The “One-Bite Rule” in New York has officially ended. Thanks to the landmark April 2025 Court of Appeals ruling in Flanders v. Goodfellow, you can now hold dog owners accountable for negligence.
At Stanley Law Offices, we specialize in this new era of New York personal injury law. For nearly two decades, victims were forced to prove a dog was “vicious” to seek justice. Today, our legal team leverages the latest 2025 standards to hold owners responsible if they were simply careless—regardless of the dog’s history.
If you were injured by a dog in New York State, we are here to fight for you. Our New York dog bite lawyers provide the aggressive representation needed to secure maximum compensation for your medical expenses, permanent scarring, and lost wages. Let our experienced New York State attorneys handle the legal complexities and insurance negotiations so you can focus on your recovery.
Available 24/7 | 100% Free Consultation | No Fee Unless We Win
Don’t Let a Dog Bite Ruin Your Future: Get Legal Help in New York Now
Every hour after a dog bite matters. Witnesses forget. Photos disappear. Insurance companies quietly build their defense. One wrong move, a recorded statement, or a signed release can cost you thousands in lost compensation.
This is when legal protection counts most – not later, not after a denial, but now. Here’s what early legal action helps secure:
- Critical evidence preserved fast: Scene photos, medical records, witness names, and behavior reports.
- Direct insurer contact shut down: No more pressure, misleading questions, or premature statements.
- Medical documentation aligned with your claim: Not just for treatment, but for compensation proof.
- Lowball settlement tactics blocked: Adjusters know they can’t exploit your lack of legal guidance.
Maximize Your Compensation With a Top New York Dog Bite Lawyer
Insurance companies don’t exist to help victims; they exist to protect profits. That’s why involving an experienced NY personal injury lawyer handling dog bite cases early can be the difference between a low settlement and the full compensation your injuries deserve.
At Stanley Law Offices, we fight to recover every dollar available by:
- Identifying all potential sources of compensation, including homeowners, landlords, employers, and business policies.
- Calculating the full value of your damages, from current medical bills to future surgeries, lost income, and emotional trauma.
- Backing your claim with expert input from medical experts, behavioral analysts, and legal strategists who strengthen your case.
- Building a case that’s trial-ready, which puts pressure on the insurer to settle for what you’re truly owed.
The right lawyer doesn’t just “file a claim.” They uncover the value others miss and fight to recover it.
What Our Dog Bite Attorneys Do to Win Maximum Compensation
After a dog attack, you don’t just need support, you need results. At Stanley Law Offices, we move fast to build the strongest possible case, preserve every dollar of value, and put pressure on insurers from day one.
Here’s how we maximize the outcome of your claim:
- Investigate the attack immediately, including prior complaints, leash law violations, and the dog’s known history of aggression.
- Secure evidence before it disappears, photos, surveillance footage, medical records, witness statements, and 911 transcripts.
- Document the full medical picture, not just visible injuries, but long-term effects, complications, and expert-backed treatment plans.
- Build a damages profile that includes physical pain, lost wages, trauma, permanent scarring, emotional suffering, and future care costs.
- Push for a settlement, but prepare for trial. Insurers don’t gamble when they know the case is courtroom-ready.
How We Prove the Dog Owner’s Negligence in Your Case
To win compensation in a New York dog bite case, we need to show the dog wasn’t just dangerous; it was a danger the owner ignored. New York law allows you to recover damages when the owner should have known the risk and failed to stop it. Here’s how we build a winning case:
- Apply New York’s one-bite rule and modified liability standard: By showing the dog had a history of aggression, or any reasonable owner would’ve recognized the risk.
- Uncover signs of vicious behavior: Through vet records, neighbor complaints, witness testimony, or aggressive behavior before the bite.
- Show leash law or containment failures: Whether the dog was roaming off-leash, escaped a poorly secured area, or was left unattended.
- Connect what the owner knew to what happened: Show your injury wasn’t an accident, it was preventable.
You don’t have to prove the dog was dangerous to everyone, only that the owner ignored the warning signs.
Who We Represent in Dog Bite Cases Across New York
We represent people across New York who were injured by dangerous dogs, especially when those injuries could have been prevented. Whether the dog’s owner, landlord, or another party failed to act, we fight to hold them accountable.
We frequently handle cases involving:
- Children attacked in apartment complexes or residential yards where landlords or property owners ignored known risks.
- Delivery workers bitten on the job including mail carriers, drivers, and service technicians who weren’t warned about aggressive dogs.
- Pedestrians injured in public spaces such as parks, sidewalks, or community areas where dogs are off-leash or poorly restrained.
- Tenants hurt by other residents’ dogs, especially in rental buildings where prior complaints have been ignored.
Serving Dog Bite Victims Across All of New York
Wherever you are in Upstate or Central New York, our dog bite attorneys are ready to help. We understand the courts, laws, and local procedures in your area, and we make legal help easy to access when you’re injured. We serve clients in communities including:
- Syracuse
- Binghamton
- Rochester
- Watertown
- Oneonta and the surrounding areas of Upstate New York.
Can’t travel? We offer virtual consultations or can meet with you at home or in the hospital, whatever makes your recovery easier.
What We Can Recover for You in a New York Dog Bite Lawsuit
When we take on your dog bite case, we start by identifying every loss, medical, financial, and emotional, and building a claim that demands full compensation.
Depending on the details of your case, we pursue damages for:
- Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, follow-up care, infection treatment, and reconstructive surgery if needed.
- Lost wages and future income: Paychecks missed during recovery and income lost due to long-term physical limitations.
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, and trauma caused by the attack.
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement: Visible injuries that impact confidence, mental health, or career opportunities.
- Punitive damages (in rare cases): Extra compensation when a dog owner was grossly negligent or knowingly ignored a danger.
Injuries We Commonly Handle in Dog Bite Lawsuits
Dog bite injuries aren’t limited to cuts and bruises. Many involve serious physical harm that requires surgery, rehab, or long-term medical care. These injuries form the foundation of your legal claim, and documenting them properly is critical to your case.
We frequently handle cases involving:
- Facial disfigurement and visible scarring: Often requiring multiple surgeries and resulting in lasting emotional and psychological harm.
- Deep puncture wounds and lacerations: High risk of infection, nerve damage, and permanent tissue loss.
- Nerve damage: Can impair mobility or cause chronic pain in the arms, legs, face, or hands.
- Fractures and torn ligaments: Common in attacks involving falls or impact injuries, often requiring physical therapy or surgical repair.
- Psychological trauma and PTSD: Especially common in children, but seen in adults as well, often requiring therapy or counseling.
- Loss of mobility or function: Long-term damage that limits physical ability or affects job performance.
Who Pays for a Dog Bite in New York? It’s Not Always the Dog Owner
Many people hesitate to take legal action because they don’t want to bankrupt a dog owner especially if it’s a friend, neighbor, or landlord. But in most cases, the money doesn’t come out of anyone’s pocket it comes from insurance. We identify every possible source of coverage, including:
- Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance: This is the most common source of payment in residential dog bite claims.
- Business liability insurance: If the attack happened on business property or involved a company-owned dog.
- Landlord liability insurance: When a landlord knew about a dangerous dog on their property but failed to act.
- Employer coverage or workers’ comp: If you were bitten on the job. For example, as a delivery driver, maintenance worker, or health care provider.
Our team investigates every angle, property records, lease agreements, business licenses, and employment details to make sure no responsible party is missed and no coverage goes untapped.
Miss the Deadline, Miss Your Compensation – Don’t Wait to File
Under New York law (CPLR § 214), you have three years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, your right to compensation expires – no matter how serious your injuries are. There are a few exceptions to this rule:
- For minors, the statute of limitations is usually paused until the child turns 18.
- Claims involving a government agency often require a formal notice of claim within as little as 90 days.
- Cases with delayed discovery in rare situations, the deadline may be extended if the injury wasn’t immediately known.
Surgical or Anesthesia Errors
Surgical procedures demand precision and coordination. Unfortunately, errors still happen, especially when protocols are ignored or oversight occurs. Common malpractice examples include:
- Wrong-site surgery.
- Retained surgical instruments.
- Anesthesia overdose or allergic reaction.
- Failure to monitor vital signs during surgery.
These incidents often require testimony from expert surgeons or anesthesiologists to prove that the standard of care was violated and caused harm.
No Upfront Fees: You Don’t Pay Unless We Win
At Stanley Law Offices, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing up front, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. You’ll never owe legal fees out of pocket, whether we settle your case or take it to trial. Here’s what that means for you:
- No upfront payments: We cover all legal and case-related costs while your claim is in progress.
- No hourly billing or surprise fees: You’ll never be charged just for talking to us or asking questions.
- No legal fees unless we win: If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
- Free, no-obligation consultation: You can speak with a dog bite attorney at no cost before making any decisions.
Legal help should never depend on what you can afford, and with us, it doesn’t.
Why Injury Victims Across New York Choose Stanley Law Offices
We don’t just say we fight for injury victims, we prove it with results. Here’s what makes our firm the choice for dog bite victims across New York:
- Over 90 years of combined legal experience: Our attorneys have handled thousands of personal injury cases and know what it takes to win complex claims.
- Relentless case strategy that gets results: Our team has secured millions in verdicts and settlements, including recoveries of $3.2 million, $750000, and $595,000 in injury cases.
- Real trial preparation from day one: We build every case as if it’s going to court, and insurers settle faster when they know we’re ready to litigate.
- Personalized legal care from day one: You’ll work directly with an experienced attorney who knows your case and treats it like it matters.
Our reputation is built on trust, results, and making sure clients get the full compensation New York law allows, not just what insurers want to offer.
When You’re Ready to Take Action, We’re Ready to Represent You
The moment a dog attacks, the legal clock starts ticking. The longer you wait, the more evidence slips through your hands.
At Stanley Law Offices, we’re ready to step in, protect your rights, and build your case without charging you anything upfront. You only pay if we win compensation for you.
Take the next step now: Call us at 1-800-608-3333 to schedule a free consultation with our New York dog bite attorney.
Every day you wait is a day the other side gets ahead. Let’s make sure they don’t.
Answers to Common Questions About New York Dog Bite Lawsuits
Can I sue if the dog owner claims I provoked the attack?
Yes. You can sue if the dog owner claims provocation. New York follows a comparative fault rule, so your compensation can be reduced but not denied if you’re found partially at fault.
What if I was bitten by a dog while working – can I file a personal injury claim?
Yes. You can file a personal injury claim if a dog bites you at work. You may also qualify for workers’ compensation, depending on your job role and employer coverage.
Can I sue if my child was bitten by a dog but wasn’t seriously injured?
Yes. You can sue if your child was bitten, even without serious injury. New York law considers emotional trauma, scarring, and future medical care when evaluating damages.
How long does it take to settle a dog bite claim in NY?
It varies. Most dog bite claims in New York settle within 6-12 months. Claims with serious injuries or disputed liability may take longer to resolve fairly.
Do I need a lawyer for minor injuries?
Can I sue a landlord if their tenant’s dog attacked me?
Yes. You can sue a landlord if they knew the tenant’s dog was dangerous. The landlord must have had prior knowledge and failed to act to prevent the attack.
What’s the average settlement for dog bite cases in New York?
There is no set average settlement for New York dog bite cases. Compensation depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost income, and emotional harm.
How much does a dog bite lawyer charge in New York?
A dog bite lawyer in New York charges nothing up front. At Stanley Law Offices, we work on contingency: no hourly fees, and no payment unless we win your case.
Can I sue if I got hurt trying to escape or defend myself from a dog?
Yes. You can sue if you were injured while escaping or defending against a dog attack. New York law allows claims for related injuries like falls or broken bones if caused by a dangerous dog’s behavior.
