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Dog Bite Attorneys in Buffalo NY

Dog Bites

Dog bites are serious injuries that can leave you with expensive medical bills and long-lasting or permanent harm. After a dog bite, you may face emotional distress, scarring and life-threatening infections. Whether you know the dog’s owner well or were bitten by a stranger’s pet, you need to understand your legal rights. You shouldn’t be left with devastating financial losses due to an animal attack.

The experienced Buffalo dog bite lawyers at Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC can help you pursue the full compensation you need to heal from this. With more than 100 years of combined legal experience, our lawyers know what it takes to successfully handle claims like these.

Call The Hurt Hotline today at (716) 848-8000 or use our online form to schedule a free case review.

Who Is Responsible for a Dog Bite Injury?

If you have been bitten by someone else’s dog, you may be wondering how you will pay for your injuries and whether the owner or someone else should be held accountable. The answer may be more complicated than you think. In most cases, a Buffalo dog bite attorney will pursue compensation from sources such as insurance policies rather than people.

Commonly responsible parties include:

  • Pet owners. Pet owners are responsible for the actions of their animals. If their animal attacks someone, the owner may be liable. (In many cases, a homeowner’s policy or similar insurance would cover your compensation, though.)
  • Insurance companies. The dog owner’s homeowner’s, renter’s, or other property insurance may cover compensation for your injuries. In cases where the bite takes place at a business, such as a pet store, the business’ policy may cover the injury.
  • Businesses and organizations. When a company is responsible for a dog, the company is accountable for any injuries that the animal causes. This could be in a setting where a dog walker fails to control a dog that bites someone or where a guard dog gets loose and harms someone.

Our knowledgeable dog bite lawyers will work quickly to identify all possible sources of compensation for your injury. To get started on your case, please call The Hurt Hotline now.

What to Do If a Dog Has Bitten You

  • Seek medical attention. If a dog bite breaks your skin, you may need stitches. You may also have been exposed to bacteria that could cause infection, as well as dangerous viruses such as rabies. Medical professionals can address your bite and make sure that you have the treatment you need.
  • Determine who owned the dog or who was in custody of it. You may have been bitten by a dog on a leash, by a dog on a particular piece of property, or by an unrestrained dog. Find out everything you can about the animal, including information about potential owners, a description of the dog, and any other details you think may help with your claim.
  • Take pictures of your injury. Pictures of the bite soon after an incident can be an essential piece of evidence. You should also start a journal to document how you are feeling after the attack and how your daily life has been affected.
  • Report the attack to animal control. By reporting the bite, you are notifying the authorities of the problem and supporting your case. Make sure that your report contains all relevant facts of the incident.
  • Contact a Buffalo dog bite attorney. After a dog bite injury, protect yourself and your claim. When you contact a dog bite law firm, you are taking steps to preserve your rights. A lawyer can advise you of your options and explain how you may obtain compensation for your injuries.

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit?

In general, you have three years from the date of the injury to bring your dog bite lawsuit in New York. It is always better to bring your case earlier rather than later, though. After an accident, wounds heal, people move away and memories are lost. The longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to build your case. By contacting a dog bite attorney in Buffalo immediately after an animal attack, you are helping yourself.

New York Dog Bite Laws

The Consolidated Laws of New York Agriculture and Markets Article 7 covers the licensing, identification and control of dogs. This article lays out how dogs must be identified, their vaccine requirements, and penalties for owners who violate the statute. The article also discusses dangerous dogs and the penalties that may apply to their owners when the dogs hurt someone.

New York uses two different systems for determining someone’s liability for a dog bite. The first system is known as strict liability, and the other system is known as negligence. Strict liability means that people are liable for their dog’s actions no matter what happens. Negligence means that people are responsible if they failed to take reasonable care in controlling their animals in certain situations. In New York, people are strictly liable for any medical expenses if their dog bites someone. Owners might be liable for other damages if they act negligently.

Buffalo has specific ordinances related to the control of dogs. Owners are required to manage their dogs on their property. When the dogs are not on their property, they must have their dogs on a leash. Buffalo also requires owners to license their dogs according to city rules. Owners who fail to control or license their dogs may be penalized.

How Our Buffalo Dog Bite Attorneys Can Help After an Animal Attack

A dog bite can be a traumatic event that leaves you injured and out of work. At times like these, it is essential to know your options. After an animal attack, our lawyers can:

  • Investigate your case. You may have a clear idea of what happened, or it may take work to find out exactly how you were bitten. The owner may have been careless in controlling the dog, or something else may have happened to cause the dog to attack. As part of a dog bite claim, we will work to understand the attack, how your injuries have affected your life, and what effects your injury may have on your future.
  • Determine who should be held responsible. In most dog bite cases, the owner of the animal will be held liable. Insurance companies will also play an important role. Our Buffalo dog bite lawyers will investigate what happened, identify who was at fault, and advise you of your options. We can also explain what types of compensation may be available.
  • Manage all the paperwork and discussions. As part of a dog bite claim, you will need medical records, a police or animal control report, dog identification, the paperwork for your claim, and court filings if your case goes to court. A dog bite lawyer can manage these details and serve as the point of contact for all legal matters related to your case. After an animal attack, you may be overwhelmed. Let a Buffalo dog bite lawyer help.
  • Negotiate with insurance companies and other organizations. As part of a dog bite settlement, you will need to negotiate with insurers and others who bear financial responsibility for your injuries. Insurance companies may try to lowball you or outright deny your claim. Our experienced lawyers can handle any negotiations and work to maximize the value of your claim.
  • Fight for fair compensation. Sometimes dog owners and insurance companies will not take responsibility for what happened. In these cases, our seasoned dog bite attorneys will advocate for you in court. We have a strong reputation for winning at trial, and we will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Helping Dog Bite Victims Throughout Buffalo, NY

If you have been bitten by a dog, call The Hurt Hotline today. At Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC, we have more than 100 years of combined experience, and our sole focus is on personal injury cases. No case is too big or too small. For a free case review, contact us online or call The Hurt Hotline today at (716) 848-8000.

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