If you have lost a family member or suffered injuries as a result of another person's negligence or misconduct, working with an attorney who has exemplary legal skills can help you to achieve the favorable verdict or settlement to which you are entitled. To find out how our firm can work with you to address your immediate needs, contact us to schedule a consultation and case evaluation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a member of your family have been injured due to the negligence of another person, you may be entitled to collect damages for the harm that has come to you or your loved one. These cases can be extremely complex with multiple parties sharing in the responsibility for your injuries. Make sure you have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side to ensure that your interests are protected.
At the law office of Jeffrey S. Wasserman, P.C., I help people throughout Long Island recover compensation for their injuries. I help clients in a wide variety of injury cases including auto accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death and many others. I seek rapid results for my clients so you can put this ordeal behind you and move on with your life.
Contact my office today to learn more about how I can help you. You can reach me by phone at 516-368-0362 or send me an e-mail and I will respond by the end of the next business day.
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I have 30 years of experience as an attorney. You can count on me to work tirelessly on your behalf to seek maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact Jeffrey S. Wasserman, P.C. to discuss your personal injury case.
Learn more about how I can help you after a personal injury. At the law office of Jeffrey S. Wasserman, P.C., I will fight aggressively to see that your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact my office today.
Animal Bites
Although animal-attack claims most commonly involve dog bites, many other types of domesticated animals, such as ferrets, cats, and even birds, can also bite humans. Even nondomesticated animals, such as large cats ordinarily found in the wild, but owned by some people as pets have been known to attack children and adults. An animal owner's liability for injuries caused by his or her pet, if any, will vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A lawyer from Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Wasserman, P.C. in Mineola, New York, who is experienced in dog bite and personal injury law is an excellent source for advice and information in animal attack case.
Proving Owners' Liability in Animal Attack Cases
To succeed in most animal attack cases, the injured person must prove that the animal that caused the injury was owned and kept by the defendant. In the past, the injured person was also required to show that the owner knew or should have known that his or her animal was dangerous, mischievous, vicious or prone to such threatening behaviors. Under current law, however, when it is proven that an owner was somehow negligent, such as by not properly restraining or containing the animal, the injured person may often recover damages without proving the animal’s viciousness.
An owner of an animal may be found liable under any circumstances in which he or she had knowledge of the animal’s viciousness but failed to act in order to prevent injuries to others. Accordingly, if an animal exhibits vicious or uncontrollable behavior, the owner should take steps to shield the public from the animal. For example, if an individual owns a pit bull with a propensity to attack and bite without provocation, the owner should probably keep the dog indoors and, while outside, in a yard from which it cannot escape. If an owner does not adhere to these common-sense guidelines and the animal attacks, he or she may be found liable for the resulting injuries.
Those who keep animals generally considered wild, such as lions, bears, and monkeys, are typically liable for injuries caused by such animals regardless of whether the particular animal is known to be dangerous. Because wild animals are generally presumed to have a natural tendency to revert to their wild mannerisms no matter how well trained or domesticated, owners of such animals are often said to be "strictly liable" for any injuries caused by their wild animals. However, strict liability may not apply if the animal injures someone while it is confined or restrained on its owner’s property, but this is a factually dependent argument that will not apply in every case.
In some states, it is not always necessary for the animal to actually bite or attack the victim to hold the owner liable for an injury. For example, a pedestrian who breaks his or ankle in a frightened attempt to get away from a fenced in dog's snapping, barking, or other aggressive behavior, may nonetheless be able to sue the dog’s owner successfully if he or she can show that the actions of the dog led to the injury.
Defenses to Liability in Animal Attack Cases
People who are injured in animal attacks are not always entitled to recover damages. If the injured person provoked the animal, for instance, recovery may be denied. Similarly, if a pet owner informs his or her neighbor that his or her pet parrot is not friendly and should not be touched, but the neighbor does not heed this warning and is thereafter pecked or bitten, recovery may be denied. If the owner merely stated that the parrot was not always friendly, on the other hand, but still encouraged the neighbor to pet it, the owner could likely be liable.
People who are injured by an animal while on the owner's property are generally unable to recover if they are trespassing at the time of the attack. In many states, in order to successfully bring suit under a dog bite statute, the injured person must show that he or she was lawfully in the place where the injury occurred. If the injured person was a trespasser at the time of the attack, the animal's owner may not be liable for injuries caused by his or her animal. If, for example, someone jumps over a fence into an enclosed junkyard with "Beware of Dog" warnings posted and taunts the German shepherd guard dog with a stick, the junkyard owner may not be liable if the dog bites the trespasser.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Persons injured by biting or attacking animals should seek the counsel of a personal injury lawyer who can explain the complexities of their case and provide guidance through the legal system. If you or someone you know has suffered personal injuries as a result of an animal attack, the experienced and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer at Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Wasserman, P.C. in Mineola, New York, can advise you on whether you may have a claim against the animal's owner and can help you pursue the maximum damages to which you are entitled.
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DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.
