Boston, MA Dog Bite Lawyer

Personal injuries do not result solely from slip-and-fall situations. The negligent behavior of another is more than sufficient to put one in a situation where he or she is subject to a higher risk of injury than had the negligent person acted reasonably. Dog owners, for example, have a duty to ensure that their pets do not seriously harm others. Failure to do so could land pet owners in the midst of a lawsuit, as well as cause personal injury to innocent parties. In such a situation, it would be wise to contact an expert dog bite injury lawyer at 617-787-3700.

In a particularly gruesome example of why people must be very conscientious around dogs, a four year-old Utah boy had his hand bitten off as a result of a dog bite attack in his back yard. According to reports, the boy was playing in his yard, which was separated from his neighbor’s yard by a six foot tall fence. The neighbor’s dogs were in the adjacent yard, so the boy decided to put a sock over his hand and stick it through a hole in the fence. At this point, one of the neighbor’s dogs bit the boy’s hand, and severed it completely.

Medical care was immediately called and the boy was airlifted to a hospital 30 miles away. Doctors’ attempts to reattach the hand were unfortunately unsuccessful, and parts of the child’s forearm had to be amputated as well. He is expected to remain in the hospital for several days, while the dog has been quarantined by authorities. At the moment, there is no legal action being pursued by the child’s parents.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a dog bite, you may be entitled to significant monetary relief. Act now and contact an expert dog bite attorney here at the Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates to discuss your potential claim. Call our Boston injury attorneys today at 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com for your free and private consultation. Your needs are our top priority!

Although it is definitely important that the law is not in a constant state of flux, changing from day to day such that no one knows if they are breaking the law, it is equally important that laws can be adapted to fit the needs of our time. As more and more information about a particular subject comes to light, the legal system should adjust accordingly. Similarly, if it becomes clear the a law continues to produce results that have a net-negative affect on society, such laws should be reconsidered as to promote goals that coincide with the general welfare of the population.

In New York, laws surrounding the legal effects of dog bites have recently come under scrutiny. According to experts, New York’s dog bite laws are “antiquated”, and in need of proper reform. The major problem, according to experts, is that there is no statute governing what happens when a person suffers a dog bite. Instead, courts go off the common-law regime, which leaves much undefined and up to interpretation. It places a very difficult burden upon the victim to prove that the dog in question not only had a “violent propensity,” but that the dog’s owner knew about the dog’s violent propensity.

Experts point to other states, such as Delaware and New Jersey, which essentially hold that if your dog bites and severely injures someone, then you’re responsible for it. There is no requirement to prove the violent tendencies of the dog or the knowledge of the owner. Experts also lament that there appears to be no change in sight, as the decades old New York laws seem firmly entrenched.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a dog bite, you may be entitled to significant monetary relief. Act now and contact an expert dog bite attorney here at the Law Offices of Gilbert R. Hoy, Jr. and Affiliates to discuss your potential claim. Call our injury attorney specialists today at 617-787-3700 or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com for your free and private consultation. Your needs are our top priority!