Long Beach Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

You Could Pursue Compensation for a Dog Attack Even if You Were Not Bitten

The law allows Long Beach dog attack victims to receive compensation for injuries beyond bites. The law uses the word “attack” loosely, meaning you can seek damages for other injuries caused by a dog, such as:

• Broken bones
• Contusions
• Lacerations
• Head and brain injuries
• Infections

For example, if an aggressive dog jumped on you, this could have caused you to fall and hit your head. If the dog had previously displayed aggressive behavior, you might be able to pursue compensation to treat your head injury.

How New York Laws Affect Your Case

Many states either have one-bite laws or strict liability laws. With one-bite policies, a dog’s owner can only be held liable if their dog has already bitten someone in the past. In strict liability states, the owner can be held responsible even if the dog showed no previous viciousness.

New York follows a combination of the two. To pursue damages from a pet owner, the dog must have already shown aggressive behavior in the past. If they did, you could pursue the owner for your medical damages––regardless of whether the owner was negligent, according to AGM §123.

New York Law Allows You to Recover Medical Bills

Damages is the legal term for monetary compensation. Medical damages refer to funds used to recoup the cost of receiving treatment for your dog bite injuries. This compensation runs the full gamut of any medical expenses related to the attack, including:

• Emergency department visits
• Antibiotics
• Prescription painkillers
• Tetanus shots
• Stitches
• Reconstructive surgery
• Physical therapy
• Follow-up appointments

While working on your case, we can also consult with medical experts to determine what expenses you may have in the future. We can fight for those, as well.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages refer to compensation for the non-financial consequences of the dog bite. For instance, you could seek damages for:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of future earning ability
• Impaired quality of life
• Loss of consortium

However, non-economic damages are not included in New York’s one-bite, strict liability law. To pursue them, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit alleging the dog owner’s negligence.

How We Can Use New York Law to Your Benefit

With New York’s one-bite law in place, you may be worried that you won’t be able to pursue compensation––especially if the owner claims that this was the first time their dog has hurt someone. However, you can consult one of our Long Beach dog bite injury lawyers to determine if this really was the first time the dog showed aggression or caused harm.

In researching your case, we can:

• Interview those present during the attack
• Review the dog’s history with previous owners or animal shelters
• Ask neighbors, guests, or relatives about the dog’s inclination toward aggression
• Examine the validity of the dog owner’s claim
• Cross-reference everyone’s accounts

Once the dog’s past has been established, we can explain your legal options.

We Can Establish that the Dog Owner Violated their Duty of Care

To seek additional compensation outside of medical costs, you will need to demonstrate that the dog was not only vicious, but the dog’s owner also failed to prevent their pet from harming someone. For example, if you were bitten by a dog that was being kept in a kennel, you may have a hard time demonstrating negligence. This is because the owner was restraining the dog.

If, however, the dog was let free to roam the house and bit you, you can argue that the owner was negligent.

Explaining How Negligence Affects Your Case

This all falls under the legal concept of duty of care. Negligence is any breach of one’s duty of care. In this case, the owner’s duty of care was to mitigate the risks posed by a dangerous dog.

Negligence can include:

• Not using a leash
• No fences around a yard
• Lack of warnings
• Insufficient restraint

Just because a dog bite happened on private property does not mean you do not deserve damages. If the aggressive dog was not put on a leash, kept in another room, or put outside, their owner could be held liable for your medical bills and additional damages if the dog injured you.

How the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP Can Support Your Case

In addition to investigating the dog and its owner, we provide support for your case through every step of the process. At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP your case is not handed off to an assistant or paralegal. You receive counsel and communication directly from our lawyers, who remain accessible throughout the life of your case.

Our team supports you by:

• Researching claims made on both sides
• Coordinating treatment and transportation for you
• Handling insurance companies and attorneys
• Evaluating what your case is worth
• Explaining complex legal jargon in layman’s terms
• Filing your case within the three-year statute of limitations
• Returning phone calls and emails within 24 hours
• Offering a free consultation to get you started

We want you to recognize your rights, comprehend your options, and understand how your case can proceed.

Call the Attorneys at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP Now for a Free Case Review

Even if you are unsure if you qualify for damages, give us a call at (866) 878-6774. A dog bite lawyer from our firm can examine your dog bite case and help you take the steps you need to get treatment, get information, and get better. We offer free consultations to people injured in Long Beach.