Dog Bite Lawyer in Suffolk County

Fighting for Clients Who Are Suffering from Dog Bite Attacks

A dog bite injury can cause lasting damage, including physical harm and emotional trauma. If you or a loved one was injured by a dangerous dog due to a negligent dog owner’s recklessness, you don’t have to suffer alone. You can seek justice and recover compensation through a dog bite case. You have the best chance of getting a favorable outcome when you work with Long Island dog bite lawyers like those at Rizzuto Injury Firm.

When you’ve been injured in a Long Island dog attack, the last thing you need is the stress of taking on a dog bite claim on your own. The constant calls from the insurance companies and requests for evidence can leave you drained and overwhelmed when you should be resting and recovering. But this doesn’t have to be the case.

When you hire a Long Island dog bite firm like ours, you have an instant ally who will field calls, gather evidence, and build a legal case on your behalf. Your best hope of getting maximum compensation rests with the talented legal group at Rizzuto Injury Firm. We have decades of experience helping individuals hold negligent parties liable. 

We have handled personal injury lawsuits such as car accidents, trucking industry wrecks, negligent security, medical malpractice, and dog bite cases. We’ll leverage our talent and knowledge to get you the results you need as you seek compensation for your injuries. We can help you recover damages such as medical costs, lost wages, emotional distress, and more. Call 516-604-5496 to schedule a meeting with our compassionate Long Island dog bite attorneys.

What Are New York’s Dog Bite Laws?

Understanding how the law applies to dog bite attacks is crucial. Since each case is unique, you must get legal counsel from a Long Island dog bite lawyer like those at our law firm. We’ll review your case’s details and help you decide how to move forward. If you bring a claim or take further legal action, we’ll be your staunch defenders as we help you seek maximum compensation.

One aspect of New York state law regarding dog bites is known as “strict liability.” The strict liability rule indicates that each dog owner is responsible for any damage done by their animal in most cases. Some requirements for a dog owner to be liable include knowing that the animal has a vicious propensity. The attack must also have been unprovoked for the victim to take action against the owner.

It is also essential to discover who was being negligent in the circumstances. For example, in many cases, a negligent dog owner might let a dangerous dog loose or not advise passersby of the animal in the area. In other instances, a landlord could be held liable if they did not enforce rules that protect others on the property. Finally, a parent or guardian could be held liable for a dog attack that occurred with their child’s dog.

If you have any questions about your rights or what to do after you’ve been attacked by a dog in Suffolk County, please don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced dog bite lawyer at Rizzuto Injury Firm. 

What Should I Do if I Have Been Bitten by a Vicious Dog?

Dog bite victims may suffer devastating injuries if they don’t act quickly. In extreme cases, such as those involving a small child, the wounds can lead to death if not treated immediately. If a dangerous dog attacked you or a loved one, please seek immediate medical attention for the dog bite injury. While traveling to a medical facility, you should apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. If possible, you should also clean the wound as thoroughly as possible.

One of the most serious side effects of a dog bite injury involves the aftermath of the attack. Victims may feel emotional distress whenever they see a dog, even if it’s not the one that attacked them. Dog bite victims are also at high risk of infection from the germs and dirt that could enter the wound during the bite. This is why cleaning the injury and getting immediate medical attention is crucial.

After you are safe and recovering, you should consider taking action to hold the dog owner or other negligent party accountable. You may be able to help prevent future attacks and other victims from suffering. Your action can also help you collect compensation for medical bills and other expenses you didn’t deserve. For help getting started, call our Long Island dog bite lawyers now.

What Injuries Typically Arise After a Dog Attack?

A reasonable person should prevent their animal from attacking an innocent passerby, especially if they are aware of the dog’s aggressive behavior. It can be incredibly frustrating to experience a physical injury through no fault of your own. If you were harmed because of a dog owner’s negligence, you know all too well that physical injury isn’t the worst harm that can be done. Even minor attacks can lead to emotional distress that stays with a victim for years.

Some examples of physical and mental injury in a dog bite attack include:

• Lacerations – Dog’s teeth are incredibly sharp and can easily tear the victim’s skin, leaving gaping wounds
• Crush injuries – Crushed organs often lead to catastrophic damage, requiring hospitalization and even surgeries to repair
• Nerve damage – Damage to the victim’s nerves can be excruciating or even lead to numbness and paralysis
• Scarring – Scars can rob a person of their self-image, impacting their quality of life
• Infection – Even with proper care, a dog bite wound can quickly become infected, leading to severe illness
• Broken bones – Depending on the size and strength of the animal, a bite attack can lead to crushed or fractured bones
• Traumatic brain injury – Head trauma can result from the victim being thrown to the ground or receiving bites on the skull
• Mental trauma – Emotional distress and mental trauma are equally valid injuries in an animal attack
• Loss of enjoyment of life – When the victim’s injuries severely impact their everyday life, this may qualify for additional compensation
• Catastrophic injury – Injuries that cause permanent damage, such as blindness, amputation, and paralysis, may qualify as catastrophic injuries
• Wrongful death – If a dangerous dog killed your loved one, you may be eligible for special compensation in a wrongful death claim

Whatever injuries you or your loved one incurred in a dog attack, you deserve help from knowledgeable dog bite attorneys who will fight for your rights. Call Rizzuto Injury Firm today to start your dog bite claim.

How Much Compensation Can I Recover in a Dog Bite Lawsuit?

Knowing how much your claim is worth is crucial when seeking compensation for a personal injury like a dog bite. When you know how much the damages have cost you in both economic and non-economic terms, you can start seeking a fair settlement. However, determining the exact value of your case can be complicated since it depends on multiple factors.

One variable that will significantly impact your case is the question of liability. Under New York law, dog owners are liable for their pets’ actions due to strict liability laws. If the owner knew that the animal had a vicious propensity, they should take extra care to restrain it around other people. However, if the victim provoked the attack, they would lose some or all of their right to compensation.

The second part of seeking compensation as an injured person is demonstrating the severity of your injuries, including items such as:

• Medical bills
• Hospital stays
• Ambulance or life flight costs
• Past and future pain and suffering
• Lost wages from time missed at work
• Catastrophic injuries, such as blindness, scarring, amputation, and paralysis
• Wrongful death of a loved one
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship
• Emotional stress, trauma, depression, and PTSD arising from the incident
• Funeral and burial expenses, within reason
• Punitive damages if the other party was grossly negligent or acted maliciously

When you have suffered injuries because of someone else’s negligence, you might be feeling frustrated and helpless. Our team of New York dog bite lawyers can help connect you with trusted professionals who can treat your wounds and help you reach a full physical recovery. Once you are safe and recovering from your serious injuries, please get in touch with our legal team for help recovering financially, including past and future medical expenses, lost income, and emotional trauma.

Why Is it Helpful to Hire a Long Island Dog Bite Lawyer?

Many accident victims, including dog bite victims, think that bringing a claim to the insurance company will be sufficient to recover from the incident. However, insurance agents are often trying to save money rather than help the victim fully recover. To get fair compensation and ensure you have the funds you need for future expenses, you need the help of a personal injury lawyer like those on our legal team. 

A Long Island dog bite lawyer can help by proving negligence, identifying ways you’ve been injured, and seeking damages that most insurance companies ignore. For example, we’ll fight for you to get compensation for future medical bills, decreased income-earning capacity, emotional distress, and more.

Dog bite cases are often quite complicated, with each side arguing about how the dog bite injury happened. When you have our talented legal team on your side, you can confidently move forward, knowing that someone who deeply understands New York dog bite laws is fighting for you. After you have a dog bite injury, don’t hesitate to call our law firm and get the legal counsel and representation you need.

What Personal Injury Claims Do Your Attorneys Handle?

Our Long Island dog bite law firm is prepared to handle various personal injury matters. We focus on personal injury law, so we see these cases daily. We understand how vital it is for you to fully recover compensation to get closure and move on with your life. Holding negligent parties accountable also makes things safer for everyone, as fewer victims are harmed in the future.

If you have severe or life-threatening injuries from any of the following or another accident, please give us a call:

• Car accidents
• Trucking accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Bus accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Workplace injuries
• Negligent security
• Nursing home neglect
• Slip and fall accidents
• Product liability

Our lawyers have over two decades of experience helping clients get the financial compensation they need following an accident. We will put our investigative and negotiation skills to work as we combat the insurance company and any other party who tries to diminish your claim. Call now to speak with our Long Island dog bite injury team about your unique case. 

Should You Hire Our Dog Bite Lawyer in Suffolk County?

Hiring the right lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. When you or your loved one has a dog bite injury because a negligent owner didn’t restrain their dangerous dog, you deserve the best help seeking compensation for your pain and suffering.

Our Long Island dog bite team is standing by to investigate the incident and prove that you deserve to fully recover damages. We’ll help find evidence, field insurance company phone calls, and handle other legal matters so you can focus on resting and being with your loved ones. We’ll treat you with the respect, care, and kindness you deserve at this difficult time while relentlessly pursuing justice in your dog bite case.

Don’t let a dangerous dog remain a risk to other citizens. Call our legal team at 516-604-5496 to protect your legal rights and maximize your compensation.