If you were bitten by a dog while on someone else’s property, you might be able to file a premises liability lawsuit to recover damages for your injuries. Additionally, if you were on public property when you were bitten by someone else’s dog, you may be able to recover compensation from the dog’s owner for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Your dog bite injury lawyer from the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP is here for you after you suffer injuries in Jamaica, New York. We will guide you through your options and help you better understand your rights after a dog owner’s negligence leaves you hurt and in need of aid.
How do You Pursue Compensation for Your Dog Bite Injury?
The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP can help you file a claim or lawsuit to pursue compensation for your injuries. You can recover a variety of economic and non-economic damages in your dog bite injury case. Economic damages include compensation for your financial losses, such as the following:
- Past medical bills
- Projected future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings and earning potential
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Psychological services
Recoverable non-economic damages include compensation for your mental, emotional, and physical pain and suffering due to the dog bite.
We can give you a better idea of what kinds of damages you can expect after we look over the specifics of your case.
Contributory Negligence
Sometimes, you may blame yourself for a dog bite. You may feel that you in some way provoked the attack, even unintentionally. This does not mean you lose your right to pursue compensation for your injuries.
According to CVP §1411, you may still be able to seek damages from the other negligent party if you were partially responsible for your injuries. However, your compensation may be reduced according to your level of fault.
So, even if you think you may be partially responsible for the dog bite, you should still reach out to an attorney to discuss your options.
We Can Help You Hold Negligent a Property Owner and Dog Owner Responsible
To recover compensation on your behalf, we will need to show that you were owed a duty of care to be kept safe. Then, we will prove that through the other party’s negligence, they failed to meet this duty. We have to show that this caused the dog bite and that the other party is responsible for your damages.
Our investigation into your dog bite incident may reveal more than one party at fault. The fault could lie with the dog owner or the property owner where the bite occurred.
Premises Liability
It is a property owner’s responsibility to make sure that visitors are safe while they are on the premises. If they failed to do so, they might be responsible for your injuries. Even if the dog does not belong to the property owner, they may still be liable if their negligence in some way allowed the attack to happen.
Property owners can be negligent if they knowingly allow a dangerous dog on their property and do not take measures to prevent attacks. They can also be held liable if they shouldhave been aware of the risk given the circumstances, even if they claim ignorance.
How Dangerous Dog Designations May Impact Your Case
In the eyes of the law, a dog may be legally deemed as “dangerous.” According to McKinney’s Agriculture and Markets Law §123, dogs who have attacked or threatened to attack others may be considered dangerous. Once this label is applied to a dog, the owner may be required to take additional precautions to prevent future injuries.
For example, “dangerous” dogs may be required to wear a muzzle when on a walk or may not be allowed in crowded places. It is the dangerous dog owner’s responsibility to abide by these safety standards. If they fail to do so, they may be liable for their own negligence. Dangerous dog owners may also be legally required to carry additional insurance coverage meant to pay victims just like you.
We will investigate the bite incident to determine your best options for pursuing compensation if the dog who bit you was designated as dangerous.
The Statute of Limitations in a Dog Bite Injury Case
Your time to file is limited. The statute of limitations for bringing a personal injury lawsuit in New York is generally three years from the time of the incident under CVP §214. However, there may be special circumstances that can impact this time limitation.
For example, if you are suing the government, one of its agencies, or one of its employees, your time frame may be more limited.
We can only give you a better idea of how the statute of limitations may impact your ability to recover compensation after we review your case. Even if you are not sure you can still file an action, reach out to discuss your options.
Why Choose the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP?
If you work with our team, we would bring our more than 100 years of collective experience to the table in pursuit of your best possible results. Consider these reasons why you may want to choose our firm:
- One of our founding partners, Richard Jaffe, is a trained EMT who understands how injuries can affect clients’ lives
- You will receive Richard Jaffe’s phone number to get your questions answered
- We have won millions in settlements and awards for our previous clients
- We will step in and assist you with booking medical appointments and other day-to-day issues related to your injury
We want you to feel supported throughout each step of your case—and certain that you’re working with a team that seeks outstanding results.
Contact Our Attorneys Today to Get Started
Call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP today to discuss how one of our dog bite injury lawyers serving Jamaica, New York can help you and your loved ones. Your first call and consultation are free, so there is no risk in learning more about your rights and getting your questions answered. Call us today.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Jamaica, call 516-358-6900
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information and may not be applicable in your jurisdiction.
