Dog Bites

Dog Bite Attorney in New York

Serious Trial Counsel for Dog Bite Victims Across New York City & New York State

Dog bite claims in New York are legally complex. The state applies a hybrid liability framework that combines strict liability with the vicious propensity doctrine, making these cases more evidence-intensive than most personal injury matters. Building a strong claim means gathering behavioral history, owner knowledge, and leash law violations before that evidence disappears. That kind of litigation demands a firm with real trial depth.

Since 1995, we’ve represented injured New Yorkers across all five boroughs and throughout New York State. Our trial lawyers bring over a century of combined legal experience to every case we accept, and we treat each one as if it’s going to trial from day one.

Dog bite injuries can be severe, and the window to preserve critical evidence is short. Call us at (212) 742-9706 for a free consultation, available 24/7 including virtual meetings. We charge no legal fees unless we obtain a verdict or settlement for you. Hablamos español.

Why New York Dog Bite Victims Choose Godosky & Gentile

Lawyers and judges across New York have trusted Godosky & Gentile for their own personal legal representation. That level of peer confidence isn’t common among personal injury firms, and it reflects something meaningful about how we work. Our team includes a former judge and seasoned trial lawyers with a reputation for distinction throughout New York’s legal community. We hold Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent ratings, the highest peer-reviewed distinction for professional excellence and ethical standards, and our attorneys have been named to Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

Our record verdicts include a $65 million medical malpractice verdict, a $25 million excessive force verdict, and a $15 million explosion injury verdict. We bring that same high-stakes litigation infrastructure to dog bite claims. These cases turn on vicious propensity evidence and courtroom credibility, and we use sophisticated expert testimony and thorough investigative techniques to build the record your case requires.

New York’s Dog Bite Liability Framework

New York doesn’t follow a pure one-bite rule or pure strict liability system. It applies a hybrid of both, and understanding how they interact is essential to knowing what your claim may recover.

Strict Liability for Medical Costs

Under New York Agriculture and Markets Law Section 123, the owner or lawful custodian of a dog that has been officially determined to be dangerous is strictly liable for medical costs resulting from injuries that dog causes. No proof of negligence is required to recover medical expenses under this pathway. The dangerous dog determination is made through a formal proceeding, typically initiated by an animal control complaint or prior bite report.

The Vicious Propensity Doctrine

For damages beyond medical costs, including pain and suffering, lost wages, and emotional distress, a victim generally must show the dog had vicious propensities and that the owner knew or should have known about those propensities before the attack. Evidence of vicious propensity may include prior bites, unprovoked lunging or snapping, growling or baring teeth at strangers, the owner’s use of a muzzle, and prior complaints to animal control. A “Beware of Dog” sign alone isn’t sufficient to establish owner knowledge under New York case law.

Negligence as a Separate Pathway

Following the New York Court of Appeals’ landmark April 2025 ruling in Flanders v. Goodfellow, New York now also permits a negligence claim against an owner or custodian who fails to use reasonable care to prevent an attack. Failing to leash a dog, leaving a gate unsecured, or allowing an aggressive dog to approach people in an unsafe setting can each support a negligence theory. This ruling overturned nearly two decades of precedent that had barred ordinary negligence claims for domestic animal injuries, meaning victims may now pursue compensation even when no prior bite or documented aggression exists. New York City requires dogs to be kept on a leash no longer than six feet, and a violation of that ordinance can strengthen a negligence claim directly.

The statute of limitations for a dog bite personal injury claim in New York is three years from the date of the attack. Acting early can protect your ability to recover and gives an attorney time to gather evidence while it’s still available.

Dog Bite Injuries & Compensation Under New York Law

Dog attacks cause a wide range of injuries, from lacerations and puncture wounds to broken bones, nerve damage, facial trauma, and scarring. Serious infections are common, and the psychological impact, including PTSD and lasting anxiety, can be as disabling as the physical harm. Children face elevated risk of severe facial injuries and may carry long-term consequences from an attack.

What you may recover depends on the theory of liability established in your case. If your claim satisfies the strict liability standard for medical costs, compensation can include hospital visits, surgeries, medications, and physical therapy. If the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, you may also pursue damages for lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of activities, and disability.

The strength of vicious propensity evidence, the severity of injuries, the impact on your daily life and employment, and your age all factor into what a claim may be worth. According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City recorded 4,041 reported dog bite incidents in 2024, the highest annual total in the city’s 2015 to 2024 dataset. These aren’t minor events for most victims, and the compensation available under New York law reflects that reality.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in New York City

The steps you take immediately after an attack affect both your health and the strength of your legal claim. Even wounds that appear minor can cause serious infections, so medical attention should come first.

Steps to protect yourself and your claim:

Seek medical care immediately, and keep all records, prescriptions, and notes about your symptoms from the start
Identify the dog and its owner at the scene; if that’s not possible, contact local animal control or file a 311 report
Document everything: photograph your injuries, the attack location, the dog, and any conditions like an unsecured gate or absent leash
Collect witness contact information before leaving the scene
Report the bite to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene by calling 311 or submitting a report through the NYC Health portal
Preserve all documentation of medical treatment and out-of-pocket costs
Consult a dog bite attorney before giving recorded statements to the dog owner’s representatives or any insurance company

Why Choose Godosky & Gentile?

Comprehensive Legal Support
From initial consultation to final resolution, delivering top-tier representation with skill, diligence, and a results-driven approach.
Recognized Expertise
Respected trial attorneys with a reputation for winning complex cases through precision, strategy, and an unwavering pursuit of justice.
Client-Centered Advocacy
Fiercely committed to securing justice and maximum compensation—because every client deserves a powerful voice in the legal system.
Decades of Proven Results
A legacy of success in high-stakes personal injury and catastrophic accident cases, built on relentless advocacy and exceptional legal strategy.

Who May Be Liable for a Dog Bite in New York

The dog’s owner or lawful custodian is the primary liable party under New York law, but they aren’t always the only one. Identifying every potentially liable party is a key part of pursuing full recovery.

A landlord may be held liable if they knew the tenant kept a dog and knew of that dog’s dangerous propensities before the attack, and that liability can extend to attacks that occur off the property. To meet this standard, the victim must show the landlord had actual knowledge of both the dog’s presence and its specific dangerous behaviors, not merely constructive knowledge. Supporting evidence includes lease agreements, prior tenant complaints, animal control reports filed before the incident, and statements from other residents. A dog walker or other temporary custodian who fails to maintain control of an animal may also share responsibility, and where a dog-walking company is involved, whether an employer-employee or independent contractor relationship existed may determine the extent of that company’s liability. Property owners and businesses that permitted a dog they knew to be dangerous onto their premises can face liability as well.

Building a claim against non-owner parties requires early investigation. Evidence of prior knowledge can disappear quickly, and our team moves fast at the outset of every case to secure the documentation that can make third-party liability claims viable.

Talk to a Dog Bite Lawyer in New York Today

If you or someone you love was injured in a dog attack, we’re ready to help you understand your options and pursue the strongest possible claim. Consultations are free, available 24/7, and can be conducted virtually. We handle cases throughout New York City and across New York State, and you pay nothing unless we obtain a verdict or settlement for you.

Call Godosky & Gentile at (212) 742-9706 or reach us through our online contact form to get started.

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