A recent report shows that Staten Island ranks first among New York’s five boroughs in dog bites per capita. In 2014, every 64 out of 100,000 residents of Staten Island were bitten by dogs, contributing to 6,373 trips to the emergency-room throughout the City.
These emergency-room visits costed New Yorkers on average almost $3,000 per visit in 2014. Thankfully, victims of dog bites in New York may recover for out-of-pocket costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
As high as that number is, not everyone that goes to the emergency room reports their dog bite to the City. It is estimated that only approximately 3,000 people reported their dog bite to the City in 2014. Notably, children under the age of 17 were almost twice as likely as adults to be bitten. The City accepts reports of an animal biting a person, as is required by the New York City Health Code. Therefore, it is critical to report your dog bite as soon as possible to NYC311.
The Law Office of Louis Grandelli has zealously represented victims of dog bites in Staten Island and New York City for nearly three decades. Recently, our office obtained a $2,600,000 settlement for a 9-year old child who was brutally attacked by two dogs.
In New York, there is no “one-bite rule.” Under this rule, the victim can establish the dog owner’s liability only by proving that the owner of the dog had notice of a previous dog bite involving their dog. In those other states that still follow this rule, owners are shielded from liability for the first injury caused by their dog. Instead, a New York victim can establish the dog owner’s liability by showing the dog had a “vicious propensity” to bite or attack others. A dog’s tendency to jump on people, bite, snap, and bark at them, are facts that may help establish the owner’s liability.
Dog bites can result in serious physical and psychological damage. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, please contact our office for a free consultation.
