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.
A dog bite can range from a small wound to a life-changing injury, and when it is severe, the impact can affect every part of a victim’s life. Severe injuries often mean long hospital stays, permanent scars, high medical expenses, and months or even years of recovery. Victims may also struggle with emotional distress and ongoing psychological injuries that last long after the physical wounds.
Davidoff Law knows how difficult these cases can be, and we stand with victims who need strong legal help after suffering serious dog bite injuries. Our legal team works hard to hold negligent dog owners accountable so victims can recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional harm.
If you need a Queens severe dog bite lawyer after a violent dog attack, our law offices are ready to fight for your rights and pursue fair compensation in your dog bite case.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Dog Bite Severe?
A dog bite is severe when it causes deep wounds, broken bones, permanent scarring, or long-term harm that changes how a person lives.
These injuries can create high medical costs, long recovery, and the need for ongoing treatment such as physical therapy or psychological counseling. Severe injuries also affect families because lost wages and emotional distress make the impact even heavier.
Risk of Infection and Complications
When a dog bite occurs, bacteria from the dog’s mouth can enter the wound, creating a high risk of infection. Complications such as nerve damage or bone fractures may require immediate medical attention and follow-up care. Severe cases can also lead to ongoing treatment, permanent scarring, and long-term physical pain that affects daily life.
Long-Term Consequences
- Permanent Scarring: Many serious dog bite injuries leave scars that never fully fade, and these scars can change the way a person looks, which may lower their self-confidence and bring emotional distress that continues for years.
- Chronic Pain: Severe wounds, nerve damage, or bone fractures may heal on the outside but still cause physical pain, which means victims may need ongoing treatment or physical therapy just to manage daily life.
- Psychological Harm: Emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder often follow a violent dog bite attack, and victims may relive the attack, fear animals, or struggle with psychological injuries that interfere with relationships and normal activities.
- Lost Income: Many victims cannot return to work right away, and some may never return to the same type of job, which means lost wages and financial stress for families already dealing with high medical expenses.
New York Dog Bite Laws Protecting Victims
New York dog bite laws explain when dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their pets. These rules protect dog bite victims by making sure that negligent dog owners cannot avoid responsibility. A Queens dog bite lawyer understands New York law and how strict liability and the one bite rule apply in severe cases.
Strict Liability in Serious Cases
Under strict liability, an owner of a dangerous dog can be held responsible when the dog attacks and causes serious injuries. This rule allows victims to recover compensation for medical expenses and other losses.
A responsible dog owner must control their pet, and if they fail, they may face a legal claim under the law.
The One-Bite Rule in New York
The one bite rule applies when the owner knew about the dog’s aggressive behavior or dangerous tendencies. If the owner knew the dog had bitten before or showed signs of vicious behavior, they can be held liable for the victim’s injuries. Many dog bite claims in New York rely on this rule.
Leash Laws in Queens
Queens has local leash laws that require owners to control their dogs in public places. Ignoring leash laws makes negligent dog owners fully responsible if an attack happens.
Animal control reports and witness statements often prove that a reasonable person would have acted differently, which helps victims seek compensation in a Queens dog bite claim.
Common Severe Injuries From Dog Attacks
Dog attacks can cause some of the most serious injuries because dogs are powerful animals with sharp teeth and strong jaws. These injuries caused by a dog bite often require emergency room visits, surgeries, and long recovery times.
An experienced Queens severe dog bite lawyer can help victims show the full harm in a dog bite injury claim.
Facial Injuries and Disfigurement
Facial wounds are common in severe dog bite attacks, leaving victims with permanent scarring and emotional trauma. These wounds often require reconstructive surgery and psychological counseling.
In many cases, victims must go through several surgeries over months or years, and even then, scars may remain for life. These injuries also affect daily confidence because victims may feel embarrassed or sad whenever they look in the mirror or meet other people.
Broken Bones and Crush Injuries
A powerful bite can break bones in the arms, legs, or face, leaving victims with bone fractures and serious physical injury. These cases may need physical therapy and ongoing treatment.
Some victims may lose strength or movement in the injured area, making it harder to work or do simple daily tasks. Recovery can take a very long time, and the medical costs can be overwhelming for families.
Psychological Harm
Beyond the physical injuries, victims often suffer psychological injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder. Emotional distress and fear may last for years after the attack happened.
Victims may avoid parks, public places, or even family gatherings if dogs are nearby, because the fear feels too strong. Psychological counseling is often needed to help victims regain confidence and learn how to live without constant fear of another attack.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in New York?
Under New York dog bite laws, victims usually have three years from the date of the dog bite incident to file a legal claim. If you miss this deadline, you risk losing your right to recover compensation. Speaking with a bite lawyer quickly ensures deadlines are met and your case is protected in the legal system.
What to Do Immediately After a Severe Dog Bite in Queens
Taking quick action after a severe dog bite can protect both your health and your case. These steps make sure you receive medical attention, document the attack, and get legal support. Acting fast helps strengthen dog bite claims and protects your right to recover compensation for medical costs, lost income, and emotional harm caused by the attack.
Seek Medical Treatment Right Away
Immediate medical attention is the most important step because untreated wounds can lead to infection and serious complications. Keep all medical records for your dog bite case.
Doctors can also check for nerve damage, broken bones, or other hidden problems that might not show right away. Getting care fast also proves the victim’s injuries are real and serious, which helps in dog bite claims. Proper medical treatment makes recovery safer and lowers the risk of long-term harm.
Report the Attack to Authorities
Report the attack to animal control so the dangerous dog can be investigated. Animal control reports are valuable evidence in dog bite claims.
Reporting the attack also helps stop future dog attacks by making sure local authorities take action. These reports show when and where the attack happened, which helps lawyers build a strong case. It also proves that the pet owner failed to act as a responsible dog owner should.
Contact a Queens Dog Bite Lawyer Quickly
Call a Queens dog bite lawyer right away to protect your rights. Queens dog bite attorneys can handle insurance companies and build your case for maximum compensation.
An experienced Queens dog bite attorney can explain New York dog bite laws in simple terms so you understand your options. They can also gather medical records, witness statements, and animal control reports to prove the case. With legal help, victims can focus on healing while the legal team works to recover compensation.
FAQs About Severe Dog Bite Cases in Queens
Who can be held liable for a dog bite attack?
Dog owners are usually responsible if their dog’s aggressive behavior causes harm.
What damages can victims seek compensation for?
Victims seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and future medical costs.
How long does a dog bite case take?
Every case is different, but severe cases may take months or longer, depending on medical treatment and negotiations with insurance companies.
What if insurance companies refuse a fair settlement?
Your legal team can take the personal injury lawsuit to court to recover compensation.
How does New York law handle a dog bite injury claim?
Under New York law, a dog bite injury claim can succeed if the owner had prior knowledge of the dog’s aggressive tendencies. Victims should seek medical attention right away and keep medical records, because this proof shows the harm caused. Strong evidence makes it easier to win fair compensation in court.
Contact Our Queens Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A severe dog bite can leave scars, cause long medical treatment, and create emotional pain that affects every part of life, and victims should not face these struggles without legal help from a trusted law firm. Many of these cases are treated as personal injury cases, which means victims can seek damages through a personal injury lawsuit with the guidance of a lawyer.
Davidoff Law has an experienced dog bite injury lawyer who understands how hard recovery can be, and our legal team is ready to fight for victims who need support after a violent attack. We work closely with injured clients to prove responsibility, recover fair compensation, and demand justice.
Contact us today for a free legal consultation with a Queens dog bite lawyer who will stand by your side and protect your rights every step of the way.
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.
