Animal Attacks

The majority of domestic animals are harmless, loving companions unlikely to cause injury to people. There are, unfortunately, occasions when animals attack and the outcomes can be devastating. The most common form of domestic animal attack causing injury is dog bites.

The CDC states that about 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Almost one in five of those who are bitten, about 885,000, require medical attention for dog bite injuries; half of these are children. In 2012, more than 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.1 Homeowners insurance data indicates that in 2012 over $489 million was paid out in the United States for dog bites.

Property owners and occupiers are required to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition, which includes controlling the conduct of their domestic animals, such as dogs, for the protection of others. This obligation extends to requiring dog owners to control their dogs both within their property and in public. Failure to do so creates a liability on dog owners to compensate dog bite injury victims and their families for their injuries, losses, pain and suffering. In many instances the dog owners have insurance coverage that can be used to pay for the injuries to you and members of your family.

The attorneys at New York’s O’Hare Parnagian LLP have extensive experience helping injured people, their families and the families of victims of wrongful death recover financial damages for injuries sustained due to domestic animal owners’ failure to prevent their pets from causing harm to people. We will thoroughly investigate your claim, build the strongest case possible, and hold all responsible parties accountable for your injuries or the wrongful death of your loved one.

Because the law limits the time in which you can bring a claim, you should contact us immediately to investigate your case. Sometimes filings must be made within 90 days of the injury.

Call us at (212) 425-1401, or contact us online to set up a consultation to discuss your legal options. One of our attorneys will respond to you within 24 hours.


  1. http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/dog-bites/index.html ↩︎

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