This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by Ruben Davidoff following our comprehensive editorial guidelines Ruben Davidoff ,the Founding Partner, has 30+ years of legal experience as a New York personal injury attorney.
Bitten by a dog in Fresh Meadows? Davidoff Law fights to recover money for your injuries. Call our Fresh Meadows dog bite lawyer at (929) 209-4282.
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A dog bite can turn a normal walk through Fresh Meadows into a painful, frightening event that changes your life. A Fresh Meadows dog bite lawyer helps you hold the dog's owner responsible and recover money for your injuries.
Davidoff Law helps you fight back after a serious dog attack right here in Fresh Meadows. Our office sits in your neighborhood, so we know the local courts and how these cases work. You should not face painful injuries, growing medical bills, and a stubborn insurance company on your own.
Call our Fresh Meadows dog bite lawyer today at (929) 209-4282 for a free case evaluation with no upfront cost.
Why Choose Davidoff Law for Your Fresh Meadows Dog Bite Case?
Injured people in Fresh Meadows choose Davidoff Law because our office is right here in the neighborhood, and we treat every client like family. Our attorneys have decades of experience fighting for hurt New Yorkers, and we have recovered millions of dollars through strong settlements and verdicts.
We are ready to go to trial when an insurance company refuses to pay a fair amount. We also have the resources to take on serious injury cases that involve scarring, nerve damage, and long recoveries. That level of preparation is what pushes insurers to offer more.
Best of all, you pay nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe no legal fees unless we win money for you.
How Can Our Fresh Meadows Dog Bite Lawyer Help?
A dog bite claim in New York is not as simple as it sounds, and our law firm makes the whole process easier for you. New York's dog bite rules are different from those in many other states because you may recover money through strict liability, ordinary negligence, or both. Proving the owner is responsible, gathering the right medical proof, and standing up to the insurance company are where a skilled Fresh Meadows dog bite lawyer makes the difference.
Investigating the Dog Attack
We look into how and where the attack happened, whether the dog had a history of aggression, and what the owner knew before you were bitten.
Identifying Liable Parties
The dog's owner is not always the only one responsible, so we search for landlords, businesses, and others whose choices helped put you in danger.
Gathering Medical and Animal Control Records
Our team collects your medical records, animal control reports, and veterinary history because strong proof forces the insurance company to take your claim seriously. We move quickly to obtain medical records, animal control reports, surveillance footage, and other evidence before it is lost.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters try to pay you as little as possible, so we handle every call and push hard for the full amount you deserve.
Taking Your Case to Trial if Necessary
When the other side does not offer a fair amount, we are ready to take your case to court and fight for a verdict that reflects your real losses.
Bitten by a dog and not sure what to do next? Call Davidoff Law at (929) 209-4282 and let our Fresh Meadows dog bite lawyer review your case for free.
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite in Fresh Meadows?
The steps you take right after a dog attack can protect both your health and your right to compensation, so keep these actions in mind:
- Seek Immediate Medical Treatment: See a doctor right away, even for a small wound, because dog bites can cause deep damage and dangerous infections.
- Report the Bite to Local Authorities: Report the attack to animal control or the police, since an official record helps prove what happened and protects other people.
- Identify the Dog and Its Owner: Get the owner's name and contact information along with details about the dog, because you will need this to file a claim.
- Document Your Injuries and the Scene: Take photos of your wounds, the dog, and the location, and save the names of anyone who saw the attack.
- Contact a Dog Bite Lawyer: Call Davidoff Law before you speak with the insurance company, so we can protect your claim from the start.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite?
More than one person or business may be responsible for a dog attack, depending on where it happened and who had control over the dog. Identifying every liable party can increase the compensation available in your claim.
At Davidoff Law, we investigate every detail to determine who should be held accountable.
Dog Owners
The dog's owner is often the primary party responsible for a dog bite. Depending on the facts of your case, the owner may be liable under New York's dog bite laws, ordinary negligence principles, or both.
Property Owners
Property owners may share liability when they knowingly allow a dangerous dog to remain on their property and fail to take reasonable steps to protect lawful visitors. Whether they can be held responsible depends on the level of control they had over the property and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Landlords in Limited Circumstances
A landlord is not automatically responsible for a tenant's dog. However, liability may exist if the landlord knew the dog posed a danger, had the ability to remove or control the hazard, and failed to take reasonable action.
Businesses That Allow Dangerous Dogs on Their Property
Businesses that permit customers or others to bring dangerous dogs onto their property may be held responsible if they knew, or should have known, that the animal posed a risk. This may include stores, restaurants, or other commercial properties that fail to address a foreseeable danger.
What Injuries Commonly Result From Dog Attacks?
Dog attacks can cause far more harm than people expect, and we help clients recover for a wide range of injuries, including:
- Puncture Wounds and Lacerations: Deep bites and tears that can damage muscle and require stitches or surgery.
- Facial Injuries and Permanent Scarring: Bites to the face that often leave lasting scars and may need reconstructive surgery.
- Broken Bones and Nerve Damage: Fractures and nerve injuries that can affect movement and feeling for a long time.
- Infections and Rabies Concerns: Serious infections from bacteria in a dog's mouth, along with the risk of rabies.
- Emotional Trauma and Psychological Injuries: Lasting fear, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress that can follow a frightening attack.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Dog Bite?
The money you can recover depends on how badly you were hurt, but it often covers far more than your first hospital visit. Davidoff Law fights to recover every dollar your dog bite injury will cost you now and later.
Medical Expenses
You can recover the cost of your treatment, surgery, medication, and any future care your injury requires.
Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity
If your injury keeps you from working, you can recover lost paychecks and money for a reduced ability to earn.
Pain and Suffering
You can recover money for the physical pain and emotional distress the attack has caused you.
Scarring and Disfigurement
Permanent scars, especially on the face, carry real value, and we pursue full compensation for them.
Future Medical and Reconstructive Care
When you need ongoing treatment or reconstructive surgery, we include those future costs in your claim.
How Do New York Dog Bite Laws Affect Your Claim?
New York handles dog bite cases differently from most states, and Davidoff Law knows how to use those rules for you. You may be able to recover through strict liability, ordinary negligence, or both, depending on what happened.
What Is Considered a Dangerous Dog?
Under New York law, a dangerous dog is one that attacks without reason or acts in a way that a reasonable person would see as a serious threat.
Strict Liability for Medical Costs
Under Agriculture and Markets Law § 123, the owner of a dog officially found dangerous is strictly liable for your medical costs, no matter how careful they claim they were.
Proving the Owner Knew the Dog Was Dangerous
To recover for pain and suffering and other damages, you may be able to pursue a negligence claim, a strict liability claim, or both, depending on the facts of your case. In Flanders v. Goodfellow, the New York Court of Appeals confirmed that dog bite victims may bring ordinary negligence claims, even if the dog had never bitten anyone before.
How Does New York Law Affect Dog Bite Cases?
A couple of key New York rules shape how much you can recover and how long you have to act.
Comparative Negligence
Under New York's pure comparative negligence rule, you can still recover money even if you were partly at fault, though your share of the blame lowers your award.
For example, if you ignored clear warnings or provoked the dog, the court may reduce your compensation based on your share of responsibility. However, being partly at fault does not automatically prevent you from recovering damages.
Filing Deadlines
For most personal injury claims in New York, including dog bites, you have three years from the date of the attack to file a lawsuit.
What Evidence Can Strengthen a Dog Bite Claim?
Strong evidence is what turns your story into a claim the insurance company cannot ignore, and we gather all of it, including:
- Medical Records and Photographs: Documents and images that show the extent of your injuries and the care you needed.
- Animal Control and Police Reports: Official reports that record the attack and help prove what happened.
- Witness Statements: Accounts from people who saw the bite and can back up your side of the story.
- Veterinary Records and Vaccination History: Records that reveal the dog's health, history, and any past signs of aggression.
- Expert Medical Testimony: Opinions from medical experts that explain your injuries and your future care needs.
Can Families File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Dog Attack?
Yes. When a dog attack takes a life, New York law lets the family pursue a wrongful death claim under the Estates, Powers and Trusts Law. Davidoff Law handles these heartbreaking cases with care while fighting for the accountability your family deserves.
Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A wrongful death claim is filed by the personal representative of the person's estate, for close family members like a spouse and children, and it generally must be filed within two years from the date of death.
Damages Available to Surviving Family Members
Families can recover for financial support the person would have provided, funeral and medical bills, and the loss of their care and guidance.
Contact Our Fresh Meadows Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You do not have to face a painful dog bite and a pushy insurance company alone. Davidoff Law fights for injured people across Fresh Meadows, and we never get paid unless you do. Let our Fresh Meadows dog bite lawyer investigate your attack, handle the insurance company, and pursue every dollar you deserve.
Call experienced Fresh Meadows dog bite lawyer now at (929) 209-4282 for your free case evaluation, and start your recovery today.
Ruben Davidoff, founder of Davidoff Law, established his practice in 2012 after moving to Queens in 1988 and beginning his legal career in 1997. Admitted in NY State and the US District Court for the Eastern District of NY, he has extensive experience in personal injury, handling various cases like airline crashes, auto accidents, and slip/trip and fall cases. Mr. Davidoff provides personalized attention, recovering millions for clients through settlements or verdicts, leveraging decades of experience.
