Queens Dog Bite Lawyer

If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Queens, you may be entitled to compensation from the dog’s owner, a property owner, or even your landlord. The experienced Queens dog bite lawyers at Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. can help you fight to maximize your financial recovery. For more than 40 years, we’ve stood alongside injury victims in Queens, recovering more than $1 Billion in awards. Give our law firm a call to find out how we might be able to help you, too.

We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule yours. Our compassionate team is always standing by – 24/7/365.

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How Will Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. Help Me After a Dog Attack in Queens?

Dog bites not only inflict painful physical injuries, but are capable of causing severe emotional trauma, as well. So, it’s easy to understand that it might take a while to get back on your feet and adjust to life after you’ve been attacked. However, you’ll only have a limited amount of time to demand compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, and more. Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to handle your case can set you up for success and give you the time you need to focus on getting better.

At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., our Queens dog bite attorneys have more than 200 years of combined legal experience. We know the lengths to which negligent dog owners, insurance companies, and other parties will go to stop you from getting the money you deserve. We know the laws and procedures that will most likely affect your case. That can all benefit you when you call us for help.

Your Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. legal team will:

Consult with experts to make sure that we fully appreciate the extent and severity of your injuries
Investigate the dog attack by speaking with witnesses, reviewing forensic evidence, and analyzing medical reports
Determine if the dog who bit you has a history of viciousness, and
Identify why you were attacked and who might be liable for your injuries.

We’ll work tirelessly to help you recover the financial compensation you need. If insurance companies won’t offer a fair settlement, we won’t hesitate to take your case to court. Our skilled trial attorneys are well-known for their track record of success across New York City.

Interested in learning more? Give our Queens law firm a call to set up a time to discuss your case. As always, your initial consultation is free.

Dog Bite Statistics

Dog bites occur more frequently in New York City than you might think. Across the nation, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. Roughly 4,000 of those attacks occur within the five boroughs that make up New York City. That means, on an average day in NYC, between 10 and 11 people suffer a dog bite.

Who tends to be bitten by dogs more – children or adults? According to dog bite data gathered between 2015 and 2018, 60 percent of dog attacks involved victims who were at least 10 years old. The remaining 40 percent of victims were 9 years old or younger. However, half of all dog bite victims are under the age of 12.

Children aren’t just more likely than adults to get attacked, they’re also more likely to sustain severe or fatal injuries. One out of every four children who suffers a dog bite will need medical attention.

We Handle All Dog Bite Cases in Queens

Some law firms in Queens will only agree to represent you and handle your dog bite case if your injuries are severe. However, at Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., we understand that any injury stemming from a dog attack can be devastating. A seemingly minor injury could easily interfere with your ability to work, play, and just enjoy life. That’s why we proudly represent clients who have sustained a wide range of dog bite injuries, including:

Brain injury
Broken bones
Cuts and lacerations
Eye injury
Head injury
Infection
Lost limbs
Neck injury
Paralysis
Soft tissue injury, including sprains and strains
Spine injury
Wrongful death, and more.

If you or a loved one has been injured because of a dog bite in Queens, our legal team is here to help. Give us a quick call to set up a free case assessment. If you can’t make it into our law office, we can arrange a time to visit you at home, at work, or even at the hospital. We’ll work hard to make the process as easy as possible for you.

Does New York Have a One Bite Rule?

A one bite rule states that dog owners are not strictly liable for injuries stemming from a dog bite unless that dog has a history of vicious behavior. In other words, the dog owner gets one bite for free, absent any negligence on their part. New York doesn’t have a traditional one bite law.

Instead, New York’s dog bite law is more of a hybrid:

Dog owners can be strictly liable for medical bills resulting from their dog’s attack, regardless of that animal’s history of aggressive behavior or viciousness, AND
Dog owners are not strictly liable for other damages resulting from a dog’s first bite or attack.

So, owners are on the hook for medical bills that are a result of their dog’s behavior, regardless of that dog’s history. An owner is only strictly liable for other dog bite damages once they know – or should know – that the dog has attacked someone or displayed vicious propensities.

Dog Owners, Others Can Be Liable If Negligent

One bite rules only apply to strict liability. Strict liability means that an owner is liable, regardless of the level of care they took to prevent an attack from happening. An owner can still be liable for damages resulting from a dog bite- above and beyond medical costs – if they were negligent in caring for the animal. A dog owner might be considered negligent, and therefore liable for damages for any dog bite – including a dog’s first show of aggression – if they:

Didn’t keep the dog on a leash or other type of restraint
Failed to fence in their yard and keep the dog on their property
Didn’t keep an eye on the dog, or
Taunted, teased, and/or provoked the dog.

Dog owners aren’t the only ones who might be responsible for an attack in Queens. If property owners or landlords know (or should know) that there’s a dangerous dog on the premises, they have a responsibility to do something about it to protect others. Failure to do that can result in financial liability for injuries and other damages after an attack.

Provoking a Dog Can Limit, Bar Your Recovery in Queens

New York is a comparative negligence state. Fault for an accident is apportioned between everyone who contributes to an accident or injury. After you’ve been attacked, the dog’s owner might try to blame you by saying that you provoked the dog.

If they’re successful in proving that, it could adversely affect your ability to recover compensation. That’s because, in Queens, damages are reduced by the degree of fault allocated to you. If an owner can say that you’re 80 or 90 percent to blame for an attack because you provoked the dog, your financial recovery will be reduced by 80 or 90 percent.

It’s important to note that these tactics typically won’t work if the victim was a young child. In the state’s eyes, children may not fully appreciate the consequences of their actions, such as taunting or teasing a dog.

Damages Available to Dog Bite Victims in Queens

When you suffer a dog bite injury in Queens, you may be entitled to a financial award. At Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C., our Queens personal injury attorneys will work hard to make sure that you recover all damages to which you’re entitled. This might include money for:

Medical bills, including hospitalization and surgery
Lost income and wages
Reduced earning capacity
Emotional distress, including PTSD and anxiety
Pain and suffering
Disfigurement and scarring
Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.

Contact our Queens law office today to find out how we can help you fight to maximize your financial recovery.

Statute of Limitations for Queens Dog Bite Lawsuits

If you want to file an injury claim or lawsuit after a dog bite in Queens, you’ll have to act quickly. In New York State, the statute of limitations is only three years from the date of your injury. You will lose the right to recover compensation if you wait too long to assert your rights.

Let Our Queens Dog Bite Lawyers Help You

The experienced Queens dog bite attorneys at Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. are here to help you and your family members during this very difficult time. Do not hesitate to contact our experienced legal team to learn a little bit more about your legal rights and potential legal options. Your first consultation is free, so give us a call to get started today.