Dog bites can happen suddenly and without warning. One minute you’re walking through your neighborhood or visiting a friend, and the next, you’re dealing with torn skin, bleeding, and serious fear. People and dogs are constantly crossing paths in a city as densely populated as New York.
When an animal gets aggressive and someone gets hurt, it’s not just an accident—it’s a legal issue. If you’ve been bitten or attacked, a New York City dog bite lawyer can help you protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose The Perecman Firm, PLLC as Your New York City Dog Bite Lawyer?
Dog bite cases can be challenging to prove. New York has its own set of rules for animal attacks, and holding the right person responsible takes legal experience, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of city living.
The Perecman Firm, PLLC knows how to handle these cases skillfully and compassionately. Here’s why they’re the right choice for your case:
- Over 40 years of serious injury litigation in all five boroughs
- In-depth experience with New York dog bite laws and liability claims
- Skilled investigators who gather animal control records, witness statements, and vet history
- Strong negotiation tactics for dealing with homeowner and renter insurance carriers
- Clear, direct communication from start to finish
- A reputation for fierce representation when cases go to court
What Situations Commonly Lead to Dog Bites in New York City?
Dogs live in close quarters with people all over New York. They’re in apartment buildings, on public sidewalks, in parks, and even inside stores. But even familiar dogs can behave unpredictably. In the city, certain situations come up again and again.
Unleashed dogs in public areas
Even though leash laws are strict in NYC, some dog owners ignore them—especially in smaller neighborhoods, local parks, or side streets. When a dog is off-leash, it’s much harder for the owner to stop a sudden bite or aggressive action.
Dogs escaping from apartments or yards
Many people in New York don’t have fenced yards. When a dog gets out of an apartment, or pushes through a gate, they may run freely in hallways or onto sidewalks. If the dog feels cornered or scared, it may attack.
Inadequate supervision in dog runs or parks
While dog parks are meant to be safe, they can be chaotic. If an owner doesn’t control their dog—or brings a known-aggressive pet into the park—other people and animals are at risk.
Attacks on delivery workers or service professionals
Postal workers, food delivery drivers, maintenance workers, and cleaners are often exposed to unfamiliar dogs while doing their jobs. Many bites happen in doorways, building lobbies, or shared hallways where warning signs or secure barriers are missing.
Children interacting with pets
Kids often don’t understand how to approach dogs safely. If a child tries to pet or play with a dog without permission, and the animal bites, parents are left with painful medical bills and emotional distress.
What Injuries Are Common After a Dog Bite?
Dog bites are not just skin wounds. A dog’s jaw is strong, and their teeth can tear through layers of tissue in seconds. In serious cases, the damage goes far beyond what you can see on the surface.
Deep puncture wounds
These are the most immediate and visible injuries. Bites often go through skin and muscle and can cause serious bleeding. Puncture wounds are prone to infection and may require stitches or surgical cleaning.
Torn tendons or ligaments
When a dog grabs a hand, wrist, or leg, the force can damage the structure beneath the skin. These injuries can limit mobility and may require surgery or physical therapy.
Nerve damage
If the bite is near a nerve cluster, it can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness. Some nerve injuries are permanent and affect long-term use of the limb.
Scarring and disfigurement
Visible scars—especially on the face, hands, or arms—can change how someone feels about themselves. These physical reminders often carry emotional weight and may require cosmetic surgery to treat.
Infection and disease
Dog mouths carry bacteria. If not treated quickly, even a small bite can turn into a dangerous infection. Victims may also need rabies shots, tetanus boosters, or antibiotic treatment.
Emotional trauma
Although not visible, fear of dogs, anxiety in public, and sleep issues are common after an attack. Children may especially struggle to feel safe again around animals or in outdoor spaces.
What Should You Do in the Weeks After a Dog Bite?
The minutes after a dog bite matter, but so do the following days and weeks. Your medical, legal, and financial recovery depends on what you do during this time.
Continue your medical treatment
Follow up with your doctor, even if the wound seems to be healing. Infections can set in after the fact. You may also need physical therapy or additional care for muscle or nerve injuries.
Keep a daily record
Write down your symptoms, pain level, how the injury affects your work, and what limitations you’ve noticed. This type of journal can be valuable when showing how the injury changed your day-to-day life.
Take photos of the wound over time
Images taken days and weeks after the bite show the healing process and any lasting damage. These are helpful if you later need to prove scarring or long-term disfigurement.
Avoid contact with the dog owner or their insurance company
You may be contacted by the dog owner or an adjuster asking for a statement or apology. Be cautious. These conversations may be recorded or used to shift blame. Let your attorney handle communications on your behalf.
Contact a lawyer who understands NYC dog bite law
The earlier you reach out, the stronger your case will be. Your legal team can help secure vet records, animal control reports, surveillance video, and witness statements before they disappear.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Dog Bite Case?
If a dog bite caused your injuries, you may be able to recover money to cover all the ways your life has been affected—physically, financially, and emotionally. The type and amount of compensation depends on the circumstances of the attack and the extent of your injuries.
Medical expenses
These include emergency care, surgeries, follow-up visits, therapy, and medication. Future treatments like scar revision or pain management may be added to your claim.
Lost income
If the injury caused you to miss work or take a lower-paying job, your lawyer may seek to recover your lost wages and reduced earning potential.
Pain and suffering
This covers the physical discomfort and emotional distress caused by the bite. Long-term pain, sleep disruptions, and fear are all considered.
Disfigurement and permanent damage
Visible scarring or physical changes to your face, arms, or legs may justify additional compensation. This is especially important when the injury affects your confidence, socializing ability, or work.
Out-of-pocket costs
You may be reimbursed for transportation to medical appointments, special wound care supplies, or childcare needed due to your injury.
Punitive damages (in rare cases)
If the dog’s owner was especially reckless, such as allowing a known aggressive dog to roam without a leash, the court may award additional damages to punish that behavior.
Barking Up the Right Tree: Why NYC Dog Laws Matter
New York State uses a “mixed” rule system for dog bite liability. That means victims must prove the dog was dangerous or that the owner was careless, which isn’t always straightforward.
In NYC, many dogs live in apartments, and different agencies may handle complaints. Depending on where the bite happened, you may be dealing with the Department of Health, the Parks Department, or the NYPD. Getting the right report filed—and knowing who’s responsible—can take legal help.
Some landlords or building managers may also share liability if they allowed dangerous animals to stay on the property. These cases require investigating lease records, past complaints, and building policies.
From Bite to Blame: The Insurance Company’s Playbook
Most dog bite claims are paid through the dog owner’s renters' or homeowners' insurance policy. But that doesn’t mean the process is easy.
How insurers shift the blame
They may argue that you provoked the dog, that the animal had no history of aggression, or that you entered the property without permission. Even in obvious cases, insurers often delay payments, offer low settlements, or deny the claim outright.
Why early offers usually fall short
Quick settlements don’t cover long-term medical needs or scarring. Many victims accept small checks without realizing how much more they’re entitled to. Insurers want you to settle fast—before you’ve talked to a lawyer.
What If I Was Bitten by a Dog While Working in Someone’s Home?
Many people in New York City live by entering other people’s homes. Delivery drivers, cleaners, health aides, contractors, and handymen often walk into unfamiliar spaces, sometimes, unfamiliar dogs. If you were bitten while doing your job, you may not know your rights or who is responsible.
You may have more than one option
If you were working for a company or agency, you might qualify for workers’ compensation. But that doesn’t always cover the full cost of your injuries, especially if the medical bills are high or you miss a lot of time at work.
You may also be able to file a separate claim against the dog’s owner if their negligence caused the attack.
The dog owner can still be liable
When someone invites you into their home to perform a service, they are responsible for keeping that space reasonably safe. They may be held accountable for your injuries if they failed to warn you about a dog, didn’t secure the animal, or let it roam freely while you worked.
Even if the bite happened quickly or without provocation, that doesn’t automatically mean you’re at fault.
You’re not suing the person—you’re filing against their insurance
Most renters and homeowners carry liability insurance that covers injuries from dog bites. If you file a claim, it usually goes through their policy—not their personal bank account. You’re not asking them to pay out of pocket. You’re asking their insurer to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses caused by the attack.
Time is essential in these cases
Dog bites on the job often go unreported because workers feel pressure to move on quickly or avoid confrontation. But waiting too long can make it harder to get compensation. The sooner you talk to a lawyer, the easier it will be to collect evidence, get medical documentation, and understand your legal options.
How The Perecman Firm, PLLC Helps You Fight Back
The firm takes over all communication with the insurer, gathers medical records and dog history, and calculates the full cost of your injury. They push for a fair settlement—and if one isn’t offered, they prepare your case for court. You’ll always know where your case stands, and you won’t have to fight alone.
Let’s Get This Off Your Plate
A dog bite leaves more than a mark—it changes your routine, your peace of mind, and your finances. Call The Perecman Firm, PLLC at (212) 977-7033 to speak with a New York City personal injury attorney who knows how to help.
You take care of healing. Let them take care of everything else.