Bronx Dog Bite Attorney

Dogs are man’s best friend. But as wonderful as they can be, it is important to remember that they are only one small genetic step away from wolves. They have powerful teeth, sharp claws, and the body of a predator species. When a dog attacks for any reason, the consequences can be devastating.

Dog owners in the Bronx should be cautious whenever they take their dogs in public to protect others from a possible attack. When they are negligent, and you get injured, you need the help of a Bronx dog bite lawyer to hold them accountable for the harm they caused you. You need the The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond.

Dog Bites in New York City

According to the NYC Health publication, dog bites in the city are a growing problem. Annually, over 6,000 people visit an emergency room due to being bitten by one of the more than half a million dogs in the city. Furthermore, dog bites in the city increased by 12 percent during the period studied.

And this isn’t a result of wild or stray dogs. Only three percent of all reported bites involved stray animals. That means most dog bites are due to the carelessness or recklessness of an owner. Dog bites are a significant health problem that won’t stop if dog owners aren’t held responsible for their actions.

Are Dog Owners Legally Liable for Dog Bite Injuries?

New York’s complicated dog bite laws give dog owners more leeway than many similar regulations in other parts of the country. Typically, dog owners are responsible for the injuries caused by their dog only if the dog was already known to be dangerous or the owner should have reasonably known it might be dangerous.

In practical terms, this often means that a dog owner isn’t liable the first time a dog bites someone. This law can seem unfair and unreasonable if you have been the victim of a dog bite. But just because the law is generous to dog owners, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options.

If your Bronx dog bite attorney can prove the dog previously harmed someone else, the owner is liable. Your lawyer might also be able to show that the owner was negligent or reckless despite knowing the dog had aggressive tendencies.

Furthermore, the above assumes that the dog owner followed all Bronx dog ordinances. For example, the dog was on a leash or in a fenced yard. If the dog owner allowed the dog to run free, they are liable for the dog’s actions, even if it had never previously shown signs of aggression.

What Does It Mean That a Dog Owner Is Liable?

If a dog owner is liable for injuries you suffered, they have to pay for your medical bills and other expenses incurred because of those injuries. In practice, the homeowner’s insurance of the dog owner will usually pay that compensation. But regardless of who pays, you won’t be stuck with the bill.

Dog Bite Injuries

As previously noted, dogs are predators. Their teeth are designed to rip and tear flesh. Furthermore, they have extremely powerful jaws that are almost impossible to dislodge once they have latched onto a victim.

A dog’s bite doesn’t just rip through the skin. Depending on where the bite is, it can also easily cut through muscle or even break bones. Additionally, many diseases that affect dogs also affect humans and can be passed along when saliva enters the bloodstream.

Some of the serious harm caused by dog attacks include:

• Torn muscles
• Shredded skin
• Puncture wounds
• Organ damage
• Rabies
• Tetanus, MRSA, and other infectious diseases
• Disfigurement or scars
• Emotional trauma
• Lost digits or appendages
• Death

The most serious injuries from dog bites can require a lifetime of treatment, which can quickly get expensive. And harm like lost appendages or organ damage can permanently disable you, preventing you from earning a living. If you’ve been harmed this way, you need a dog bite lawyer to help you get the compensation you need.

Dog Bites and Children

Children are among the most vulnerable when it comes to dog bites. They have weaker bodies that are more easily harmed by a dog bite and are also more likely to be bitten in the first place. And when a child suffers a traumatic injury, that can lead to lifetime disability if not treated promptly.

A study by Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital shows that dogs most often bite preschool age children. Even more frightening—the average age of a child requiring surgery for a bite is lower than that of children requiring less invasive treatment.

Additionally, dogs instinctively try to attack the heads and necks of their victims. This isn’t so easy when attacking an adult. But when a dog attacks a young child, it can easily reach the head and neck area, resulting in life-threatening injuries.

Types of Compensation You Can Receive After a Dog Bite

There are two forms of compensation for a dog bite: economic and non-economic damages. Despite the names, you will receive money for both types of compensation.

Compensation for economic damages reimburses you equal to your out-of-pocket costs for expenses incurred. It can also pay for projected costs or losses resulting from your injuries.

Compensation for non-economic damages pays you for harm that diminishes your quality of life, even if it doesn’t directly affect your finances. Typically, the amount of money you can receive from a loss of quality of life is based on precedents set by previous similar cases.

You can potentially receive both types of compensation for the same injury.

If a dog bites you or your child, a lawyer can get you money to pay for:

• Medical bills, including current and future treatment
• Lost wages if the injury prevents you from working
• Ongoing therapy and medication costs
• Medical support devices like prosthetics, braces, or crutches
• Transportation expenses
• Assistance services
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship
• Permanent scars or disfigurement
• Emotional distress

The Bronx dog bite attorney Ivan M. Diamond has decades of experience dealing with these cases. He can accurately determine the value of your claim to ensure that you get compensation for all your losses.

What to Expect After Suffering a Dog Bite in the Bronx

Dog bite victims often visit an emergency room or urgent care center shortly after getting bitten, especially if they suffer serious injuries. Whether you get medical attention or not, you may still be eligible for compensation for the harm you suffered.

If possible, you should try to get the dog owner’s contact information before leaving the location where the dog bite occurred. The best way to get this information is to take a picture of an ID card belonging to the owner. That ensures you don’t forget the information or record it incorrectly.

You may also want to request that a police officer document the attack. If you have already called 911 for medical attention, it is likely police will arrive as well. But even if you don’t want EMS, a police report can help your case and decrease the likelihood that the dog owner will flee after the attack.

Eventually, you should contact a dog bite lawyer, even if you aren’t certain the dog owner is liable. A Bronx dog bite attorney will determine whether your case merits compensation and advise you of your options for getting that money.

If Ivan M. Diamond takes your case, he will typically start by collecting evidence that shows the other party’s liability and proves the severity of your injuries. In any case, your dog bite lawyer needs this evidence to maximize the amount of compensation you receive.

Once that evidence is collected, Ivan M. Diamond will usually contact the dog owner and determine whether they have homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance that covers the attack. If they do, he will then file a claim against that insurance policy.

This is often where the real fight begins. Insurance companies will try to find any excuse to deny your claim or pay you less than it is worth. Ivan M. Diamond is familiar with those tactics and won’t let the insurance company get away with them.

In most cases, he negotiates a fair settlement with the insurance company that pays for all the previously noted types of damages. If all goes well, you may receive a check before you have even fully recovered from your injuries.

If the insurance company refuses to negotiate fairly, he will sue on your behalf in state or local court, depending on the circumstances. Thankfully, Ivan M. Diamond is an exceptional Bronx dog bite attorney with an excellent record at trial. If he believes you have a case, the odds are in your favor that you will win a hefty jury verdict.

Why You Need Our Bronx Dog Bite Lawyer

It isn’t uncommon for someone to read about this process and think that, except for a possible trial, they could do that on their own. This is a common misconception that gets people in trouble.

A dog bite lawyer is better able to collect supporting evidence than you are. They understand New York law and know what type of evidence is most relevant to the case. Additionally, they have experience dealing with the bureaucracy involved in getting police reports and statements from witnesses.

Furthermore, an attorney has the experience to accurately determine the value of your claim. The average person isn’t aware of how much it costs to fully recover from rabies or a torn leg muscle. A Bronx dog bite attorney who has decades of familiarity with these types of cases can determine those values with minimal time investment.

Probably the most important reason to retain a lawyer, though, is because the insurance company has corporate lawyers working for it. If the insurer can, it will try to deny your claim by asserting the dog owner wasn’t negligent, or the attack was justified. If you aren’t represented by an attorney, you will find it almost impossible to refute that claim.

Even if your claim isn’t denied, the insurance company will likely try to underpay your damages. That is easy to do when you don’t understand the full potential of your case. You could end up accepting a seemingly fair offer only to eventually discover it was way too low, and you no longer have options to receive more money.

Or worse, the insurance company might use your own words to decrease how much it pays you. Anything you say to the insurance company or post on social media could be used to allege that your injuries aren’t as severe as they actually are. And relying on that evidence, the insurance company might limit how much it pays you.

If you make the mistake of trying to deal with a dog bite without immediately retaining a dog bite lawyer, you will likely still find yourself needing an attorney by the end of the process. And by waiting, all you did was make the case harder for your lawyer and probably lower the compensation you eventually receive.

Will the Owner Have to Put the Dog Down?

This is one of the biggest concerns that potential clients have when they first speak to Ivan M. Diamond. They want to get compensation for the injuries they suffered, but they don’t want to see a dog die.

Unfortunately, if the dog has rabies, the only option is to euthanize the dog. But if that isn’t a concern and the dog hasn’t bitten anyone before, there is a reasonable chance the dog will live.

Contact the Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond When You Need a Bronx Dog Bite Lawyer

If a dog bite seriously injured you or a family member, you may recover compensation.

Contact us The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond today for your free consultation at (718) 588-2000.  Ivan M. Diamond has helped hundreds of clients like you get the money they deserve so they can quickly recover from these devastating injuries. Now we want to help you. Reach out to a Bronx personal injury lawyer.

The Law Offices of Ivan M. Diamond
888 Grand Concourse Suite #1L, 10451
(718) 588-2000

Client Testimonial

“Mr. Ivan Diamond is the definition of professionalism hard work. He’s my first experience with a lawyer (I retained him to represent me in two separate instances) … and he made it a pleasant one! He’s VERY hands on, very attentive, asked the questions, consistently checked up on me and prepared me for any and every possibility. Extremely knowledgeable. I recommend Mr. Diamond to friends and family who we’re all happy with outcome of their personal injury case’s. I consider Mr. Diamond to be family, because that’s how hard he worked for me and expressed real compassion for my circumstances. Hiring Mr. Diamond is a decision you will never regret..” -Bia S.

Client Review: 5/5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
January 2020

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