A dog bite can happen without warning, even in familiar places like your own street or a neighbor’s yard. If a bite happens, the injuries can be serious, painful, and sometimes permanent. You might need stitches, rabies shots, or even surgery. The bite could lead to an infection or long-term emotional trauma. Knowing what to do right away can help protect your health and your legal rights.
At Davidoff Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped many people hurt by dangerous dogs. We know how stressful it is to deal with dog bite injuries, especially when the dog owner is someone you know. Our law firm is here to support you.
We will guide you through the legal process, help with your medical bills, and explain your options under New York dog bite laws. Whether the bite occurred on your property, at the dog owner’s property, or in a public space, we’ll fight for the fair compensation you deserve.
Table of Contents
Prioritize Your Safety and Get Medical Attention
The most important thing after a dog bite is to make sure you are safe and receive proper medical care. Even if the injury seems small at first, the risk of infection or more serious complications is high. Dog bite injuries can lead to deep tissue damage, psychological injuries, or exposure to rabies.
Quick action helps protect both your health and your rights as a dog bite victim. Getting help right away also creates a clear record of when and how the injury happened, which can be important if you need to file a claim or seek legal action later.
Move Away From the Dog to Avoid Further Injury
If you are still near the dog, stay calm and move away slowly. Do not shout or run, as this may increase the animal's aggressive behavior. Try to put a barrier between you and the dog involved, like a fence or door. Getting out of danger is the first step in protecting yourself from multiple bites or further harm.
Call 911 or Visit the Emergency Room Immediately
If you are seriously hurt, call 911 right away. Let the operator know that a dog bite occurred, so they can send emergency responders. If your wounds are bleeding heavily, deep, or showing signs of swelling, head to the nearest emergency room.
Even if you think you can manage the pain, a doctor must assess the injury and begin proper medical treatment.
Even Minor Bites Can Lead to Infection or Rabies
Never assume that a small bite is harmless. Bacteria in a dog’s teeth can cause serious infections if not treated quickly. In some cases, you may need a rabies vaccination, especially if the dog owner cannot prove that their pet’s shots are current.
If left untreated, rabies is deadly. Early care reduces the risk of complications and creates important documentation for any dog bite case.
Identify the Dog and Its Owner
Once you are safe and have received medical attention, the next important step is to identify the dog and the dog owner. This is essential for both your health and your potential legal action. Knowing who owns the animal helps determine whether the dog is up to date on rabies vaccination and if the dog has a history of aggressive behavior.
It also helps confirm who may be held liable for the injuries and medical bills you are now facing. If the dog bite occurred on the dog owner’s property or in a shared space, such as a sidewalk or neighbor’s yard, it is especially important to get accurate details to move forward with your case.
Confirm Ownership of the Dog
Speak with your neighbor or the person handling the dog at the time of the attack. Politely ask for the dog owner’s full name, phone number, and home address. If the bite occurred near your home, and you recognize the dog, take note of where it lives and who typically walks or watches it.
If the owner denies involvement, try to ask others nearby who saw the dog attack to help confirm who the dog belongs to. This is critical for both health concerns and determining who is legally responsible.
Ask for Vaccination Records, Especially Rabies
One of the most urgent things to request is proof of current rabies vaccination. Ask the dog owner to show veterinary records that confirm the dog is vaccinated. Without this, your doctor may recommend that you begin a series of rabies shots, which can be painful, expensive, and emotionally upsetting.
You may also need this information later as part of your personal injury or dog bite claim to prove that the dog owner failed to maintain proper medical care for their pet.
Take Photos of the Dog and the Location
If you are able, use your phone to take clear pictures of the dog, the area where the bite occurred, and any nearby details that help document the scene. This could include broken fences, lack of warning signs, or open gates on the dog owner's property.
Visual proof can be powerful when building a case, especially if the dog has bitten others before or is considered a dangerous dog under New York law. These images can also help your personal injury lawyer identify signs of negligent dog ownership, such as poor fencing or no leash, which may support a dog bite lawsuit.
Report the Bite to Local Authorities
After you have confirmed the dog owner’s identity and collected basic information, it’s important to report the dog bite to your local animal control agency or health department. This step is not only helpful for your own case, it also helps protect others. When a dog bite occurs, especially on someone else’s property or in a shared space, reporting it creates an official record of the incident.
That record may show whether the same dog has attacked before, if the dog’s behavior has been a problem in the past, or if the dog should be monitored or removed as a dangerous animal. This report also helps local authorities decide if more action is needed to stop future dog attacks.
File an Official Dog Bite Report
Ask the officer or agency how to officially file a dog bite report. You may need to fill out a form or provide a written statement about when and where the bite occurred, what injuries were caused, and how the dog owner responded.
Keep a copy of this report for your own records and give one to your personal injury lawyer. An official report helps prove liability later on if you decide to pursue a personal injury lawsuit.
This Helps Document the Incident and Prevent Future Attacks
Reporting a dog bite doesn’t just help your case, but it also helps your neighborhood. It allows the local animal control agency to track dangerous dogs, check for past complaints, and take steps to prevent future attacks.
Even if the dog bite victim is not you but your child, friend, or someone visiting your home, it’s critical to make sure the dog's behavior is officially noted. In some cases, it can prevent more people from suffering serious injury from the same dog in the future.
Document Your Injuries and the Scene
Once you've reported the dog bite to the proper authorities, your next step is to carefully document everything related to the incident. This includes photos of your physical injuries, details about how the bite occurred, and any medical care you received.
Keeping clear, detailed records will make it easier to show how serious your dog bite injuries were, and that the dog owner should be held liable. These records may also be needed if you file an insurance claim, seek fair compensation, or take legal action later on. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be.
Take Clear Photos of the Bite Wound(s)
Use your phone or camera to take sharp, well-lit pictures of all your wounds. This includes cuts, bruises, punctures from the dog’s teeth, or any swelling. Take these photos right after the bite occurred, and continue taking them over the next few days to show how the injury develops or worsens.
If the bite left scars or caused a serious injury, your lawyer can use these photos as visual proof in your case.
Keep Medical Records and Bills
Save all documents related to your medical care, including hospital discharge papers, doctor’s notes, prescriptions, and billing statements. If your doctor diagnosed you with a serious infection, ordered rabies shots, or referred you to a specialist, those records help prove how much harm the dog attack caused.
You should also keep receipts for any out-of-pocket costs, such as bandages, antibiotics, or travel to medical appointments. These expenses can be included in a dog bite lawsuit or insurance claim.
Write Down What Happened While It’s Fresh in Your Memory
Take time to write a full account of what happened before, during, and after the dog bite. Include where the bite occurred, what you were doing at the time, how the dog approached you, and how the dog owner reacted. Mention if there were any witnesses or if the dog showed aggressive behavior before.
You may forget these details over time, but having a written timeline will help your personal injury lawyer later when building your case.
Understand Dog Bite Liability in New York
When a dog bite happens in New York, the law takes both the dog’s behavior and the owner’s actions into account. Understanding how liability laws work can help you know who may be held liable and what compensation you may be entitled to.
Whether you were bitten in a park, a public street, or at the dog owner’s property, your right to seek damages depends on proving that the dog was dangerous or that the owner acted carelessly. These laws can be complex, so having a personal injury lawyer explain them is key.
Strict Liability vs. One-Bite Rule
Here’s how these two legal standards compare:
| Strict Liability | One-Bite Rule |
|---|---|
| The dog owner is strictly liable if their dog was known to be dangerous. | The owner may not be responsible unless the dog bit someone before or showed aggressive behavior. |
| No need to prove the owner was negligent. | Must prove the owner knew the dog could be dangerous. |
| Applies to medical costs related to the bite. | May apply to pain and suffering and other damages only if prior warning signs existed. |
In New York, the law follows a mixed approach. Dog owners are usually strictly liable for medical bills, but to recover other damages like pain and suffering, you often have to prove the owner was negligent or the dog had a history of aggression.
How Local Laws Affect Who’s Responsible
Your town or city may have its own leash laws, pet ordinances, or rules for dangerous dogs. If the dog owner failed to follow these rules, like letting the dog run off-leash in a public space, they could be held responsible for the attack.
Violating local animal safety laws is often used as proof of negligent dog ownership in dog bite cases.
Why Dog Owner Negligence May Also Be a Factor
Even if a dog never bit anyone before, the owner may still be responsible if they didn’t take reasonable steps to prevent the attack. Leaving a gate open, using a weak leash, ignoring aggressive behavior, or failing to give the dog proper training could all support a personal injury claim.
When you pursue legal action, your lawyer will look at everything the owner did (or didn’t do) to keep the dog under control.
FAQs
1. Should I seek medical attention even if the bite seems small?
Yes, always seek medical attention after a dog bite, even if the wound looks minor. Infections can set in quickly, and you may need a rabies vaccination if the dog’s health history is unclear. Getting immediate medical attention also creates a record of the injuries caused, which is important if you file a claim to recover medical expenses later.
2. Who pays for my medical bills after a dog bite?
In many cases, the dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy may include liability coverage for injuries caused by their pet. If you're hurt on the property owner’s land, their liability insurance may apply as well. Keep in mind, your own health insurance coverage might help pay some of the costs upfront, but the insurer may seek repayment if you later receive a legal settlement.
3. What if the dog is a pit bull or another breed labeled aggressive?
In New York, no breed is automatically deemed dangerous, including pit bulls. However, if the dog has a history of bites, attacks on other animals, or prior reports to the police department, that may support your case. What matters most is the dog’s behavior, not its breed. A dog that has attacked people or other dogs before may lead to stronger liability claims.
4. Can the dog owner claim I provoked the dog?
Yes. If the victim provoked the dog, the dog owner may argue that they should not be held fully responsible. This defense can reduce or block your ability to recover damages. That’s why it’s so important to stay calm, avoid sudden movements, and document exactly how the bite occurred from the start.
5. What if the dog was not on the owner's property when it bit me?
The location of the dog attack doesn’t excuse the dog owner from responsibility. Even if the bite occurred on public property or near your home, the owner can still be held liable, especially if the dog was not leashed or had escaped due to poor fencing. In some cases, even a property owner who allows an aggressive dog to roam freely can share legal blame.
Contact Our Queens Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or someone you love was bitten by a neighbor’s dog, you have the right to seek help. A dog bite can lead to serious medical expenses, stress, and even emotional suffering, especially when the attack was unexpected and could have been prevented. You should not have to deal with these costs alone or guess about your next steps. At Davidoff Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we are here to protect you and make sure your voice is heard.
Our team will investigate the dog bite case, review your medical records, and determine if the dog owner, property owner, or another party can be held liable. We’ll also check for homeowners insurance or renters insurance policies that may include liability coverage for the injuries caused. If the dog was deemed dangerous, we’ll work to hold the owner fully accountable under New York law.
Call us today for a free consultation. You don’t pay us unless we win your case. Let us fight to recover everything you’ve lost.
