Suffering a dog bite can be life-changing, especially if it causes a serious injury or leads to complications such as infections, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injuries. You can contact a dog bite lawyer in West Hempstead from Levine And Wiss for professional help after an animal bite injury.
We have over 100 years of combined legal experience and want to assist with all your legal rights and personal injury needs. You can count on our West Hempstead personal injury lawyers to assess your situation, find the liable party, and track all of your medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses.
Pursuing Financial Compensation With a West Hempstead Dog Bite Lawyer
Our team can help you secure fair compensation after an animal attack. Depending on your circumstances, we may help you get the money you need to cover your:
Current and Future Medical Bills
While some dog bites cause minor injuries, many result in severe injury claims requiring extensive medical treatment. Dog bites can be serious and lead to:
- Broken bones
- Open wounds with or without infections
- Disfigurement injuries
- Amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
If you have severe injuries and ongoing pain as a result of a dog bite, you deserve an attorney who will fight for your best possible outcome. We strive to bring you compensation for your medical attention, time in the hospital, medications, and other medical expenses.
Lost Pay
Severe injuries may prevent you from working, and you can seek compensation for lost wages and other benefits. However, you can only seek these damages in some instances, so you should consult with a lawyer about your eligibility.
Non-Economic Losses
A New York animal attack attorney may help you recover damages for the non-economic losses of an animal bite injury, including emotional trauma and reduced quality of life. We encourage you to discuss how this accident has affected your relationships, work, and mental health.
Why Choose Levine And Wiss After a Dog Attack in West Hempstead?
Our team at Levine And Wiss, a trusted personal injury law firm, has over a century of combined experience handling complicated legal claims. We have served thousands of clients and helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation.
We maintain open communication throughout the legal process and are available 24/7 to provide legal counsel and support. We also handle dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay legal fees only after your personal injury claim is resolved.
West Hempstead Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me
(888) 468-4878Recent Legal Changes Affecting Dog Bite Cases in New York
The way dog bite cases are handled in New York has shifted with recent developments, including the April 2025 Flanders decision. This ruling allows victims to hold dog owners responsible even if the animal has never bitten anyone before.
Under this decision, individuals who suffer injuries from a dog attack can file dog bite injury claims without needing to show a history of aggressive behavior. In addition, pet owners who act negligently may face criminal consequences, including misdemeanor charges for allowing a dangerous dog to cause serious injury.
These changes make it significantly easier for victims to seek financial compensation after a dog attack. With experienced legal guidance, victims can pursue recovery for medical bills, emotional trauma, and other losses resulting from a dog bite.
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How a West Hempstead Dog Bite Attorney Can Help You
Our team of dog bite lawyers in West Hempstead will represent you throughout the legal process and provide the following:
Answer Your Questions
Dog bite laws govern how victims can pursue personal injury claims after a dog bite in New York. We will review your situation under New York State laws and explain which ones apply to you and your case.
Determine Fault
In most cases, the dog owner is at fault for your injuries and must cover your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. If any other party may be liable, a West Hempstead dog bite lawyer will identify them.
Explore All Your Losses
Victims deserve full compensation for all their losses, including medical expenses, medical treatment, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries caused by a dog attack.
Handle the Insurance Company
While you focus on recovery, our dog bite attorneys negotiate with the insurance company to pursue fair compensation for your personal injury claim.
Help You in Court
If necessary, we will aggressively litigate your injury claims and go to court to prove your damages, including emergency treatment, long-term medical care bills, emotional suffering, and more.
The Insurance Company Is Not On Your Side
Insurance companies representing the dog owner often prioritize their profits over your recovery. Their goal is typically to settle your personal injury claim as quickly and cheaply as possible, which can leave you with far less compensation than you deserve.
They may also try to downplay the severity of your injuries or deny certain losses altogether. Common tactics used by insurance companies include:
- Offering quick settlements that do not fully cover your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, or ongoing medical expenses.
- Minimizing or disputing the seriousness of your injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries.
- Questioning your credibility, claiming you contributed to the incident, or suggesting your recovery is not complete.
- Delaying communications or failing to provide clear information about your claim to pressure you into accepting less.
- Denying claims for future care, rehabilitation, or long-term medical treatment related to your dog bite injuries.
Working with a New York dog bite attorney from Levine And Wiss ensures you have professional guidance throughout the legal process. We handle all communications with the insurance company, protect your legal rights, and fight to recover full compensation for your medical attention, lost wages, emotional trauma, and other losses resulting from the dog attack.
Common Dog Bite Injuries We May Represent
Dog bites can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor scratches to life-altering trauma. At Levine And Wiss, our West Hempstead dog bite lawyers handle cases involving all types of injuries, helping victims recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Some of the most common dog bite injuries we represent include:
- Broken bones caused by the force of a dog attack
- Lacerations and deep cuts requiring stitches or surgery
- Infections, including those caused by bacteria like Capnocytophaga
- Disfigurement or permanent scarring from bites
- Amputations resulting from severe attacks
- Traumatic brain injuries from falls or head bites
- Spinal cord injuries due to violent attacks or falls
- Soft tissue damage, including torn muscles and ligaments
- Emotional trauma and psychological distress from the attack
- Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization expenses
- Long-term medical care, including physical therapy and plastic surgery
No matter the severity of your injury, Levine And Wiss can provide legal counsel and guidance to help you pursue compensation under New York State laws and protect your legal rights.
How Long Do You Have to File a Bite Injury Claim?
If you’ve been injured in a dog bite or animal attack, it’s important to understand that there is a limited time to take legal action under New York State law. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations, and it affects how long you have to file a personal injury claim for your dog bite injuries.
In New York, the statute of limitations for most dog bite injury claims is three years from the date of the bite or attack. This means you must file your claim within three years to preserve your right to seek financial compensation.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait to File a Claim With an Attorney
Failing to file within this time frame can prevent you from recovering any damages, even if your injuries are severe. Working with a West Hempstead dog bite lawyer from Levine And Wiss can ensure your claim is filed correctly and on time, helping you protect your legal rights and pursue the compensation you need.
It’s crucial to act promptly after a dog bite, gather medical records, and document your injuries to strengthen your case and maximize potential recovery.
What to Do Immediately After a Dog Attack
Knowing what steps to take immediately after a dog attack can make a significant difference in your recovery and your ability to pursue a personal injury claim. Acting quickly can help protect your legal rights, ensure proper medical attention, and preserve evidence for your dog bite injury case.
Seek Medical Attention Right Away
Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s essential to get prompt medical treatment. Dog bites can lead to infections, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or other complications. Make sure to document all medical care, including emergency treatment, medications, and follow-up visits, as these records are critical for your legal claims.
Document the Scene and Evidence
Take photos of your injuries, the dog, and the location of the attack. Collect witness statements and any other evidence that can help establish the circumstances of the incident. A dog bite report from animal control or local authorities can also strengthen your case.
Identify the Dog and Its Owner
Obtain the dog owner’s contact information, as well as details about the dog’s vaccination history and prior behavior, if possible. This information is important for establishing liability under New York dog bite laws and the dog bite statute.
Notify Authorities and File a Report
Report the attack to local animal control, the police, or other appropriate authorities. This ensures there is an official record of the incident and can help hold the pet owner accountable.
Contact a West Hempstead Dog Bite Lawyer
Reach out to a New York dog bite attorney from Levine And Wiss as soon as possible. Legal counsel can guide you through the legal process, handle the insurance company, and help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and emotional trauma.
Get a Free Consultation With Our West Hempstead Dog Attack Lawyers
A dog bite lawyer in West Hempstead can provide top-tier legal advice, guidance, and assistance to pursue full and fair compensation after an animal bite injury.
Contact Levine And Wiss to schedule a free consultation and discuss your personal injury claim with our legal team. We have extensive experience in personal injury law and New York State laws governing dog bites on Long Island. For more information, visit our FAQ page.