New York City Dog Bite Lawyers
Bitten or attacked by a dog in New York? Frekhtman & Associates holds owners and landlords accountable for bites, knockdowns, and serious animal attacks across NYC.
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Why Hire Our New York City Dog Bite Lawyer?
Nearly $1 Billion Won
We’ve recovered almost $1 billion for injured clients across documented cases
Largest MVA Recovery
We recovered $69.25M, the largest single motor vehicle accident settlement
Media Recognition
We’ve been featured in national and local outlets including the New York Post, Daily Mail, and CBS New York
No Fee Unless We Win
A dog owner can be held responsible for a bite in two ways. The owner may have known the dog was dangerous, or the owner may have failed to use reasonable care. New York’s highest court recognized the second route in April 2025.
Dog bites can cause deep puncture wounds, nerve damage, infection, and permanent scarring. Many victims need plastic surgery, and children often need counseling after an attack. Our attorneys, led by founding partner Arkady Frekhtman, work with surgeons and psychologists to document the full extent of the harm.
Homeowners or renters insurance pays many of these claims. If you were the victim of a dog bite in New York City, call us for a free review of your options.
Dog Bite Laws in New York
New York uses a two-pronged approach to liability for harm caused by dogs and other domestic animals. A victim can bring a strict liability claim, a negligence claim, or both.
Strict liability: the owner knew the dog was dangerous
An owner who knew or should have known that a dog had vicious propensities is liable for the harm it causes. This applies even if the owner was careful. Vicious propensities include more than earlier bites.
Growling, snapping, baring teeth, lunging at people, or a habit of jumping on strangers can all count. So can the owner’s own conduct, such as keeping the dog chained or muzzled, or posting a warning sign.
Negligence: the owner failed to use reasonable care
In Flanders v Goodfellow, decided April 17, 2025, the Court of Appeals held that an owner can also be liable for negligence. Before that ruling, a victim who couldn’t prove the dog’s dangerous history usually had no claim.
Now, an owner who lets a dog roam off leash, ignores a broken fence, or leaves it with someone unable to control it may be liable. That holds even if the dog had never shown aggression before.
Medical costs from a dangerous dog
Agriculture and Markets Law section 123(10) makes the owner of a dangerous dog strictly liable for the medical costs of the injuries it causes. A dog can qualify as dangerous when it attacks without justification and causes physical injury.
If you were partly at fault
Owners often argue the victim provoked the dog or ignored a warning. New York applies pure comparative fault to dog bite claims, so your share of fault reduces the award but doesn’t bar the claim.
Who can be held responsible for a dog bite?
The owner is the main defendant. Liability can also reach a person who kept or harbored the dog, such as a dog walker or a relative caring for it.
A landlord can be liable if the landlord knew the dog was dangerous and had the power to remove it from the building. This matters in New York City, where many bites happen in apartment hallways and lobbies.
How long do you have to file a dog bite claim?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit. For a child, the time doesn’t start running until the child turns 18.
If a city agency or public housing authority is responsible, a written notice of claim is due within 90 days. That applies, for example, to a dog kept by a NYCHA tenant the authority knew was dangerous.
Dog Bite and Animal Attack Cases We Handle
We represent people hurt by dogs and other domestic animals across New York City, including:
- Bites on private property, including apartment buildings and yards
- Bites in parks, on sidewalks, and in other public places
- Attacks by off-leash dogs or dogs that escaped a broken fence or gate
- Knockdowns and falls caused by a large dog, even without a bite
- Infections and rabies exposure that follow a bite
- Attacks by other domestic animals, including farm animals
Bites that happen on someone else’s property often involve premises liability issues as well
What should you do after a dog bite?
Get medical care the same day, even for a small puncture. Bites infect easily, and your doctor needs to assess rabies risk.
Get the owner’s name, address, and the dog’s vaccination status if you can. Photograph the wounds and the place where the attack happened, and report the bite to 311.
Don’t give a recorded statement to the owner’s insurance company before you speak with a lawyer.
Scheduling a Consultation With a New York City Dog Bite Lawyer
New York City requires dogs to be leashed in public, licensed, and vaccinated against rabies. An owner who breaks those rules may be easier to hold responsible under the negligence route.
Call 24/7, toll free: (866) 288-9529
Brooklyn: (718) 331-7700
Bronx: (718) 733-9300
Queens: (718) 331-3330
Or request a free consultation online.
Offices in Brooklyn (Bath Beach and Bedford-Stuyvesant), the Bronx, Forest Hills in Queens, Midtown Manhattan, and the Financial District.
Russian-speaking attorneys and staff are available.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is unique and the value of any claim depends on its specific facts.
Contact For A Free Case Review
While it’s possible to handle a personal injury case on your own, having an experienced attorney by your side significantly increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome. According to studies, victims represented by a personal injury lawyer receive higher settlement amounts compared to those who handle their cases independently. For a free case evaluation: