Dog Bites / Animal Attacks

Being attacked by a dog or other animal is very frightening. The physical injuries from an attack can leave a victim severely traumatized and injured, with substantial medical and hospital expenses, as well as the distinct possibility of psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder from an attack. When a child is the victim, the injuries can be fatal.

The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, with offices in White Plains and a satellite office in Peekskill, represents clients in Westchester County, the lower Hudson Valley and throughout New York State. We have worked with many people injured by animal attacks, so if you have sustained an injury in this way, contact our law office for a free consultation.

What Are Common Injuries in Animal Attacks?

Animal attacks can lead to disfigurement, torn ligaments, scarring and even death. In cases where the victim is a child, a dog or other animal can easily knock the child over and attack their face and head. This can cause scarring but also broken bones, facial and eye injuries, and head trauma.

In addition to the physical injuries, there are frequently severe and substantial emotional and psychological injuries from the trauma of the event. No matter what age the victim, it’s common to experience anxiety, depression, and even a fear of animals. Sustaining a disfiguring injury or facial scars, especially, can be upsetting and can lead to isolation and changed relationships.

The costs of a dog attack or other animal attack can also be substantial, and should be something you consider as you think about whether to file a claim or take other action. You may need to visit doctors and specialists or even get surgery after the attack, meaning you lose significant time at work. In many cases, you may need skin grafts or other medical treatment for your scarring, and your medical insurance may try to dismiss this as “cosmetic.” An experienced personal injury attorney can negotiate with insurers and can pursue fair compensation, so you can deal with the financial impact of an animal attack. Depending on your situation, you may be able to seek financial recovery for pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings, expected future income loss, and incidental expenses.

When you work with The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel after an animal attack, we will seek to hold dog and other animal owners accountable for all of the physical and emotional injuries they cause our clients. Additionally, in cases where owners of vicious animals do not have insurance, we retain the necessary experts where needed to determine if the owner of the vicious animal has assets to satisfy a judgment on our client’s behalf.

What Does the Law Say About Dog Bites?

New York State has very specific regulations and common law which requires that for an owner of a dog to be legally responsible for injuries that dog inflicts on someone, the owner of that animal must be aware prior to the attack of the dangerous and “vicious propensities” of the animal. Having represented hundreds of victims of animal attacks over the last 28 years, our firm has the necessary experience to successfully represent our clients in obtaining full compensation for their injuries by settlement, mediation, arbitration or verdict in Court.

In cases involving dog or other animal attacks, it is vital that the behavior of the dog or animal be documented if at all possible. This would include taking immediate photographs of the injuries, before any healing has taken place; taking photographs or videotapes of the animal involved; and obtaining copies of all obtaining the veterinary records and licensing records for the dog, and all medical and hospital records.

How Can We Reduce the Risk of Dog Attacks?

For our clients who are dog owners, we recommend the following, in order to minimize the possibility that your dog will attack someone:

• Spay or neuter your pet.
• Never leave small children or babies alone with a dog.
• Teach your dog not to play roughly.
• Enroll your dog in obedience classes until it can obey voice commands.
• Make sure your dog has received its vaccinations and gets regular vet visits—dogs who are ill or in pain are more likely to bite.
• Do not allow your dog to roam freely; keep it in a fenced yard.

Most people are responsible dog owners, and just a few precautions can prevent an attack. All of us have a responsibility to prevent animal attacks, however. Some simple safety tips that we can all follow include:

• Leave strange dogs alone.
• Never approach a dog while it is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Never try to pet a dog until it sees and smells you.
• Never run from a dog, be aggressive with it, or stare it in the eyes.
• If a dog does attack you, remain still.
• To protect yourself, roll into a ball if a dog knocks you down. Try to protect your head and neck.
• If you can, climb to higher ground to get away from a dog attack.
• If possible, try to place a barrier (such as a fence) between yourself and the dog.
• Seek help as soon as possible after an attack.
• Seek medical assistance before trying to find the owner.

If you are a parent or have children in your life, it’s important to teach them animal safety early. Talk to them about the dangers of approaching an animal they don’t know. Explain to them that animals can’t talk, so even a familiar pet can bite or attack if they get scared or upset. Teach your children to never tease animals or run away from a dog.

If you or your child are attacked, try to get away from the animal. In the case of a dog attack, try to seek higher ground. Call for help and try to take photos of the animal and the surrounding scene, if it is safe to do so. The more you can remember about the dog and the location where you were attacked, the more likely you are to track down the owner and find out the identity of the dog. This is important not only for getting compensation, but also to protect your health. If you can find the owner, you can verify whether the animal has had all their vaccines to protect you from illness.

Always treat all animal attacks seriously. Even if you think you have only sustained a “small bite,” keep in mind that animals can carry diseases and if you have been attacked, it’s important to get tested. In situations where the animal is unknown to you, you may need to get a rabies vaccine. About 99% of rabies cases are caused by dog bites and scratches, and this disease has an almost 100% fatality rate once symptoms develop. Even if you have sustained only a minor injury from a dog or any other animal, always get a medical evaluation and discuss the need for a rabies vaccine with your doctor as soon as possible.

Dogs are not the only ones that carry diseases. Any animal or pet can carry rabies. Cats can cause a bacteria infection called “cat scratch fever.” It is spread from cats to humans through cat bites and scratches. It can cause painful swelling in the joints, a rash, fever, and other symptoms. In rare cases, it can lead to serious complications.

The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel Is Here For You When You’re Injured

The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel will aggressively and vigorously pursue the owners of the animal involved and their insurance companies to obtain the maximum possible compensation for our clients’ physical and psychological injuries, lost earnings and earnings potential, medical and hospital expenses and loss of enjoyment of life. If you or a loved one has experienced a dog or animal attack, contact us online or call us at (914) 428-7386 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options.