Albany Dog Attack And Other Related Incidents

Every dog owner loves their pet. Pets provide humans with comfort, companionship, and unconditional love. But, unfortunately, even the best-behaved and well-trained dog become set off and damage property or injure someone. Sadly, this week a man in Albany died from a dog attack. In light of this tragic news, we at Dreyer-Boyajian want to help you prepare in case you find yourself in a dog related incident.

Understanding the steps you can take to prevent a dog attack is important. Here are some things to keep in mind when interacting with a dog.

• Avoid contact with stray animals, even if they seem friendly.
• Never reach behind a fence to pet a dog.
• When outside of the home, always have your dog on a leash so they can be managed
• Pay attention to your dog’s mannerisms. Dogs will show warning signs before they attack, including:
  • Raised fur on their backs
  • Growling or barking
  • Tense body posture
  • Bared teeth
  • Intense stare
  • Licking lips

If you own a dog, it is important to have animal liability insurance. Animal liability insurance is designed to protect you in the unfortunate incident that your dog attacks someone or damages property. Animal liability insurance will pay victims for the cost to repair or replace any damaged property, medical bills, legal expenses, and amounts rewarded to injured parties in the case of a lawsuit. This insurance will cover the smallest damage issue, for example, if your dog gets a little too excited and jumps and breaks a piece of your friend’s furniture while visiting their home. Animal liability insurance will cover the cost to replace the item so you don’t have it. If you do not have animal liability insurance, we encourage you to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to add this policy.

In the unfortunate incident that your dog does cause physical damage, we are here to help. Here are the steps you should take after an incident takes place.

• Gather evidence of the damage and the dog.
• Gather the contact information for the injured person or the property owner and any witnesses to the incident.
• If you have animal liability insurance, call your provider and start a claim
• Call your lawyer, who will assist you with the next steps should a lawsuit occur.

If you have been involved in a dog incident, you should call the Albany-based personal injury lawyers at Dreyer Boyajian. Our experienced attorneys are always ready to assist you and ensure you get justice for the harm you have suffered. To schedule a free initial consultation at your convenience, give us a call at 518-463-7784 or contact us online at dreyerboyajian.com.