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.
New York law now allows dog attack survivors to seek damages for negligence, not just strict liability. Davidoff Law fights for your recovery. Call (929) 209-4282.
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A serious dog attack can leave you with painful wounds, costly medical bills, lasting scars, and real fear, and New York law gives you the clear right to seek full compensation from the careless owner who let it happen.
Davidoff Law helps you hold that owner accountable, and our New York dog bite lawyer will fight for every dollar you are owed. Call (929) 209-4282 today for a free case evaluation.
What Legal Rights Do You Have After a Serious Dog Attack?
If a dog seriously hurt you in New York, you have the right to recover money for your injuries when a careless owner, or another responsible party, failed to stop the attack. New York uses its own special rules for these claims, so the law here differs from many other states.
You may bring a claim under strict liability and, after a recent change in the law, under ordinary negligence. Davidoff Law can review what happened and explain which path fits you best.
What Serious Injuries Can Result From a Dog Attack?
A powerful dog can cause harm that lasts long after the wounds close, and these injuries are among the most serious we see:
- Deep Puncture Wounds and Lacerations: Sharp teeth can tear through skin and tissue and leave deep holes and cuts that often need stitches, surgery, and long healing.
- Nerve, Tendon, and Muscle Damage: A strong bite can crush or sever the nerves, tendons, and muscles under the skin, which can cause weakness, numbness, or lasting loss of movement.
- Facial Injuries and Permanent Scarring: Bites to the face can leave deep scars and disfigurement that change how you look and feel, often for life.
- Broken Bones and Crush Injuries: The force of a large dog can fracture bones and crush body parts, especially in children and older adults who cannot easily protect themselves.
- Emotional Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Many people carry deep fear, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) long after the attack, and this emotional harm is just as real as any physical wound.
Whatever injuries you face, Davidoff Law can help you pursue full compensation.
What Makes a Dog Owner Negligent?
A dog owner becomes negligent when they fail to take the reasonable steps that a careful person would take to keep others safe, and that failure lets a dog hurt someone who never had a chance. These common mistakes often point straight to negligence.
Failing to Restrain or Control the Dog
When an owner lets a dog roam free, drops the leash, or leaves a gate open, the dog can reach people who have no way to defend themselves, and that lack of control is a strong sign of carelessness.
Ignoring Prior Aggressive Behavior
An owner who has already watched their dog growl, snap, lunge, or bare its teeth knows the animal may be dangerous, and doing nothing about that warning puts everyone nearby at risk.
Violating Leash Laws or Local Ordinances
Many New York towns and neighborhoods require dogs to be leashed in public, and an owner who breaks one of these rules at the time of an attack is often held responsible for the harm that follows.
Allowing a Dangerous Dog Around Others
When an owner brings a known dangerous dog near children, guests, or crowds without a muzzle or firm control, they invite a tragedy that a careful person would have worked to prevent.
Who Else May Be Liable for a Dog Attack?
The dog's owner is not always the only party who must answer for a serious attack, because other people and businesses sometimes share the blame. Depending on the facts, any party below may share responsibility.
Dog Owners
The owner is usually the first party responsible, since the law expects them to know their own animal and to keep it from harming anyone else.
Dog Keepers or Caretakers
A dog walker, sitter, or anyone watching the dog at the time of the attack may share the blame when their carelessness let the animal get loose.
Property Owners in Limited Circumstances
A landlord or property owner can be responsible in limited cases, such as when they knew a dangerous dog lived on the property and did nothing to protect visitors.
Businesses That Allow Dangerous Dogs on Their Premises
A store, restaurant, or other business that lets a known dangerous dog stay on site can be accountable when that dog attacks a customer or guest.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Serious Dog Attack?
After a serious dog attack, you may recover both the money you have lost and the personal suffering you have carried under New York law. Your compensation usually falls into two clear categories that together capture the true weight of your injuries.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the clear financial losses tied to your attack, such as:
- Medical expenses for emergency care, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and lost income from your time away from work
- Future medical costs for ongoing treatment or reconstructive surgery
- Costs to repair or replace personal property damaged in the attack
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover the personal losses that carry no price tag, such as:
- Pain and suffering from your injuries
- Emotional distress and lasting anxiety
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of the life you had before
You have already been through more than enough, so let Davidoff Law carry the legal weight while you heal. Call (929) 209-4282 to learn what your claim may truly be worth.
How Do New York Laws Affect Serious Dog Attack Claims?
New York decides dog attack claims through a mix of statutes and court rulings that shape what you recover. Under New York Agriculture and Markets Law § 123, the owner of a dog that a court has declared dangerous is strictly liable for your medical costs, so you do not have to prove fault to recover those bills.
To win money for pain, scarring, and lost wages, you usually must show the owner knew or should have known about the dog's vicious propensities, meaning warning signs like growling, snapping, or biting.
In Flanders v. Goodfellow, decided in 2025, New York's highest court also opened the door to negligence claims, so you may now recover even when the dog had never bitten before.
What Is Considered a Dangerous Dog?
Under New York law, a dangerous dog is one that attacks and injures a person or pet without a good reason, or acts in a way a reasonable person would see as a serious, immediate threat.
Strict Liability and Negligence Claims
You may bring a strict liability claim based on the dog's known dangerous nature, and, after the recent change in the law, a negligence claim based on the owner's failure to use reasonable care.
Under CPLR § 1411, the state's comparative negligence rule, your compensation is lowered by your share of fault but not erased.
Filing Deadlines for Dog Attack Lawsuits
Under CPLR § 214, you generally have three years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York, and missing this deadline can end your right to recover anything.
What Evidence Can Help Prove a Serious Dog Attack Claim?
Strong proof often makes the difference between a denied claim and full compensation, and this evidence can help build a powerful case:
- Medical Records and Treatment History: These documents link your injuries directly to the attack and show the full cost and length of your care.
- Animal Control Reports: An official report creates a formal record of what happened and may reveal past complaints about the same dog.
- Witness Statements: People who saw the attack can confirm how it unfolded and describe how the dog behaved before and during the incident.
- Veterinary Records and Prior Bite History: The dog's own records can prove the owner already knew the animal was aggressive or had bitten before.
- Photographs and Surveillance Footage: Clear images of your wounds and video of the attack give powerful, hard-to-dispute proof of the harm you suffered.
Davidoff Law can gather and protect this evidence quickly, before it fades or disappears.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Serious Dog Attack?
The choices you make in the first hours after an attack can protect both your health and your claim, so take these steps as soon as you safely can:
- Move to a Safe Location: Get away from the dog and to a secure spot so the animal cannot reach you again.
- Seek Emergency Medical Care: See a doctor right away, since dog bites can cause deep infection even when the wound looks small.
- Report the Attack to Animal Control: Tell animal control or the police so there is an official record and the dog's history can be checked.
- Document Your Injuries and the Scene: Take clear photos of your wounds, the location, and the dog itself if you can do so safely.
- Preserve Evidence for Your Claim: Keep your torn clothing, medical paperwork, and the names of any witnesses in a safe place.
Once you are safe and treated, contacting Davidoff Law early gives your claim its strongest start.
How Can Our New York Dog Attack Lawyer Protect Your Rights?
After a frightening attack, you should not have to face the insurance company and the dog's owner alone. At Davidoff Law, our New York dog bite lawyer stands beside you and takes on every hard part of your claim so you can focus on healing.
Investigating the Attack
We move fast to learn what happened, who was at fault, and whether the dog had ever hurt anyone before.
Proving the Owner's Liability
We build a strict liability and negligence case that shows the owner failed in their duty to keep you safe.
Calculating Long-Term Damages
We add up not only today's bills but the future costs of surgery, therapy, and lasting pain, so no loss is missed.
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
We deal with the insurers directly and push back hard when they try to hand you far less than your claim is worth.
Taking Your Case to Trial if Necessary
We stand ready to bring your case to court and argue before a jury when the other side refuses to be fair.
Contact Our New York Dog Attack Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A serious dog attack under New York's dual-track law can support both a strict liability claim and a negligence claim, and you deserve someone who will fight for its full value. Attorney Ruben Davidoff and the team at Davidoff Law have recovered major results for injured New Yorkers, and our New York dog bite lawyer is ready to stand with you now.
Call (929) 209-4282 today for a free case evaluation.
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.
