Justia Lawyer Rating
AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Ratings
Bar Register Preeminent Lawyers
Avvo Rating 10
The Best Lawyers in America
Best Law Firms 2020
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Super Lawyers
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Hispanic Lawyers Association

FAQs About Dog Bite (and other animal injury) Cases

My Neighbors’ Dog Bit My Child, but I don’t Want to Sue My Neighbors. What can I do?

Our Syracuse New York injury lawyers handle lots of dog bite cases. Who pays us when we settle or win in court? If the dog owner own a home, then he probably has homeowner’s insurance. Most dog bite cases can be settled with the homeowner’s insurance without ever having to sue. Suing is your option, and if you don’t want to sue, no lawyer can, or should, make you do it. You might rather settle for less money if that means not having to sue. Your neighbor might not mind being sued, however, if he knows that the money from the suit is going to come from his insurance, and not from his pocket, and that this will help your child get full economic compensation for the injury.

Do I Automatically Win My Dog Bite Case?

No. To succeed, we need to show that the owner of the dog knew or should have known the dog had “vicious propensities”, which usually means the dog had bitten, or threatened to bite, before. The dog owner might also claim that you somehow provoked the dog (this defense is often used against children who are bitten by dogs). There are many other defenses to dog bite cases.

How do I Prove That the Dog Who Bit Me Had “Prior Vicious Propensities” That the Owner Should Have Known About?

Even if the owner claims he had the most gentle, people-loving dog on the planet, and that it is a complete mystery why he suddenly bit you, a good investigator may be able to find contrary evidence. At Michaels Bersani Kalabanka, in appropriate cases, we send skilled investigators to talk to the neighbors, mail carriers, UPS delivery people and any others who might have personal experience with the dog.

What if a Dog Runs in Front of My Motorcycle or Car Causing Me to Have an Accident?

Under certain circumstances, a dog owner may be held liable. Unfortunately, New York law in most circumstances requires that you show the owner knew or should have known that the dog had, in the past, obstructed or bothered traffic. It is not enough to show simply that the owner failed to tie the dog up, or accidently allowed the dog to escape from a leash.

What About Injuries Caused by Other Animals?

In New York, if an owner of a cow or other large animal negligently lets the animal wander in the roadway and you strike it with your car, he can be held liable. Likewise, if other large farm animals cause an accident, the owner may be held liable under certain circumstances. As for injuries caused by other domestic animals such as cats, the courts generally apply the same rules as those regarding dog bites. If someone choses to harbor a “wild” or dangerous animal, such as a bear or a tiger or a venomous snake, they will be liable for any injury the animal causes, regardless of whether they were “negligent”. We call this “strict liability”.

You can see from the above that what you have to prove in animal attack or bite cases depends on what type of animal injured you: A farm animal, domestic animal such as a dog or cat, or a wild animal. Because these rules are “tricky”, you are best off consulting early on with a Syracuse New York dog or animal bite/injury lawyer. Call us for a free consultation.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
He is one of the top lawyers in central New York & has the accolades to show for this, but in my book he's the top lawyer in the country. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Bersani & to have had him on my team! Matthew
★★★★★
I admire the amount of background work he did which was instrumental in getting me a very good settlement. Also, having never been involved in a personal injury lawsuit, Michael was very patient explaining the legal issues. You're in good hands with Michael Bersani and the firm of Michaels Bersani Kalabanka. Richard
★★★★★
Dave took over my wrongful death case after it was badly messed up by another lawyer. He was dogged in his pursuit of all the information needed to make a solid case, and he succeeded in bringing it to a very satisfactory settlement. He was honest and straightforward, kind and compassionate through meetings, depositions, court appearances. I highly recommend him. Christine
★★★★★
Dave has handled our legal matters for over 20 years. Always there when we needed him. We were so happy with his professionalism and results that we referred him to several friends. If we ever need this type of service again, Dave will be the first and only call we make. Jackie