Can a lawyer help me with my lead exposure claim?

If you or your child has been poisoned by exposure to lead, getting legal counsel to help you can make a significant difference in how the case is resolved. The damage to the human body can be extensive, and some adults who were exposed as children are now coping with the consequences. Adults who were […]

Approximately 4,000 dog bites are reported each year in New York City. To put this figure in context, there are around 50,000 NYC motor vehicle injury crashes each year, 12,000 pedestrian injuries and 4,000 bicyclist injuries. Because New Yorkers own dogs at a lower rate than the national average, nationwide dog bite statistics are a […]

The “one bite” rule has its roots in English common law. In earlier times, the law allowed a domestic animal to bite its first victim without consequences. Today, this is not necessarily the case. A dog owner is no longer allowed one “free dog bite” if it can be shown that the owner knew or […]

A “dangerous” dog in New York is one that has been declared as such by a judge following a formal complaint with the municipality. Complaints may be made to an animal control or police officer by anyone who “witnesses an attack or threatened attack upon a person, companion animal, farm animal, or domestic animal.” A […]

A dog owner may not be held liable for a bite injury in cases in which: A dog was protecting itself, its owner, its offspring, a member of its household or another domestic animal. The bite victim was committing a crime upon the owner of the dog or upon the owner’s property. The victim tormented, […]

In New York, in order to collect dog-bite damages beyond medical bills, you need to prove that the owner was negligent. In other words, you need to show that the owner did something wrong or failed to do something he or she should have done. Violation of an NYC municipal dog ordinance – such as […]

Based on previous New York court rulings, a landlord may be held liable for a tenant’s biting dog if the landlord knew about the dog and the landlord knew the dog had vicious propensities. Note that the landlord must have “actual” knowledge of these conditions. It’s not enough to claim that a landlord “should have […]

The dog’s owner may be responsible, but your own actions also may affect liability. For example, if you did not properly restrain your dog on a leash, and this allowed the dog fight to occur, you may bear some liability as well. Also keep in mind that in cases of dog self-defense, the owner isn’t […]

No. In fact, New York statutes prohibit laws that ban ownership of certain dog breeds, such as pit bulls. Despite this, some New York municipalities, including Hempstead and Yonkers, have breed-specific laws on their books.

You have 3 years from the date the attack occurred to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner. It’s best not to wait until the last minute to file suit, however. The sooner you consult with a lawyer and get legal proceedings moving, the better. Report all dog bites to the Department of Health or […]