GarberLegal will help guide you through the necessary steps and provide you with the answers and direction you need. At GarberLegal It is our goal to educate you on what to expect when you are a victim of a dog bite injury. Our firm is here to help you and has represented hundreds of dog bite injury victims. We understand your pain and suffering, and we are here to help you.

If you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite injury contact the law offices of GarberLegal to learn more about your legal rights and options. At Garber Legal, our attorneys will be more than happy to evaluate your case during a free and confidential consultation to determine the best way to pursue your claims while protecting and maximizing your legal interests.

Dangerous Breeds

According to the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) the most dangerous dog breeds include:

• Pit bulls
• Rottweilers
• German shepherds
• Huskies
• Alaskan malamutes
• Doberman pinschers
• Chows
• Great Danes
• Saint Bernards
• Akitas

Any dog can be a good, loving pet, even if it’s considered a dangerous dog and likely to bite. You cannot determine, by breed alone, whether or not a dog is going to attack.

NY Dog Bite Law

New York State has a “one bite rule”. Under this dog bite law, a dog is allowed one mistake. Meaning, the owner cannot be held responsible for the dog’s first bite or injury to another, unless the owner was negligent in his actions to control the dog. Likewise, if the owner was in violation of various dog laws such as requiring a leash, the injured may have recourse.

The “one bite rule” does not allow one free bite to a dog that has a tendency to be dangerous. This means, if the dog bite victim can prove that the dog has a dangerous nature and the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s dangerous behavior, then the one bite rule will not apply.

Examples of dangerous propensity are:

• The dog has a tendency to snap at people.
• The owner often tells people his dog is an attack dog.
• The dog owner cautions others that his dog bites.
• The dog wear a muzzle.

Once liability is determined, the next step is to find out as much as you can about the dog and the owner, including whether or not the owner has insurance. Types of insurance policies that typically cover dog bites include:

• Homeowner’s insurance;
• Renter’s insurance;
• Landlord’s insurance (covering the owner, occupier and/or manager of property);
• Commercial general liability insurance (covering stores and other businesses);
• Insurance covering employers (protecting employees only); and
• Motor vehicle insurance.

Contact the law offices of Garber Legal to learn more about your legal rights and options. At GarberLegal, our attorneys will be more than happy to evaluate your case during a free and confidential consultation to determine the best way to pursue your claims while protecting and maximizing your legal interests.