female jogger on a road in Central Islip appeared in a New York courtroom to answer charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. 
Ferry Disaster
Attorney Mitchell Proner, an experienced maritime law attorney, spoke about the similarities between the Costa Concordia ferry disaster and the recent Indonesian ferry accident that killed at least 24 people. 
Road Rage Incident
Mitchell Proner spoke in support of NYC motorcycle riders and called on NY lawmakers and police not to overreact to a highly publicized road rage incident or to let that incident cast all motorcyclists in a bad light. Office Location
Even though the firm has successfully represented clients from five continents and over 30 jurisdictions, Proner & Proner serves New York personal injury clients in all five boroughs from our office in Midtown Manhattan.
