Animal attacks often happen because the owner poorly trained the animal or because the owner did not take responsibility for the animal’s aggressive behavior. The most common type of domestic animal attack is a dog attack. An estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year. Nearly 800,000 dog bites require medical care.
More than 1,000 people a day will visit the emergency room as the result of dog bites and animal attacks, the fifth most frequent cause of emergency room visits. Also, The American Medical Association reports dog bites as the second leading cause of injuries to children, surpassing playground injuries. And the insurance industry pays more than $1 billion in dog-bite claims each year.
According to the New York City Department of Health, approximately 4,000 dog bites are reported in the city every year, with injuries ranging from puncture wounds and lacerations to avulsions—where skin or a member is torn off—and even injuries which result in death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Puncture wounds are the most common, accounting for 2 out of every 5 injuries, followed by lacerations and contusions. Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Chows, Huskies, and Akitas are among the most common breeds reported to attack humans, but any dog is capable of turning violent. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a dog, you may be entitled to receive compensation and you should work with a New York City personal injury lawyer at Greenberg & Stein, P.C. as soon as possible.
If an owner knows that his or her dog is dangerous, they have a responsibility to:
A New York City personal injury attorney can investigate the dog that attacked you to determine if it had a history of aggression, such as biting, growling, snapping, baring teeth or if it was restrained in a manner befitting a vicious animal. Greenberg & Stein, P.C. can help you fight for the compensation you need to truly recover, so don’t wait to contact a NYC dog bite lawyer today to learn more.
