WESTCHESTER COUNTY DOG BITE & ANIMAL ATTACK LAWYERS

How to seek compensation for dog bites in White Plains, NY?

In New York the rule for dog bite injuries is that if you are attacked or bitten by a dog, you must prove that the owner had knowledge or notice of the dog’s "vicious propensities." If the owner had knowledge or notice then they can be held legally responsible for the dog bite or attack.

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In addition to the above, we highly recommend taking immediate photographs of the injuries and if possible photographs or video of the animal involved as well. It is important to be able to show the behavior of the dog or animal involved in the dog bite injury in Westchester County.

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Is New York a strict liability state for dog bites?

No, New York is a combination of strict liability and negligence for dog bites. The dog's owner or custodian is strictly liable for the medical bills resulting from the injury.

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New York's Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Lawsuits
For personal injury cases, including dog bite injuries, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the injury.

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Types of Injuries from Dog Bites In Westchester County, NY

Have you or a loved one suffered from a dog bite and are looking to seek compensation? Let's review the different types of injuries that you could seek compensation for. There may be more in addition to the below list:

• Nerve damage to the face, limbs or any other body part

• Eye injuries

• Facial scarring and/or disfigurement

• Amputation of arms, legs, fingers, nose and more

• Broken bones due to the dog attack, perhaps falling

• Severe infections from the bite

• Traumatic brain injury

• Other trauma 

• And more..

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Westchester County Dog Bite Lawyer​

It's important to know your rights when it comes to dog bites. At Curan & Ahlers, we have over 35 years of experience with dog bite cases in Westchester County. We are also offer no fees unless we win. Give us a call to discuss your recent dog attack and we can explain your legal options.

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Animal Attack Attorneys In Westchester County

In New York state, the most common type of animal attack are dog bites. Roughly half of dog attack victims are children and the face is a common target resulting in disfigurement, scarring and more. The most common dog breeds that cause dog bites are Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Pit Bulls. 

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Dog bite cases are among the most difficult personal injury cases due to needing to prove negligence by the owner and prior knowledge of viscous tendencies by the dog. This is why you need experienced dog bite attorneys in Westchester County, Curan & Ahlers. We have experience building compelling cases based on in-depth research. 

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Dog Bite Lawyer in White Plains, NY

Located in White Plains, Curan & Ahlers have taken on many dog bite cases in the White Plains, NY area.  In New York, doctors do not need to report dog bites to the police. However, they do need to report a dog bite to the health department or animal control. Also, homeowners insurance does cover dog bite legal expenses in most cases. In White Plains and other areas of New York, the most common dog breeds that bite are pit bulls which account for roughly 22% of dog bites.

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Types of Dogs That Typically Cause Dog Bites

• Pit Bulls

• Rottweilers

• German Shepherds

• Labrador Retrievers

• English Bulldogs

• Chihuahuas

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Dog Bites In Westchester County 

What should you do immediately after a dog bites you in Westchester County?

After you have been bitten by a dog in Westchester County, the first thing that you should do is seek medical attention. Hopefully, once you have determined that your injuries are not life-threatening, you need to begin to gather some information. First and foremost, you must determine who is the owner of the dog. It is crucial that you do your best to determine the owner of the dog because you may be able to obtain compensation from the owner's homeowner's insurance company. The vast majority of attacks take place by dogs that have an owner rather than stray dogs. For example, in 2017,72 percent of all dog-bite fatalities in which the person who was attacked by a dog was killed was the result of an attack by a dog who had an owner. Next, you should also determine if anyone witnessed the incident and ask for their contact information so our attorneys and support staff at Curan & Ahlers, LLP can work with private investigators to obtain sworn statements from the witnesses that can help to advance your personal injury claim. You should also inquire as to passerby, most likely the owner of the dog's neighbors, whether there have been similar incidents in which this dog has bitten anyone. 

 

Are you entitled to Worker's Compensation benefits if you are bitten by a dog in Westchester County?
If you are bit by a dog while working and you are hurt, you will be entitled to Worker's Compensation benefits. In 2018, there were approximately 6,000 members of the postal service that were bitten by dogs in the United States. As a gig-based economy begins to take shape in Westchester County and more people engage in apps such as DoorDash and UberEats, it is more and more likely that members of the public wind up on people's property to provide a service and wind up being bitten by their dog. It is important to realize that even you are self-employed and working for one of these apps, when you are bitten by a dog, you are still entitled to Worker's Compensation. Our firm will work with you to file your claim with the Worker's Compensation Board and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve when your injuries prevent you from being able to sign in to your app and make your deliveries. 

 

How can I pay my medical bills that resulted from a dog bite?
In Westchester County, the owner of the dog that has attacked you will be strictly liable for paying your medical bills regardless of whether or not the owner was negligent in allowing his dog to bite you and regardless of the dog's history of aggression. This means that no matter what the circumstances, if you are bitten by a dog that has an owner, your medical bills must be paid by the owner of that dog. At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, we work with our clients to ensure that their medical bills are taken care of and billed to the right insurance company or individual responsible for paying the medical bills. It often happens that medical providers will send unpaid medical bills to collection agencies which can ruin a person's credit. We ensure that all medical bills are paid by the owner of the dog so that you do not wind up in debt with a ruined credit score. 

 

Am I able to recover compensation, other than for medical bills and expenses, after being bitten by a dog in Westchester County?
You will be able to recover compensation, other than for medical bills and expenses, after being bitten by a dog in Westchester County if you meet a few criteria. First, you must prove that the owner of the dog negligently permitted his dog to bite you. A typical example of this is that you are walking down a street in Westchester County and a dog has been left off his leash in an owner's front yard and runs into the street and attacks you. Second, you must prove that the dog has vicious propensities and the owner knows about it. At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, we can help you to prove that a particular dog has vicious propensities in several ways such as sending our investigators to speak with the owner's neighbors and consulting the Westchester County Dangerous Dog Registry which is a registry of all dogs in Westchester county that have been classified as dangerous. The dogs on this registry have already been involved in incidents that caused their owner to go before a judge for a hearing and the judge to find that the dog considered "dangerous" pursuant to General Municipal Law 209-cc. We are also able to conduct searches to determine if there have been prior incidents regarding this dog that have resulted in personal injury claims. Third, you must prove that you have a serious injury which is defined by the law in New York State. At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, our firm is here to analyze your injuries, advise you as to whether you will meet this criteria, and argue on your behalf with the owner's insurance company about your injuries. 

 

What are common dog bite injuries?
There are several injuries that are common in dog bite victims. Approximately 800,000 people have to seek medical attention for dog bites every year and about 1,000 people seek emergency care for dog bites every single day in the United States. The victims will often sustain injuries such torn ligaments, puncture wounds, and scarring. Dog bites can often lead to parts of a victim's body being disfigured and requiring reconstructive procedures. The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery found that in 2017 there were 27,752 people that had been bitten by dogs and had to undergo reconstructive surgery. Victims also can die from a dog attack, especially when there is more than one dog that is involved in the attack. In 2017, there were 39 dog-bite related fatalities in the United States. A very concerning statistic is that 38 percent of the victims who died from the dog attacks were under the age of 8 years old. An even more shocking statistic is that in 2011, 68 percent of the children killed in dog attacks in the United States were ages 1 and under. This means it is essential to watch infants and young children around dogs as they are very likely victims. 

 

Which dogs are most likely to attack you?
Despite the fact that in 2020 pit bulls made up only 6.2 percent of the total U.S. dog population, they contributed to 72 % of the 46 dog bite-related fatalities that occurred in 2020. From 2005 to 2020, 568 people were killed in the United States by dogs and 76 % of these people were killed by either pit bulls or Rottweilers. 

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Can I sue for a dog bite in New York?

Yes, you can sue within 3 years of the dog bite occurring.

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Is it worth suing for a dog bite in New York?

Yes, depending on how severe the dog bite was and how much damage you accrued from the dog bite itself.

 

Conclusion
Based on everything stated above, after being attacked by a dog you should call Curan & Ahlers, LLP. We will make sure that your medical bills are paid as it is the dog owner's responsibility to pay your medical bills. We will hire an investigator to determine if there have been prior incidents with this dog and also look through the Westchester Dangerous Dog Registry. This will help your case in proving that the dog has vicious propensities that the owner is aware of which will make the owner liable and responsible for compensating you for the injuries you sustained from the dog's attack. If you are attacked by a dog while on the job, we will ensure that your Worker's Compensation claim is correctly handled. If your claim against the dog's owner goes to court, we will fight on your behalf to prove that the dog has vicious propensities that the owner was aware of and we will fight on your behalf to prove that you have serious injuries and that you should be compensated for those injuries.

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If you or a loved one have been injured in a dog bite or animal attack in Westchester County or other areas of New York state give us a call at (914) 428-3313 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

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See Also: Yonkers Dog Bite Attorneys