Dog Bite - Hacker Murphy LLP

Dog Bites

A dog bite can lead to serious injuries, emotional trauma, and financial strain. If you or a loved one has been hurt by a dog attack, New York State law allows you to hold the dog’s owner responsible. At Hacker Murphy, our dedicated and experienced attorneys are here to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Holding Dog Owners Accountable

In New York, there are now two legal paths available for holding a dog owner responsible:

1. Strict Liability

Strict liability applies when a dog has exhibited prior signs of aggression and the owner knew or should have been aware of those behaviors.

Examples include:

Biting or attempted attacks on people or animals
Growling, snarling, or lunging
Being previously declared a dangerous dog under New York law

If there’s evidence that the owner ignored known risks, they can be held liable for resulting injuries.

2. Negligence

Even if the dog had no history of aggression, an owner may still be liable if they failed to act with reasonable care. Negligence applies when preventable mistakes lead to injury.

Examples include:

Letting a dog roam off-leash in public on sidewalks or streets
Allowing a dog to escape through a broken or unsecured gate
Failing to supervise a dog during a crowded social gathering
Walking more dogs than the handler can safely control
Bringing a visibly anxious dog into a crowded vet’s office without a muzzle or crate
Failing to restrain dogs in public-facing spaces like daycare centers, school pickup zones, parks and apartment walkways

Thanks to recent changes in New York law, you can now bring claims under both strict liability and negligence—giving you stronger legal options and a broader path to justice.

Where Dog Bites Commonly Happen

We represent clients who were injured in a wide range of everyday locations, including:

Friend’s Homes & Playdates – Children are especially vulnerable around unfamiliar pets
Neighborhood Streets & Sidewalks – Unrestrained or escaped dogs can cause serious harm
Daycare Centers – Providers may be held accountable when dogs are present near children
Parks, Trails & Playgrounds – Common areas where unleashed dogs and kids often interact
Public Spaces – Including apartment complexes, parks and school drop-off zones

No matter where it happened, we’ll help you determine what legal options are available and who should be held accountable.

Dog Bites Involving Children

Children are more likely to suffer serious injuries in dog attacks—and often have lasting trauma. New York’s updated dog bite laws now offer families stronger legal tools to recover compensation.

Whether your child was hurt at a friend’s home, in daycare, at the park, or on your street, we’ll help you pursue justice under whichever theory best fits the case: strict liability, negligence, or both.

Your Trusted Legal Partner

Dog bite cases can be complex. They require prompt investigation, strong legal strategy, and the willingness to go to trial if needed. At Hacker Murphy, we bring decades of experience to every case and work tirelessly to deliver results by:

Gathering evidence to prove negligence or prior aggression
Demonstrating the physical and emotional toll of the attack
Negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement
Taking your case to court if the offer isn’t enough

Recent case results include:

$750,000 for scarring on a woman attacked by a pit bull
$500,000 for facial scarring and nose deformity on a 32-year-old man
$450,000 for fractured finger requiring surgery
$300,000 for forehead scarring on a 5-year-old boy
$275,000 for nerve damage in a 55-year-old woman’s forearm

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Changed in New York’s Dog Bite Law?

In 2025, a pivotal case—Flanders v. Goodfellow—reshaped how dog bite claims are handled in New York.

In the case, a postal worker was delivering a package when a dog lunged through the front door and bit her. Other postal workers had previously reported the same dog growling, snarling, and even slamming into windows. Despite this pattern, the owners denied knowing their dog was dangerous.

The court made two major rulings:

Strict liability still applies when there’s proof that a dog has shown prior aggression—and the owner knew or should have known.
But now, negligence claims are also allowed. That means even if the dog had no known history of biting, owners can be held responsible if they failed to take reasonable precautions.

Before this case, New York was one of the only states that didn’t allow negligence-based dog bite claims. The court reversed that, stating it was out of step with modern legal principles and fairness.

Bottom line: You now have two legal paths to pursue compensation in a dog bite case. And that gives your attorney more tools to build a strong claim—especially in complex or child-involved cases.

2. How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in New York?

In most cases, you have three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in New York. However, certain circumstances—such as cases involving children—may affect that timeline. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better your chances of preserving critical evidence.

3. What types of compensation can I recover?

Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be eligible to receive compensation for:

Medical bills and hospital visits
Future care, surgeries, or therapy
Pain and suffering
Scarring or disfigurement
Lost wages or loss of earning ability
Emotional trauma or PTSD

4. Do I need to prove the dog bit someone before?

Not anymore. Thanks to changes in New York law, you can pursue a claim even if the dog had no history of biting. A negligence claim focuses on the dog owner’s failure to take reasonable care—such as ignoring leash laws, leaving gates open, or bringing an anxious dog into crowded areas.

5. What if my child was bitten by a dog?

Children are more likely to suffer serious physical and emotional harm from dog attacks. We take extra care in these cases to pursue compensation not just for medical treatment but for long-term trauma, therapy, and scarring. New York’s legal updates now provide more tools to support families seeking justice for their children.

Making Justice Affordable to All

We believe that justice should be accessible to everyone. That’s why there are no upfront costs to you. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay our fees if we win your case. Let our dedication, expertise, and compassionate counsel guide you to the justice and compensation you deserve.

Act Now — Time Limits Aply

Every dog bite case is unique, but one thing is constant: the sooner you act, the better your chance of building a strong case. Don’t wait until evidence is lost or deadlines pass.

Call us at (518) 300-4693 or request a free consultation online today.