There are many different dangerous property conditions that could cause an injury if a person is not aware of them, such as puddles of water or rotting wood. But not all dangerous property conditions have to do with a house itself or with an inanimate object for that matter. Depending on the circumstances, a pet or animal could qualify as a dangerous property condition, and if you are injured by such a creature, you could be compensated at the owner’s expense.
Generally speaking, the most important thing to determine in the case of a dog or animal bite is whether or not the owner knew or should have known that the animal was liable to attack. If you have been invited into another person’s house or onto another person’s property, either to perform work or simply to chat, then that person has a duty of care to ensure that you are not injured on their property.
In most instances, if you are bitten by an animal, you will likely have a strong chance of recovering compensation if you file a premises liability claim. However, if the animal is not a vicious breed, has no history of attacking other people, or if you provoked the animal in any way, then you may have a much harder time making a successful claim.
As you may be able to guess, recovering compensation for an animal bite is very circumstantial, and various factors can affect the case. The specific details of an animal attack can be difficult to understand if you are not familiar with the law, which is why it is highly recommended that injured individuals meet with an attorney. If you have suffered an animal bite on someone else’s property in New York, consider meeting with an attorney to learn more about your chances at recovering compensation.