Being bitten by a dog is not something that everyone expects to happen to them. When this does happen, the damage can range from mild to severe depending on a variety of factors. Having an idea of what makes dogs bite may help you avoid dog bites in the future. Do not hesitate to consider filing a New York personal injury claim if someone else's dog bit you. You could be eligible for compensation for your injuries.

Common Reasons Why Dogs Bite

Some dog bites can seemingly happen out of nowhere and for no obvious reason. Multiple factors can explain why a dog bit you. Understanding these might help you look for signs to stay away from a dog to avoid being bitten in the future.

Many dog bite causes involve territory issues, food, and rabies. Some dogs are very protective over their territory, their owner's territory, or their owner. If you come too close to a dog's territory or owner, you may run the chance of being bitten. A few signs a dog is about to bite in this scenario include:

• The dog barks or growls louder the closer you move to the territory
• The dog comes right up to you while barking
• You can see signs of aggression on the dog's face

Growling and barking can make it easy to anticipate a dog bite, but some dog bites have no forewarning like this. When dogs are eating, for example, and someone approaches, the dog may bite unexpectedly. Some people have argued that dogs bite when they are jealous of others spending time with their owners.

Next to growling and barking, rabies is another easy sign to look for to avoid being bitten. Rabies often comes in the form of foaming at the mouth and strange movements. A dog with white foam in the mouth that is acting strange is a red flag for danger. Move away from the dog as fast as possible.

When Can I Sue for a Dog Bite?

You might be wondering when you can sue a dog owner for a dog bite in New York. According to New York dog bite laws, you can sue the dog owner under certain conditions:

• You were bitten by the owner's dog
• You suffered bodily harm from the bite
• You were not acting negligently

Here is where things become tricky. If the dog owner can prove you were committing a crime like trespassing or acting negligently with the dog, you may not have a case. In some states, a judge may split the percentage of negligence between you and the dog owner, which means less compensation for you. Consider contacting a New York City bicycle accident lawyer if you have any concerns or questions about what happened with your dog bite.

New York City Dog Bite Lawyer

Dealing with an infected dog bite can be expensive. Contact the Sullivan and Brill Law Firm today at (212) 566-1000 to speak with a New York personal injury attorney for a free consultation today. Our lawyers might be able to help you obtain significant compensation for your injury. We are located in New York City, Long Island, Kings, Bronx, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.