If you or your child has been bitten or attacked by a dog in New York, you have rights — and you likely have a real case. Segal Law Firm helps dog bite victims across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey, and Connecticut recover the money they need to heal.
Dog bites are traumatic. Beyond the puncture wounds and scars, victims often face infections, surgeries, lost time from work, and lasting fear. We handle the insurance companies and legal deadlines while you focus on healing. There is no fee unless we recover for you.
How dog bite liability works in New York
New York uses a two-track system. A dog owner is strictly liable for your medical and veterinary costs the moment their dog bites you — no proof of fault required. To recover pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages, you must show the owner knew (or should have known) the dog had 'vicious propensities' — a prior bite, aggressive behavior, growling at strangers, or being kept behind 'Beware of Dog' signs.
In many cases, negligence also applies — a leash-law violation, an unlatched gate, a landlord who ignored complaints. New Jersey is even more claimant-friendly: it is a pure strict-liability state. Connecticut is too. Wherever the bite happened, we know how to prove it and who to hold responsible — usually through homeowners or renters insurance.
What you may recover
- Emergency room & surgery costs
- Reconstructive & plastic surgery
- Scar revision (past & future)
- Lost wages & earning capacity
- Pain, suffering & emotional distress
- PTSD & counseling costs
What to do after a dog bite
These seven steps protect your health and your case.
Get medical care immediately
Dog bites carry serious infection risk. Go to the ER or urgent care even if the wound looks small. Ask about rabies and tetanus.
Photograph everything
Wounds, torn clothing, the dog, the location, and the scene. Take new photos as bruises and scars develop over the following days.
Report the bite
File a report with NYC 311, the local police, or animal control. An official record proves the incident and starts the dog's bite history.
Get the owner's information
Name, address, phone, homeowners or renters insurance carrier, and the dog's rabies vaccination records.
Do not talk to insurance
The dog owner's insurer may call within days. Do not give a recorded statement or sign anything until you speak with a lawyer.
Call Segal Law Firm
We handle the claim, preserve evidence, and give you a clear plan — free, and with no obligation.
Why dog bite victims choose Segal
Personal attention
You speak directly with an attorney — not a screener. Same-day callbacks, clear updates, respectful care for children and scarring victims.
We prove 'vicious propensities'
Prior bites, complaints to landlords, 311 reports, animal control history, neighbor testimony — we dig up the record the insurer wants buried.
Trial-ready
Insurers offer more when they know your lawyer will actually try the case. We prepare every file for trial from day one.
No fee unless we win
Contingency only. You owe us nothing unless we recover money for you.
Experienced with child victims
Children make up the majority of serious dog bite cases. We handle infant compromise proceedings and long-term scar valuations.
Decades of NY trial experience
Segal Law Firm has represented seriously injured New Yorkers for decades — with the local knowledge insurers respect.
Evidence disappears fast.
Animal control records get updated, witnesses forget, the dog can be moved or euthanized, and social media posts vanish. The earlier we're involved, the stronger your case.
Common injuries
The dog bite injuries we handle
Puncture wounds
Deep bite punctures carry a high risk of bacterial infection, including capnocytophaga and pasteurella.
Lacerations & tears
Torn skin and tissue often requires stitches, staples, or surgical closure — and leaves permanent scars.
Nerve damage
Bites to the hands, arms, or face can sever nerves, causing numbness, weakness, or chronic pain.
Broken bones
Large-breed attacks routinely crush finger, hand, and forearm bones — sometimes requiring pins or plates.
Facial injuries & scarring
Facial bites are especially common in child victims and often require reconstructive plastic surgery.
Disfigurement
Permanent scars are compensable in New York, and the value grows when they're on visible areas or affect a child's future.
Infection & rabies exposure
Sepsis, cellulitis, and rabies prophylaxis all count as recoverable medical harm.
PTSD & psychological trauma
Fear of dogs, nightmares, and anxiety are real injuries — especially for children. Counseling costs are recoverable.
Frequently asked
Answers before you call
Can I sue if the dog never bit anyone before?+
Sometimes yes. New York's strict-liability rule covers your medical bills regardless of the dog's history. To recover pain and suffering, we show the owner had reason to know the dog was dangerous — growling at strangers, running loose, aggressive breed history, complaints from neighbors, or leash-law violations. In New Jersey and Connecticut, the owner is strictly liable for all damages, even without prior warning signs.
How much is my dog bite case worth?+
It depends on the severity of the injury, the permanence of scarring, whether surgery is needed, lost income, and the available insurance. Facial scarring on a child and hand injuries that affect work regularly settle for six figures. We give you a realistic value after reviewing your records — for free.
Who pays my medical bills?+
Almost always, the dog owner's homeowners or renters insurance. If the owner rents, sometimes the landlord's policy also applies. If the attack happened at work (delivery driver, postal worker), workers' compensation may cover initial bills while we pursue the third-party dog owner.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in New York?+
Generally three years from the date of the bite for personal injury. Child victims may have longer under New York's infancy toll. If a government-owned dog or property is involved, notice-of-claim deadlines can be as short as 90 days. Call us early — waiting almost never helps.
What if I was partially at fault?+
New York follows pure comparative negligence. Even if you're found partly responsible, you can still recover — your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers routinely exaggerate the victim's share, especially with children. We push back hard.
My child was bitten. Is the process different?+
Yes. Settlements for minors require court approval (an 'infant compromise'), and part of the recovery is placed in a protected account until the child turns 18. We handle every step and value future scar treatment realistically.
Do homeowners insurance policies cover dog bites?+
Most standard homeowners and renters policies cover dog bite liability — often with limits of $100,000 to $500,000, sometimes higher. Some insurers exclude specific breeds; we know how to look for umbrella coverage and other policies when the primary won't pay.
What if I don't know who owns the dog?+
Call us anyway. Animal control reports, 311 complaints, neighborhood surveillance, and witness canvassing frequently identify the owner. Don't assume your case is gone.
What does it cost to hire Segal Law Firm?+
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency — you owe no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you.
Contact
Bitten by a dog? Let's talk today.
Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win. Serving New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.