There are many types of personal injury incidents and cases. While getting attacked by a dog might not be the first thing on your mind when you leave your house, dog attacks can be very dangerous.
Approximately 4,000 dog bite incidents occur in New York City every year. Roughly one-fourth of these incidents result in hospitalization.
Although dog bite cases are personal injury (PI) cases, they differ significantly in details and proceedings, especially in proving liability for the incident.
One of the primary difficulties that comes with any dog bite case is determining liability for the attack. Fortunately, the right PI lawyer can help you determine the party responsible for your injuries.
Finding the right lawyer is an essential step in all types of personal injury cases. That’s why if you or someone you love has been a victim of a dog bite or an attack, you should consider hiring a well-qualified PI lawyer to ensure the best results from your claim. To get more information, reach out to the experienced lawyers at Schwartzapfel Lawyers at (516) 342-2200. Your free consultation will include invaluable information on New York dog bite laws as well as individualized feedback relating to your specific claim.
As well, you are invited to keep reading to learn more about dog attacks and how to find a dog bite lawyer in New York.
Dog Attacks and Injuries
Any dog attack can result in a wide range of injuries depending on the intensity and nature of the attack.
While some incidents may not require extensive medical care, more severe attacks can lead to physical disfigurement and even death.
The Types of Dog Bites
There are different levels of dog bites depending on the nature of the dog attack, ranging from level one (least severe) to level six (most severe).
- Level One: A level one dog bite describes aggressive behavior from a dog without any teeth to skin contact. A dog may exhibit aggressive behavior if they feel threatened by an individual and want to be left alone.
- Level Two: A level two dog bite occurs when a dog’s teeth make contact with the skin of an individual, but the skin is not punctured or damaged. In this case, a dog would be very aggressive, but not enough to attack fully.
- Level Three: A level three dog bite describes a single bite to the skin, with puncture wounds no longer than half the length of the attacking dog’s teeth. This level of dog bite typically involves one to four teeth.
Note: At this level, dogs pose an official threat to humans around them. Most dog bite cases involve a level three dog bite.
- Level Four: A level four dog bite resembles a level three dog bite in all of its characteristics, except for the depth of the puncture wound. In these cases, wounds caused by one to four teeth create a puncture that is deeper than half the length of the attacking dog’s tooth.
- Level Five: A level five dog bite consists of several level four dog bites that severely wound a victim. In these cases, the attacking dog is relentless in its behavior and may attack its victim more than once.Note: This level signifies a very dangerous dog that poses a major threat to surrounding individuals.
- Level Six: A level six dog bite results in the death of the victim. While level six dog bites are rare, they do occur.
A dog bite can result in both physical injuries and emotional trauma. Regardless of the type of bite you may have suffered during a dog attack, you have rights that are protected under the law.
A good PI lawyer will have the legal knowledge and experience to protect those rights and help you take action against the responsible parties. To learn more, call Schwartzapfel Lawyers at (516) 342-2200 and allow us the honor and privilege of fighting for you™!
Different Types of Lawyers: Finding the Right One for You
The legal field is exceedingly diverse, with lawyers dealing in a variety of industries. Personal injury law is just one of those industries.
Nevertheless, there are many different types of personal injury lawyers that you can enlist for your personal injury case.
Examples of different types of personal injury lawyers include but are not limited to:
- Wrongful Death Lawyers
- Vehicle Accident Lawyers
- Medical Malpractice Lawyers
- Construction Accident Lawyers
- Slip and Fall Lawyers
- Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
- Product Liability Lawyers
With the above in mind, consider the following: If you or a loved one have been a victim of a dog bite or attack, you probably do not want to consult with a construction accident lawyer or workers’ compensation lawyer.
You are best off finding a lawyer that fits your case, someone with experience in both personal injury cases at large and dog bite cases specifically. Before retaining any law firm’s services, you’ll want to ascertain that they have the necessary expertise as well as the demonstrated results you’re looking for. To hear how Schwartzapfel Lawyers can help, call our team today at (516) 342-2200.
Alternatively, here are some factors to make a note of when choosing a lawyer to represent and fight for you.
Qualifications
The most important characteristic you should look for in a lawyer is whether or not they are qualified for the job. After all, an unqualified lawyer will not be of sufficient legal assistance to you or your case.
Before you hire a lawyer, research the lawyer to make sure that they have all the credentials a lawyer should have. One way to avoid uncertainty about a lawyer’s credentials is by hiring a reputable law firm with positive testimonials and demonstrated results.
Experience
It is not enough for a lawyer to possess only the most basic legal qualifications. Because while having the basic qualifications should mean that a lawyer is competent in the practice of law, this will not ensure that they are the best fit for you.
The right lawyer for your case and your needs should specialize in the type of law that you are looking to advance your claim by. As well, they should come equipped with experience and a successful track record handling similar types of cases.
Accordingly, if you are the victim of a dog bite or attack, you should look for a personal injury lawyer that has dealt successfully with dog attack cases in the past. Before hiring a lawyer, make sure to ask them about their experience and how it applies to your case.
Compatibility
Another important factor to note when looking for a lawyer is your compatibility and comfort level with the lawyer. This also applies to the level of integrity and reliability you feel they have.
Your lawyer should prioritize your case and help clear up any confusion you may have about case details. If you do not feel like you can trust your lawyer or depend on them to prioritize your case, consider hiring a different lawyer.
Proving Liability After a Dog Attack
Unlike other types of claims or lawsuits, it might not always be easy to determine a responsible party after a dog attack. After all, you can’t sue the dog who bit you.
To ensure the best results for your case and prove liability for the attack, there are certain steps you should take.
Seek Medical Attention
After any dog attack or similar incident, you should always seek medical attention as soon as you can.
Not only will this step provide you with the treatment you need, but it will also help secure a record of any injuries suffered during the attack.
Secure Documents and Witness Statements
Aside from medical records, you should also gather any other information or documents about the attack. This includes any video or photographic representations of the attack and your injuries, as well as any witness statements from those who saw the event take place. Note: It’s especially important that you get contact information from the dog’s owner.
Investigation
After collecting the proper documents and information relating to the attack, your lawyer will piece together the events and determine why the attack occurred and who was responsible for it.
In many cases, per New York City law, the owner of a dog can be held liable for an attack if they did not have proper control of their dog.
This is especially true if the dog is considered a vicious dog who was not properly trained or restrained by its owner.
Dog Bite Lawyers: Key Takeaways
While dog bites may not be a major concern for most people, these attacks can have detrimental effects on the victims and their loved ones. And because you cannot sue a dog for injuring you, you should hire a lawyer to help you secure your rights after an attack. With the right personal injury lawyer on your side, you can be confident that they will keep track of and take care of all that needs to be done to secure you the money and benefits you are entitled to.
As the details and progression of your case will largely depend on the extent of your injuries as well as the circumstances surrounding the incident, when looking for a lawyer, you should choose someone with experience handling cases similar to your own. Additionally, the lawyer you hire should be someone you can trust to prioritize your case.
At Schwartzapfel Lawyers, we can provide you with a first-class lawyer who specializes in dog bite cases or any other personal injury case you may be looking to file. As you have a limited time to secure the compensation you are entitled to, act now and call us at (516) 342-2200 so that you can focus on what’s most important: getting better.
Or if you’d rather start your free consultation online, reach out to us today and prepare to win!
Sources:
Fighting For You™™ | Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C.
Preventing Dog Bite-Related Injuries among New York City Residents | NYC Health
