Football Player is Being Sued After Dogs Attacks Pool Cleaner
Ezekiel Elliot has just finished his battle with the coronavirus, but he is now facing another battle – in Court.
Elliot’s pool cleaner is suing him for more than $200,000 after her alleged ambush by Elliot’s dogs – one Rottweiler and two Bulldogs. Her personal injuries from the alleged attack required surgery on her forearm and are still causing her mental and physical pain.
In an interview, Elliott’s lawyer, Frank Salzano, told TMZ Sports that “Ezekiel was in no way negligent in connection with the alleged incident and intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit.”
Victim of Dog Bite Alleges Dogs Have Attacked Before
The Frisco Police department told TMZ Sports that animal services responded to an incident back in March, but no criminal charges were filed. Apparently, it was not the first ambush by the dogs, as the woman alleges that another pool cleaner was bitten by one of the dogs in December last year.
Elliot’s lawyer also said that the pool cleaner was actually trespassing and did not have any permission to be inside Elliot’s property at the time of the incident. According to Salzano, “the [woman] plaintiff was unauthorized to be on the premises the day of the incident and either willfully disregarded and/or negligently ignored her employer’s policy which required Elliott to be notified in advance of any visits. We look forward to further establishing the plaintiff’s contributory negligence during the course of this matter.”
How Common are Dog Bites in the US?
Dog bites in the country might be more common than you think. Around 4.5 million dog bites happen every year in the United States, with an average of around 12,300 cases each day. 1 in every 5 bites become infected, and nearly 27,000 people in 2018 had reconstructive surgery due to being bitten by dogs.
In 2019, insurers paid out around $797 million in liability claims stemming from dog-related injuries, including bites, which indicates people who get hurt seek damages from dog owners.
Most personal injuries arising from dog bites stem from negligent owners. The dog alone cannot be blamed – the negligence would most of the time fall upon the owner. This is especially true for severe dog bites requiring surgery and other physical therapy sessions due to the injury.
If you have been injured in a dog bite accident in New York, you have to be vigilant in protecting your legal rights. There is a statute of limitations in New York, or a time limit, in filing dog bite lawsuits. Make sure you still have time to file a claim by calling our lawyers for help immediately.
What Should You Do When You Suffer Personal Injuries From a Dog Bite?
If a dog bit you, keep a record of all matters connected with the bite. Here are some things to keep in mind when a dog injures you.
- Take photos or videos of the dog, if possible. This will help identify the dog if you need to at a later date.
- Call the attention of the owner immediately. Take note of the address, date, time, and place where the bite happened. Also, demand to know whether the dog has up-to-date vaccine shots.
- Check the area also for witnesses. Once you can, contact them and ask them what they heard or saw. This will also help you in filing a claim against the dog owner.
- Depending on the severity of your bite, head to the emergency room to get your injuries treated.
- Remember: even if you know the dog or the dog’s owner, be sure to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
- Keep a record of all your medications, hospital bills, and doctor’s fees, including any prescription, medical records, and invoices.
Contact Our New York Dog Bite Lawyers For Help
If you have been injured in Long Island, New York, our dog bite lawyers at Levine and Wiss, PLLC, can file a claim against the dog owner and seek damages for you.
Because personal injury lawsuits have a statute of limitations, remember to call our experienced dog bite lawyers as soon as possible to protect your legal rights and enforce the laws against the negligent owner. We can help you prepare a claim and formally represent you in a dog bite lawsuit.
We work hard to ensure you collect damages for the injuries that you have sustained.
Call Levine and Wiss today at 888-GOT-HURT for a free consultation.
Sources:
- https://nypost.com/2020/06/26/ezekiel-elliott-being-sued-by-pool-cleaner-over-alleged-dog-attack/
- https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2020/06/27/ezekiel-elliotts-lawyer-dog-attack-victim-was-trespassing/
- https://www.iii.org/article/spotlight-on-dog-bite-liability
- https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-quick-statistics.php
