New York Dog Bite Lawyer

If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog in New York City, New York, you do not have to struggle with the consequences on your own. You have rights, and the experienced New York dog bite lawyers at The Platta Law Firm can help you fight to get the life-changing financial award you deserve.

The Platta Law Firm is a fierce legal advocate for New York injury victims. As award-winning New York trial lawyers with 150+ years of combined legal experience, we’ve helped catastrophically injured clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary settlements and jury verdicts. Call our New York City law office to discuss your dog bite case today. Your first consultation is free – no pressure, just answers.

The Platta Law Firm Offers Compassionate, Powerful Representation After a Dog Bite in NY

Getting compensation for your dog bite injuries can be challenging. The dog’s owner (and their insurance company) might try to say you provoked the dog into attacking you, argue that you’ve exaggerated your injuries, or use other tactics to stand between you and the money you deserve.

You can force honest negotiations and increase the odds of a favorable outcome in your dog bite case by hiring The Platta Law Firm’s award-winning New York personal injury lawyers to fight for you. Here’s why The Platta Law Firm is the top choice of New York dog bite victims:

• Our team has over 150 years of combined experience litigating complex personal injury cases, including dog bite claims based on strict liability and negligence.
• Our relentless pursuit of full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, disability, and suffering has allowed us to recover hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of our injured clients.
• Our award-winning litigators are recognized as Super Lawyers, a “Top 10 Personal Injury Law Firm” by Best of the Best Attorneys, “Best Personal Injury Lawyers in New York City” by Expertise.com, and “Nation’s Top One Percent” by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
• We offer the transparent, approachable, and personalized legal representation of a small firm and the resources and results of a big firm.
• Contingency fee representation means it costs nothing to hire our dog bite attorneys in NYC until we’ve won compensation for you.

Don’t underestimate what your dog bite case is worth or settle for less than you deserve. Every day counts, so don’t wait to ask for help. Choose The Platta Law Firm and force the case results you deserve. Call our New York law office to schedule your free consultation today.

New York Dog Bite Laws Recognize Claims Based on Strict Liability, Negligence

New York dog bite law has shifted. Before 2025, New York operated under a modified one-bite rule. Save for medical bills, a dog’s owner was not strictly liable for damages the first time their dog bit another person. In order to hold the dog’s owner for additional damages, the victim had the burden of proving that the owner knew (or should have known) that the dog had a prior history of aggression.

Recent changes in New York dog bite law have made it easier for dog bite victims to get the full compensation they need to recover from their injuries. The modified one-bite rule still stands, but owners can now be liable for dog bite injuries if they are negligent in controlling the animal, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. Here’s what this means if you’re bitten by a dog in New York:

• You can recover compensation for your medical bills regardless of the dog’s history of aggression or the owner’s negligence
• A dog’s owner can be liable for all of your damages if they were negligent or “knew or should have known the animal had vicious propensities.”

Now that New York finally recognizes negligence as grounds for a dog bite lawsuit, it opens the door for victims to fight back. If you’ve been bitten by a dog that was unsupervised, unleashed, or behaving aggressively, you might have a legitimate claim for damages – even if the dog never bit anyone else. Our New York dog bite attorneys are waiting to help you take action.

What Compensation Can I Get If I’ve Been Bitten By a Dog?

Dog bite claims are a matter of personal injury. As the plaintiff, you can pursue compensatory damages for your economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages are paid to help you handle the unexpected and burdensome financial costs of your dog bite injuries, which can include:

• Emergency room visits, diagnostic tests, medication, corrective surgery, medical devices, medical equipment, specialist consultations, and other current medical bills
• Follow-up care, plastic surgery, rehabilitation, therapy, and other future medical expenses
• Lost wages and benefits
• Reduced earning capacity
• Temporary and/or permanent disability
• Funeral expenses if a dog bite in New York is fatal

Being attacked by a dog is one of the most traumatic things a person can experience. The suffering, permanent physical reminders of the attack, and life changes, however, don’t have a set cost. This doesn’t make them any less important. New York awards non-economic damages to acknowledge these types of experiences. Non-economic damages can include money for:

• Physical disfigurement and scarring
• Pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life
• Inconvenience
• Emotional distress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Chronic physical pain

Punitive damages can offer additional compensation, but only when a dog bite lawsuit goes to trial and a New York jury determines that a defendant’s conduct warrants additional punishment. Specifically, punitive damages must be based on clear and convincing evidence of “a high degree of moral turpitude” or a conscious disregard for a victim’s safety.

How Much Money Is My Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?

No two dog bites are the same. Every bite will be different, depending on the dog’s breed, temperament, and age; the victim’s age and health; and the type and location of the dog bite injury. Several factors will come into play when evaluating what your specific dog bite injury lawsuit might be worth.

• What types of injuries have you suffered because of the animal attack?
• What part(s) of your body have been affected?
• Are you disabled?
• What type of medical treatment is warranted?
• How long will you require continued medical care?
• Do your dog bite injuries interfere with your ability to work or earn a living?
• Can you prove that the dog’s owner was negligent or that they knew the animal had vicious tendencies?

The more catastrophic your injuries, the more of an impact they’ll have on your life – physically, emotionally, and financially. In turn, the more compensation you can likely receive when you sue the dog’s owner for damages.

Knowledge is power when you’re seeking damages in a dog bite lawsuit. The more you know about what your case is worth, the better prepared you’ll be to know if a settlement offer is fair or an attempt to lowball you. Working with The Platta Law Firm can arm you with the knowledge and power you need to maximize your recovery. Call our New York City dog bite attorneys for a free case review today.

Dog Bites Can Inflict Severe Physical Injuries

Dogs of any breed and temperament can inflict serious physical injuries, including:

• Soft tissue injuries
• Lacerations
• Crush injuries
• Degloving injuries
• Nerve damage
• Amputation injuries
• Bone fractures
• Puncture wounds
• Wrongful death

Many dog bite victims are susceptible to infections and other complications, especially when medical care isn’t sought right away. The sooner you can get to the emergency room after being bitten by a dog in New York City, NY, the better. Prompt care can ensure that your injuries are properly diagnosed and documented, which won’t just be important for your health, but also the success of any legal claims you decide to pursue in the future.

What’s the Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Claims in New York?

Once you’ve been bitten by a dog in New York, you’ll have up to three years to file a legal claim for damages. If you’ve lost someone you love because of a fatal dog bite in New York City, you’ll have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. There are certain exceptions, most often involving situations where a child is bitten by a dog. In these cases, the child can have until their 21st birthday to pursue compensation, as long as a claim has not previously been filed on their behalf.

You need to file your dog bite claim before the filing deadline passes. Once the statute of limitations runs out, the dog’s owner (and other liable parties) can’t be held financially accountable for your damages.

The Platta Law Firm Can Help You Maximize Your Recovery After a Dog Bite in New York City

Dog attacks can be catastrophic. In a moment, your life can change forever because a dog’s owner decides their animal doesn’t need to be leashed, is safe to run at large, or isn’t a threat. However, their actions have left you with lifelong scars. Whether you’ve been bitten by a dog in public, at someone’s home, or at a local New York City business, it’s important to know that you have rights.

The Platta Law Firm is here to help you assert those rights and fight for the monetary justice you deserve. Our New York dog bite lawyers have over 130 years of collective experience and an unrivaled track record of success. We stand up to multinational corporations, insurance carriers, property owners, employers, and government agencies every day – winning hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.

Now, we’re ready to take charge of your dog bite case and fight for your best interests, too. We represent clients throughout New York City and the greater metropolitan area – including Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, and Rockland County. Contact our law office in Manhattan to speak with our team about your dog bite case now. We’re ready to take your call 24 hours a day.