Long Island Dog Bite Attorney

Holding Negligent Dog Owners Accountable for Serious Injuries across Nassau and Sufolk Counties

A dog attack can cause far more than physical injury. Victims may suffer deep puncture wounds, nerve damage, scarring, and serious infections. The emotional impact can be just as significant, with many people experiencing lasting fear, anxiety, or psychological trauma after an attack, particularly when it occurs close to home. Children are especially vulnerable, and facial injuries are unfortunately common.

When a dog owner fails to control a dangerous animal and someone is injured, the law provides a path for accountability.

At Palermo Law, we handle dog bite cases with a trial-focused strategy from the beginning. Evidence is obtained early, medical documents are recovered and reviewed right away, and liability is looked at carefully. Our firm brings over 75 years of combined legal experience, has recovered more than $75 million for injured clients, and has earned over 400 five-star Google reviews from people we have helped throughout the Long Island area. With nine 9 locations across Suffolk and Nassau Counties, experienced legal help is always close to home.

This preparation and access helps position each case for the strongest possible recovery while reducing unnecessary delays for injured clients.

How Dog Bite Liability Works in New York

New York dog bite law has evolved significantly in recent years.

Under New York Agriculture & Markets Law § 123, a dog owner is strictly liable for a victim’s medical costs in most circumsatnces.

To recover additional damages, including pain and suffering, a plaintiff may proceed under either strict liability or negligence.

Strict Liability (Vicious Propensities)

If a dog previously exhibited aggressive behavior and the owner knew or should have known about it, the owner may be held responsible for resulting injuries.

Evidence of vicious propensities may include:

• Prior bites or attacks
• Growling, lunging, or snapping
• Complaints or warnings
• Use of restraints or muzzles
• Warning signs
• Repeated leash violations

Once notice is established, the owner may be held liable for the injuries caused by the attack.

Negligence

Following the New York Court of Appeals’ 2025 decision in Flanders v. Goodfellow, injured individuals may also pursue traditional negligence claims against dog owners who fail to exercise reasonable care.

Even without proof of prior vicious behavior, an owner may be liable if their careless conduct created a foreseeable risk of harm.

Examples include:

• Allowing a dog to roam off-leash
• Failing to secure fencing or gates
• Ignoring local leash ordinances
• Improperly restraining a large or reactive dog
• Failing to supervise a dog around children

Why Strict Liability Still Matters

A plaintiff may benefit from a finding of strict liability because it removes the need to prove that the owner acted unreasonably at the time of the attack. Instead, liability turns on whether the owner had notice of the dog’s dangerous tendencies.

Today, New York dog bite litigation often involves both theories of liability, giving injured victims two avenues to pursue full compensation.

We at Palermo Law love dogs. Many of us are dog owners ourselves. Dog bite cases are not about blaming an animal, they are about responsible ownership. When an injury occurs, the law focuses on whether the owner took reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. Accountability rests with people, not pets.

How New York Dog Bite Law Changed in 2025

A landmark Court of Appeals decision significantly expanded the rights of dog attack victims across New York State.

Flanders v. Goodfellow

In this 2025 decision, the New York Court of Appeals held that negligence claims against dog owners are no longer barred by the state’s strict liability framework. Owners who act carelessly — even without a documented history of aggression — may now be held liable for injuries their dog causes.

What This Means for Injured Victims

• No prior bite required. A victim no longer needs to prove the dog bit someone before to pursue full damages.
• Two theories, more leverage. Strict liability and negligence can be pursued simultaneously, giving attorneys more avenues to establish liability.
• Careless ownership is enough. Allowing a dog to roam off-leash, failing to secure fencing, or ignoring local ordinances may now independently support a claim.

This decision changed the landscape for dog bite litigation in New York. Cases that may have been difficult to pursue before 2025 deserve a fresh look.

Where Dog Attacks Occur on Long Island

Dog bite injuries happen throughout Long Island, but some communities see more reported incidents than others. According to data from the United States Postal Service, Long Island accounted for 83 dog bite incidents involving postal workers in 2024, with notable clusters in Hempstead, Bay Shore, and Amityville — each reporting multiple bites.

Dog bite injuries on Long Island can occur in a variety of everyday settings, including:

• Residential neighborhoods and subdivisions
• Apartment complexes and shared living environments
• Public sidewalks and streets
• Private homes and yards
• Local dog parks and recreation areas
• Commercial properties and business districts
• Outdoor trails, parks, beaches, and greenways

Children are disproportionately affected in many bites, particularly in family neighborhoods where pets are present and children play outdoors. National data shows that most dog bites occur in or near the home with familiar dogs, a pattern that reflects suburban areas with high pet ownership like Long Island.

Long Island’s suburban layout, high homeownership rates, and dense residential clustering contribute to widespread dog ownership and, unfortunately, increased opportunities for injury.

In many cases, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance provides the source of compensation. Early identification of all potentially available insurance, including umbrella policies, is critical to a thorough case evaluation.

How Insurance Companies Defend Long Island Dog Bite Claims

Insurance carriers frequently attempt to narrow or deny liability. Common defenses include:

• The dog was provoked. This is common in cases that involve children.
• The injured person was trespassing.
• The dog had no documented history of aggression.
• The incident was an isolated event.
• The injuries are overstated or primarily cosmetic.

In cases involving children, insurers sometimes argue that normal childhood behavior constitutes “provocation.” These arguments must be addressed carefully and factually.

Why Early Investigation Matters

Dog bite cases are highly evidence-driven. Critical records and witness information can become harder to obtain as time passes.

Early investigation may include:

• Animal control reports and prior complaint history
• Veterinary records reflecting behavioral concerns
• Witness statements from neighbors or bystanders
• Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance documentation
• Photographic evidence of fencing, gates, warning signs, or restraint methods

Under current New York law, liability may depend on proof of prior aggressive behavior or evidence that the owner failed to act reasonably under the circumstances. Identifying which theory applies, strict liability, negligence, or both, requires prompt and careful fact development.

Preserving evidence early often determines whether a case resolves efficiently or becomes heavily contested. Timely investigation can significantly influence both liability strategy and case value.

Injuries Common in Long Island Dog Bite Cases

Dog attacks frequently cause:

• Deep lacerations
• Nerve damage
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Infection
• Crush injuries
• Psychological trauma
• Permanent disability

Facial injuries in children often require reconstructive procedures. Scarring cases may involve future revision surgery and long-term emotional impact.

Proper medical documentation is central to fair valuation.

What To Do After a Dog Bite on Long Island

The steps taken after a dog attack can affect both medical recovery and the strength of a legal claim.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Even minor puncture wounds can lead to infection, nerve damage, or scarring. Prompt treatment protects your health and creates medical documentation linking the injuries to the attack.

Report the Incident
Notify local animal control or the appropriate municipal authority on Long Island. An official report creates a record of the attack and may reveal prior complaints involving the dog.

Document the Scene and Your Injuries
Take photographs of injuries as soon as possible and continue documenting healing. If possible, photograph the location, fencing, gates, warning signs, or lack of restraint.

Identify the Dog and Its Owner
Obtain the dog owner’s name and contact information. If possible, determine whether homeowner’s or renter’s insurance coverage applies.

Avoid Recorded Statements to Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters may request a recorded statement shortly after an attack. These statements can be used to minimize claims or suggest provocation.

Consult an Attorney Early
Dog bite cases often depend on evidence of prior aggressive behavior or negligent control of the animal. Early legal involvement helps preserve veterinary records, prior complaints, witness statements, and insurance documentation.

Early evidence preservation often determines whether a dog bite case resolves efficiently or becomes heavily contested.

Statute of Limitations and Municipal Liability

Most dog bite lawsuits in New York must be filed within three years of the date of injury under CPLR § 214(5).

However, if the attack involved municipal property, a public housing authority, or a government-maintained location, a Notice of Claim may be required within 90 days under New York General Municipal Law § 50-e.

Determining property ownership and control early is a critical issue in every dog bite case.

Compensation in Long Island Dog Bite Cases

The value of a dog bite case is driven by the seriousness of the injury, the permanence of scarring, the psychological effects of the attack, and the available insurance coverage. Dog attacks often cause injuries that are more significant than they first appear, particularly when facial wounds and nerve damage are involved.

Victims may recover both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages address actual financial losses resulting from the attack. These may include:

• Emergency room care and ambulance transport
• Hospitalization and surgical intervention
• Plastic or reconstructive procedures
• Ongoing wound care and infection treatment
• Future medical treatment, including scar revision surgery
• Psychological counseling or trauma-related therapy
• Lost income during recovery
• Diminished earning capacity if the injury results in long-term impairment

When a child is injured, future medical and cosmetic procedures may continue for years as the child grows. Accurate valuation requires careful projection of long-term medical needs and potential future treatment usually done using experts.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages address the human impact of the injury — the consequences that do not appear on a medical bill but significantly affect daily life.

These may include:

• Physical pain and ongoing discomfort
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional trauma, anxiety, or fear of animals
• Loss of confidence or social withdrawal
• Sleep disturbance or post-traumatic stress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Visible scarring, particularly on the face, arms, or legs, often becomes a central issue in determining a fair settlement. Insurance carriers frequently attempt to characterize scarring as minor. In reality, permanent disfigurement can carry significant emotional and psychological consequences, especially for children and young adults.

Factors That Influence Case Value

The ultimate value of a dog bite case depends on:

• Strength of liability evidence under strict liability or negligence principles
• Permanency of scarring
• Age of the injured person
• Need for future surgical revision
• Psychological impact
• Available homeowner’s or umbrella insurance coverage

Because dog bite litigation may involve strict liability and/or negligence principles, the strength of the liability evidence directly affects compensation.

Early documentation, proper medical evaluation, and careful presentation of scarring and trauma are critical to ensuring full recovery. We often employ photographers to help us document cases with scarring.

For a broader overview of how injury cases are built and litigated, visit our Long Island personal injury attorney page.

Dog Bite Claims Across Long Island

We represent dog bite victims all over Long Island.

For more local information, visit:

Nassau County: Nassau County dog bite lawyer

Suffolk County: Suffolk County dog bite lawyer

These pages provide county-specific procedural considerations.

Trial-Ready Representation

While many dog bite cases resolve through negotiation, serious injury claims, particularly those involving children, facial scarring, or disputed prior aggression, often require litigation. Insurance carriers frequently deny prior aggressive behavior, argue provocation, or attempt to characterize visible scarring as “cosmetic” rather than permanent disfigurement.

Preparation determines leverage.

From the outset, we evaluate each case as if it may go to trial. That means early evidence preservation, detailed liability review, medical documentation, and, when necessary, consultation with experts to accurately present long-term impact such as scarring and PTSD.

Insurance companies assess risk based on which firms are prepared to present a case before a jury, and which firms are not.

Our firm prepares every dog bite case as if it will be presented in Nassau County Supreme Court in Mineola or Suffolk County Supreme Court in Riverhead. When settlement discussions fail to reflect the true value of a claim, we are fully prepared to try cases.

Why Hire Palermo Law?

We offer free consultations and charge no fee unless we recover compensation. Every case receives direct attorney oversight. We have never represented insurance companies and never will.

How We Build Your Dog Bite Case

From first call to final resolution — a litigation-focused approach at every stage. Most cases settle. We prepare every case for trial — because that preparation is exactly what makes insurance companies take your claim seriously.

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