An 11-year-old girl was injured in a dog attack after two large dogs attacked her while she was on her way to school in Yonkers. According to a news report on Pix11.com, the girl was near a school bus stop in the morning when two large Bull mastiff type dogs attacked her. The girl attempted to fight the dogs off unsuccessfully. A passerby intervened and threw objects at the dogs until they released the girl. She was rushed to a local hospital where she was treated for scratches and bite wounds. The girl is expected to survive.
Police said the dogs were not on leashes and the owner was not present when officers arrived at the site of the attack – the intersection of Ashburton and Yonkers Avenue. Officials described the dogs as “aggressive and violent.” Members of the Emergency Service Unit tried to get the dogs under control with health sticks and darts. The dogs were eventually euthanized. Their owner has been located and the matter is under investigation, officials said. It is indeed fortunate that the girl received timely help from the passerby, or her injuries may have been far more serious.
Dog Bite Statistics
According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bites and other dog-related injuries accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2016, costing more than $600 million. In 2016, dogs attacked more than 6,750 U.S. Postal Service employees – over 200 more attacks than last year. Approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States. Nearly one out of five dog bites become infected.
Also, in 2015, more than 28,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs. There was an 86 percent increase in dog bite-related hospitalization stays between 1993 and 2008 in the United States. The average cost of a dog bite-related hospital stay was $18,200, about 50 percent higher than the average injury-related hospital stay.
New York Dog Bite Law
Under New York law, depending on the circumstances and facts of the case, dog owners may be held liable for the injuries and damages caused by the pets. This is especially true in cases where the dog owner knew or should have known that the dog was likely to attack or in cases where the dog owner did little or nothing to prevent the attack from happening. In some cases, victims may also be able to file a premises liability claim against the owner of the property and/or property manager, etc. where the attack occurred.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, it is important that you take several steps to protect your rights. Get prompt medical attention, treatment and care for your injuries. File a report with the appropriate animal control agency or the police. Try to preserve as much evidence as possible from the scene especially physical evidence such as torn or bloody clothing.
Injuries and Compensation
Dog attacks have the potential to result in severe or even fatal injuries. The seriousness of the dog bite injuries may depend on the size of the dog, the number of dogs attacking, the age and size of the victim. Some of the common injuries suffered in dog attacks include, but are not limited to, lacerations, puncture wounds, broken bones and nerve damage. Treating these types of injuries can be costly and painful.
In addition to physical injuries, victims may also suffer severe emotional and psychological issues including post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Dog bite victims can seek compensation from the at-fault dog owner for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, cost of cosmetic surgery, permanent injuries, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our law firm recovered $750,000 for a girl who was bitten by a dog, which was the most money recovered in New York State that year for a dog bite. We also recovered $200,000 for another victim of a dog bite, by trying the case to verdict.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: http://pix11.com/2017/06/22/11-year-old-girl-attacked-by-two-large-dogs-on-her-way-to-yonkers-school/