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Most people bitten by a dog never call a lawyer, because the dog belongs to a neighbor, a friend or a relative. Here is what they don't know: the claim is almost always paid by the owner's homeowners or renters insurance, not out of the owner's pocket. And since 2025, New York law gives injured people more ways to hold careless owners responsible.
Generally 3 years from the bite. For a child, New York usually pauses the deadline until age 18, but photos, witnesses and the dog's history are easiest to prove now.
Cases we handle
If it just happened
More detail in our after-an-accident guide.
How we build the case
The dog's history: past bites, lunging, growling, complaints, and any 'dangerous dog' ruling
The owner's care: leash laws, broken gates, and how the dog was kept, which matters more since Flanders v. Goodfellow (2025)
The full injury: scarring, nerve damage and emotional harm, measured once healing is done
Compensation
Emergency care, stitches and plastic surgery
Scar treatment and future procedures
Counseling for fear and trauma, especially for children
Lost wages and pain and suffering
Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a result. Our settlement calculator shows how claims are first estimated, with the math visible.
Who leads these cases
“I almost didn't call because it was my neighbor's dog. Gabriel explained it would go through their insurance, not them. We still wave hello every morning.”
Example results
Example result Paid by homeowners insurance
$165,000
Illustrative amount, not a real case
Dog bite (child) Dog Bites Tone: Favorable
Two other families had complained about the dog lunging at children. We waited until a plastic surgeon could assess the scar at twelve months before valuing the claim.
The neighbors never paid out of pocket. Their homeowners policy covered it.
Example result Modest settlement
$38,500
Illustrative amount, not a real case
Dog bite Dog Bites Tone: Modest result
A man needed stitches, antibiotics and two weeks off work after a friend's dog bit his hand. The friend's renters insurance paid his medical bills, lost pay and a fair amount for pain.
Not every case is large. A fair result can simply make you whole.
Example results for a sample website, not real cases. Past results never guarantee a future outcome.
Common questions
That's the most common worry we hear. In almost every case the claim is made against the owner's homeowners or renters insurance, the coverage they pay for exactly this. Most dog bite cases settle with the insurer without a lawsuit and without the owner paying out of pocket.
Possibly. New York has long held owners responsible when they knew, or should have known, the dog could be dangerous: growling, lunging, or a past bite. In 2025 the state's highest court also allowed ordinary negligence claims against animal owners (Flanders v. Goodfellow). So a careless owner can be responsible even without a known history.
Sometimes. If the landlord knew a tenant's dog was dangerous and had the power to remove it or require a fix, the landlord may share responsibility. Complaints from other tenants are often the key evidence.
More answers on our FAQ page. General information for New York, not legal advice about your situation.
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