White Plains Dog Bite Injury Attorney

A dog bite or attack may leave a victim suffering from serious injuries and dealing with financial issues as well. Medical bills may pile up and the victim may be unable to work, leading to lost wages. A  White Plains personal injury lawyer can intervene and offer valuable insight into these matters, helping a victim seek and recover monetary damages that will cover his or her medical bills. Additional damages may be available in some cases as well.

Dog Bite Claims & Lawsuits in Manhattan, Yonkers, the Bronx and White Plains

In New York, a dog owner may be held strictly liable for medical costs or veterinary bills incurred as a result of injuries his or her dog inflicts on a person or another animal. For other monetary damages, a "one-bite rule" applies, meaning the dog would have needed to have dangerous propensities or have bitten someone in the past. The state does not recognize negligence as grounds for dog bite claims, but a dog owner may face a fine if his or her negligence resulted in a dog bite to another person or an animal.

Agriculture & Markets Law Section 121.10 outlines the specific information regarding the strict liability of a dog owner for a dog bite victim's medical costs. This would require a "dangerous dog" attacking and injuring or killing a person, farm animal, companion animal or domestic animal without provocation or justification. The conduct of the victim at the time of the attack and sometimes previously may also impact his or her ability to recover money for medical expenses.

In some cases, criminal charges may apply as well. This usually relates only to extreme situations, where the dog owner was negligent, the dog was dangerous, and the injury sustained were "serious" in nature.

Interested in finding out more about your legal rights after a dog bite in Yonkers, White Plains, the Bronx or Manhattan? Talk to a White Plains Dog Bite Lawyer at our law offices for the information that will help you.