New York Dog Bite Attorney

Dog bites can cause serious injuries, infections, scarring, nerve damage, emotional trauma, and long-term medical needs. In New York City, DOHMH dog bite data shows 4,041 reported dog bite incidents in 2024, the highest annual total in the city’s 2015–2024 dataset. When a dog owner fails to control, restrain, or secure a dog, the consequences can leave victims facing medical bills, missed work, and lasting pain.

When a dog owner fails to control, restrain, or secure a dog, the consequences can leave victims facing medical bills, missed work, and lasting pain.

If you or a loved one was bitten or attacked by a dog in New York, Raphaelson & Levine can help determine who may be liable and pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and other losses.

Call (212) 268-3222 or contact us online for a free consultation with a New York dog bite lawyer.

New York Laws Protect Dog Attack Victims

New York City and the state of New York are, unsurprisingly, similarly affected by the harms of dog bites. Thousands of dog bites occur every year in New York City alone, with the city itself suggesting that around 4,000 dog bites are reported in the city each year.

A particularly troubling dog bite attack occurred recently on a city subway when a dog attacked a woman after the dog's owner had struck the dog bite victim. When the woman hit the man back, seemingly in self-defense, the dog proceeded to bite the woman's foot.

The subway attack underscores that dog bite claims often involve more than the bite itself. The owner’s conduct, the dog’s behavior, restraint issues, witness accounts, and any prior complaints may all become important evidence in determining liability.

The common risk and serious harms associated with dog bites reinforce the need for strong dog laws that capably protect the public. New York dog bite law is designed to do just that across the state, and localities also create additional laws that dog owners must follow, which is particularly important for leashing a New York City dog.

Leash Laws in New York

Although New York State does not have a single, universal leash law that applies everywhere, local governments across the state, including New York City, have adopted their own leash and restraint requirements that dog owners must follow.

New York City requires dogs to be kept on a leash, which must not exceed six feet in length.

Similar legal restrictions apply in other localities, which is why law-abiding dog owners must be aware of local regulations in addition to current state law.

How New York Dog Bite Liability Works

In New York, a dog bite victim may have a claim if the dog was known to be dangerous, if the owner failed to use reasonable care, or if a dangerous dog caused medical costs under state law.

New York dog bite law does not follow a simple “one-bite rule” or pure strict-liability system. Instead, liability can depend on the dog’s history, the owner’s conduct, and whether the dog qualifies as a “dangerous dog” under New York Agriculture and Markets Law § 123.

For many years, New York dog bite victims generally had to prove that the dog had vicious propensities and that the owner knew or should have known about those propensities to recover damages beyond limited statutory medical costs. Vicious propensities can include prior bites, aggressive behavior, lunging, growling, snapping, or other conduct showing the dog had a tendency to endanger others.

New York law now also allows dog bite victims to pursue an ordinary negligence claim when an owner or lawful custodian fails to use reasonable care to prevent an attack. That may include failing to restrain the dog, violating leash rules, leaving a gate or door unsecured, ignoring known risks, or allowing the dog to approach others in an unsafe setting.

Separately, if a dog is legally considered a “dangerous dog” under New York law, the owner or lawful custodian may be strictly liable for medical costs caused by the dog. Depending on the facts, a dog bite claim may involve strict liability, negligence, or both.

Because these cases often turn on evidence, victims should preserve photos, medical records, witness information, prior complaints, 311 or animal control reports, surveillance footage, and any proof that the owner failed to control the dog.

Strict Liability and Dogs With Vicious Propensities

There is also a long-standing line of New York cases holding that an owner can be held strictly liable for damages caused by a dog when the dog had vicious propensities and the owner knew or should have known of those propensities. This is separate from the statutory strict liability for medical costs that applies when a dog is adjudicated “dangerous” under Agriculture and Markets Law §123.

New York's highest court has said that the jury may consider several factors when determining whether a dog has shown evidence of a "vicious propensity", including:

• Fighting with other animals
• Regular growling or baring teeth
• The owner's use of a dog muzzle
• Previous complaints against the animal

A previous dog bite necessarily establishes a dog's vicious propensity. Unlike a previous dog bite, however, the factors listed above do not necessarily establish a vicious propensity. The facts of the specific dog bite in question will still influence whether the dog has vicious propensities that an owner should have been aware of before a dog bite took place.

This is one of many reasons why it is important to speak with a New York dog bite lawyer who will effectively represent your interests and legal claim.

4 Steps to Take After a Dog Attack

If you are injured by a dog in any way, the most important thing you can do is seek medical attention immediately. Dog bites can lead to serious infections, even if you deem the puncture wound as a minor one. Not only is it important to receive critical care for your physical well-being post-accident, thoroughly documenting your injuries benefits your legal claim as well.

In addition, take the following steps whenever possible

1. Work to identify who the dog and owner are by asking neighbors or contacting local animal control. Sometimes, this will not be possible (such as the pit bull subway attack mentioned previously). Your New York dog bite lawyer can help you track down the owner if you could not identify the owner for any reason, as identifying the owner is essential for receiving legal compensation.
2. Obtain contact information and evidence from as many parties as possible. This includes the dog owner as well as witnesses on the scene. Document your injuries, take photos, and make notes of what you recall.
3. Fully document medical symptoms and the need for medication and prescriptions.
4. If your bite occurred in New York City, report the bite by calling the 311 hotline number or completing the online form provided by NYC Health.

Once these steps are taken, it is time to discuss your right to recover legal compensation with the help of a New York dog bite attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dog bite claims in New York often raise urgent questions about victim's legal rights and next steps.

These answers explain key New York dog bite claim questions, including whether you can sue without a prior bite, how long you have to file, and who may be liable.

Can I sue for a dog bite in New York if the dog never bit anyone before?

Yes. A prior bite is no longer the only path to a New York dog bite claim. A victim may be able to bring a negligence claim if the owner failed to use reasonable care, such as failing to leash, restrain, secure, or control the dog before the attack.

How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in New York?

In most New York dog bite injury cases, you have three years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting too long can make it harder to preserve evidence, identify witnesses, obtain reports, and prove whether the owner failed to control the dog.

Who can be held liable for a dog bite in New York?

A dog owner or lawful custodian may be liable for a New York dog bite if the dog was known to be dangerous, if they failed to use reasonable care, or if a dangerous dog caused medical costs under state law. In some cases, landlords, property owners, dog walkers, businesses, or other responsible parties may also be investigated.

Get a Free Consultation With an Experienced New York Dog Bite Lawyer Today

If you've been bitten by a dog in New York, protect your legal rights and pursue the legal compensation allowed by New York State law by speaking to a skilled New York dog bite attorney at Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm.

Call (212) 268-3222 to discuss your legal rights with a free consultation with a New York dog bite lawyer today.