Dogs can be wonderful companions; however, their bites can also cause terrible injuries, dangerous infections, psychological trauma, and, in rare cases, death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 80,000 people get medical attention in the U.S. every year as a result of dog bites. Nearly half of them require emergency treatment. Sixteen die.

The CDC also reports that children between the ages of 5 and 9 years old suffer the highest rate of injuries from dog bites, and that small children are most often bitten on the head or neck. Such bites are extremely dangerous and may lead to life-long disfigurement, as well as costly and painful reconstructive surgeries.

In New York, if a dog bites and injures someone, the owner of that dog is held responsible for the resulting injuries--if the owner knew or should have known that the dog had dangerous tendencies. A dog’s dangerous tendencies (or, in the law’s terminology, “vicious propensities”) would be demonstrated by evidence that the dog had bitten before, snapped or bared its teeth, or acted aggressively in some other way before the incident that led to a particular victim’s injuries.

In such cases, the victim may seek financial compensation from the dog’s owner for the resulting medical bills, pain and suffering, and other various economic losses. In some situations, victims may also seek compensation for injuries that they suffered as they tried to run away from an attacking dog—even if the dog never managed to bite them.

If the victim is a child, the parents or guardians may pursue compensation on the child’s behalf.

For more than a decade, the law firm of Ronai and Ronai, LLP has been helping injured people get financial compensation for harm that they suffered as a result of someone else’s actions. If you or someone you love was injured by a dog, you may not have to shoulder all the consequences on your own. Please contact us today to discuss your particular situation.

Our experienced and caring attorneys and our professional paralegal and support staff understand that you need prompt results, and will do their utmost to achieve that. In addition, we don’t charge a fee unless you get paid.

For a free consultation, please call us today at 1-800-664-7111, or fill out and submit our online “Contact Us” form.