White Plains Dog Bite Attorneys

Animal Attack Lawyers in White Plains Ensure Injured Clients Get the Financial Resources They Need for Recovery Throughout New York, Including Westchester County, Bronx County, Rockland County, and NYC

According to the NYC Health Department, approximately 6,000 emergency room visits and 300 inpatient hospitalizations occur each year in NYC due to dog bites. Healthcare expenses for dog bite injuries in NYC total more than $17 million annually. Although dogs are called “man’s best friend,” they are still animals that can lash out and attack, seemingly without warning or provocation. A dog bite or attack can lead to serious injuries that require medical care or leave you out of work. The White Plains dog bite attorneys at Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., can help you recover the financial resources you need to pay your medical bills and make up for lost income as you heal from injuries you suffered in an animal attack. Our caring, compassionate team of attorneys stands ready to help you. We take the time to listen to your concerns and needs to relate to the difficulties and stress you experience as you recover from a dog bite or animal attack.

Reach out to Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., for a free initial consultation to discuss your options for recovering compensation with our animal attack lawyers in White Plains, NY. Let our firm handle the work necessary to secure the financial resources you need for your medical treatment and recovery from injuries you sustained from a dog bite or domestic animal attack.

New York Dog Bite Laws

Under New York State’s dog bite law, a dog owner may be subject to strict liability for injuries caused by their dog attacking or biting someone if their dog qualifies as a “dangerous dog” under the statute. A dangerous dog is defined as one that:

• Has attacked and injured or killed a person, pet, or farm animal without justification, or
• Has behaved in a way that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the dog represents a “serious and unjustified threat of serious physical injury or death”

With strict liability, an owner of a dangerous dog must pay compensation to someone injured by the dog, even if the owner took reasonable steps to control or restrain the dog.

However, for dog bite injuries inflicted by a non-dangerous dog, an injured victim must prove that the dog’s owner was negligent in handling the dog. This requires showing that the owner failed to use reasonable care to prevent the dog bite from happening, such as having inadequate fencing or failing to keep their dog on a leash.

Injuries and Complications from Dog Bites

Dog bites can cause a wide variety of injuries, such as:

• Bruising
• Lacerations and puncture wounds
• Degloving injuries (an injury in which the skin is torn away from underlying muscle and bone)
• Nerve damage
• Ligament, tendon, and muscle tears
• Broken bones

Dog bite injuries can also lead to various medical complications such as:

• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Paralysis or loss of motor function
• Limb or digit loss
• Viral or bacterial infection

Compensation Available in a Dog Bite Claim

After you have been injured by a dog bite, you deserve to recover compensation for your expenses and losses from your injuries, including for:

• Medical treatment and rehab expenses
• Costs of any long-term care and support you may need for permanent disabilities or impairments
• Lost wages/income from missed time from work
• Loss of earning capacity due to permanent disability
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma and distress, including PTSD
• Reduced quality of life due to disabilities or visible scarring/disfigurement

Let the White Plains Dog Bite Attorneys of Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., Help You Secure the Financial Resources You Need for Your Recovery

Pursuing compensation for dog bite injuries can be a confusing process. Turn to our animal attack lawyers in White Plains, NY, to guide you through the claims process by:

• Recovering evidence from the attack to help establish the dog or animal owner’s liability for your injuries
• Gathering your medical records and other documentation to prove your injuries and medical complications and the financial and personal losses you’ve suffered as a result
• Discussing your legal options with you and preparing you for what to expect in pursuing a dog bite injury claim
• Filing insurance and legal claims on your behalf and negotiating with insurance adjusters to get you the compensation you need as soon as possible
• Pursuing every legal avenue, including settlement negotiations and litigation, to secure the best possible result for you

Contact Us for a Free Consultation with Our Animal Attack Lawyers in White Plains, NY to Learn More About Your Legal Options

Contact Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., today for a free, no-obligation claim evaluation to learn more about your rights to recover compensation for injuries you suffered after being attacked by a dog or other domestic animal. You should not bear responsibility for the financial consequences of your injuries. Turn to our White Plains dog bite attorneys to obtain the financial resources you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bites in White Plains and Throughout New York

I was bitten by a family member’s/friend’s/neighbor’s dog. Do I have to file a legal claim against them?

We understand how filing a legal claim against a family member or close friend or acquaintance can be an uncomfortable proposition for many people. But you deserve to secure compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. Keep in mind that most dog bite injury claims are paid out by a dog owner’s homeowner’s/renter’s insurance policy, rather than directly from the owner. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance ensures your family member or friend can protect themselves from financial liability and compensate someone who was injured by their property.

What is the deadline for filing a dog bite claim?

Under New York State’s statute of limitations for injury claims, you must file a lawsuit in your dog bite injury claim within three years of the attack. If you wait until after this three-year deadline expires to file a claim, you may find that your claim will be permanently dismissed as untimely by the trial court. Contact the animal attack lawyers in White Plains, NY, from Marvin A. Cooper, P.C., to ensure you do not lose the opportunity to secure compensation for your injury expenses and losses.