Syracuse Dog Bite Lawyers Recovering Compensation for Dog Attack Victims

If you or a family member have recently suffered a dog bite injury or an even more serious dog attack, the first action that you need to take is to seek medical attention immediately. In addition, you need to ask the dog owner for written proof that the dog is up to date on its rabies shots.

Dog bites and dog attacks are particularly dangerous to children under the age of ten. Young children often do not have a fear of dogs, and, consequently, they are more prone to being the victims of dog attacks.

Often dog bites can lead to severe infection and other health issues. Additionally, dog bite victims of all ages are vulnerable to experiencing severe emotional distress after a dog attack.

Dog owners have a legal responsibility to keep their animals under control and ensure the safety of all individuals who may be nearby. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite, you most likely have medical bills and other expenses related to your injuries. Our dog bite attorneys can help recover damages to cover your medical expenses and other costs caused by the injury. We will fight aggressively for you to receive the maximum compensation that you deserve for your pain and suffering.

What is Meant by a Dog’s “Vicious Propensities”?

In many cases, a dog owner will try to claim that their dog does not have a previous history of biting other people. However, if it can be proven that the dog does have a prior history of biting others or prior history of dog attacks, then the dog is known to have “prior vicious propensities.”

If the dog has never been known to bite, it can still be proven that the dog owner had reason to believe the dog had vicious propensities if the dog is kept chained or tied up, fenced in, or has been trained and/or used in the role of a guard dog. In addition, if the owner put up beware of dog signs or disclosed to other individuals that the dog was dangerous, this can show that they were aware that the dog could become vicious and had a duty to protect you.

Many clients believe that establishing prior vicious propensities may be difficult. Nonetheless, a prior history of viciousness may be determined through vet records, the testimony of neighbors, and even interviews with the mail carrier.

What Determines Liability in a Dog Bite Case?

If the owner of the dog that bit you owns their own home, their homeowner’s insurance may provide compensation for your injuries. However, this is typically dependent on whether or not the dog owner knew or should have known of the dog’s vicious propensities. In simple terms, this means that you have to prove the dog owner is liable. If you are unable to establish a prior history of dog bites or attacks, it is unlikely that the insurance carrier will approve your claim.

If you are able to prove that the dog owner knew of the dog’s prior vicious propensities, the dog owner’s insurance company may be liable for paying your medical bills and compensating you for your pain and suffering and lost income (if applicable). Typically, most homeowners’ insurance policies provide approximately $100,000 in coverage. However, if the dog owner does not own a home, it is likely that there will be no insurance coverage unless they have some form of renters insurance.

It should also be understood that there are certain situations in which a dog owner may not have any type of liability if their dog bites or attacks a victim.

If the victim themselves provoked the attack by attempting to threaten or assault the owner or exhibited behavior that could be considered to have provoked the dog to attack, then the owner may not be found to be negligent.

Additionally, if the victim was trespassing on the dog owner’s property, the owner may not be held accountable for a dog bite. A property owner is not considered liable for any type of attack on an individual who is on their property without their consent.

It is also important to keep in mind that under the One-Bite Rule in New York, a dog owner is not liable for a dog attack if the owner has no prior knowledge that their dog has ever bitten anyone before.

Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer to Help Me If I Have Suffered a Dog Attack?

If you have been attacked or bitten by a dog, you deserve to collect fair compensation for your injuries. In order to receive a financial settlement, you must first file a claim for damages. In the claim, you must assert that the owner of the dog was somehow negligent and that the negligence resulted in your injuries.

Claims that involve dog bite injuries are often complex and can be difficult to prove. An experienced dog bite attorney can assist you with potentially recovering compensation for the following types of damages:

• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Past and future medical expenses
• Emotional trauma
• Rehabilitation costs
• Loss of earning potential
• Loss of companionship

Sadly, many dog bite victims do not realize that a large part of their medical costs may come in the future. An experienced attorney can help you understand and determine the type of future medical expenses you may encounter. With this information, your lawyer can help to make a determination as to how much to request in a financial settlement.

As stated previously, dog bite and dog attack cases can be very difficult to prove. Often, the only way to hold responsible parties accountable for their carelessness and negligence in allowing their dog to bite you is to file a lawsuit. Our dog bite attorneys are highly qualified and have extensive experience in handling these types of cases.

How Can Passalacqua & Associates, LLC Help Me with a Dog Bite Claim?

If you or a loved one have suffered the traumatic effects of a dog bite, you may still be trying to process what has happened to you. The situation is even more serious if the individual who was injured was a child.

In cases where our clients have been victims of dog bite attacks, our main goal is to obtain justice and fair compensation for their injuries. A dog bite injury can be extremely painful and have long-lasting consequences. We are committed to helping our clients hold dog owners accountable for the serious injuries that the victim of the attack has sustained.

If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog or have sustained serious injuries as a result of a dog attack, you need the help of a dog bite attorney. An injury attorney can advise you of the legal rights and options that you may have in order to receive compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering.

We are proud to serve Syracuse, NY, and the surrounding area. We have highly qualified attorneys with vast experience in handling these types of personal injury cases. Contact the law offices of Passalacqua & Associates, LLC by calling (315) 500-6425 to schedule a free strategy session with a member of our legal team. We are dedicated to obtaining justice for animal attack victims.