There are more than 850,000 dog bites that require medical attention each year in the U.S., and nearly 15 people are killed in these attacks. All dog bites and attacks are serious problems for people living in New York and beyond.

Even though it can be a disorienting and scary experience to be attacked by a dog, no matter the breed, it is important that you take four easy steps as soon as possible after a New York dog bite/attack in order to avoid future injuries:

  1. Seek medical attention. After getting bitten or attacked by a dog, your first priority should be to get medical attention for yourself and anyone else who may be injured. Even if there are no injuries that are immediately apparent, you need to be checked for infections or signs of illnesses such as rabies.
  2. Document the attack. After you ensure you are safe, it is important that you document the incident in as much detail as possible. The human memory is fallible, and having the exact events (such as time and place) down on paper may help talking to a lawyer or giving your testimony in court.
  3. Contact animal control. You should also contact a local branch of animal control. They may be able to locate the aggressive dog, ensuring that no other people are in danger from the same fate. Information that may be helpful to tell them is the owner's name, a physical description of the dog, and the approximate location of the attack.
  4. Contact an attorney. Lastly, you should contact a Long Island dog attack lawyer as soon as possible after the incident. You may be able to recover damages from the bite or attack, holding negligent owners responsible for their actions. However, it is far more difficult to do so without the help of an attorney.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, contact the Long Island dog bite lawyers at Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine today to schedule a free consultation about your case. You can reach us toll free at (800) 734-9445.