Queens Dog Bite Lawyer

Bitten by a dog in Queens, NY? Contact the top Queens dog bite attorney to seek justice and compensation.

A dog attack in Queens leaves you with wounds that bleed through gauze, a hospital bill climbing by the hour, and an owner suddenly claiming the dog “has never done this before.”

That version of events is almost never where the case ends. The record of what the dog did before this attack often sits in 311 complaints, Health Department bite reports, animal control files, and the memory of every neighbor who crossed the street when it walked by. The owner’s insurance carrier is counting on you to settle fast and settle cheap before anyone goes looking.

At Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we represent dog bite victims across Queens from our Ridgewood office, with additional locations in the Bronx and Hempstead.

New York gives you two paths to recovery: strict liability for medical costs if the dog was previously declared dangerous, and a claim for full damages, including pain, suffering, and lost wages, when the owner knew or should have known the dog was aggressive or failed to use reasonable care in controlling it. Our Queens dog bite lawyers know how to find the evidence that proves it, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Who Is Liable for a Dog Bite in New York?

Most states hold dog owners automatically responsible when their dog bites someone. New York is different. To recover pain and suffering damages beyond just your medical bills, you can prove that the owner knew or should have known their dog had a vicious propensity, a legal term meaning any behavior that signals the animal could harm someone.

Since the Court of Appeals decided Flanders v. Goodfellow in 2025, you can also pursue an ordinary negligence claim when the owner failed to use reasonable care in controlling the dog. More than one party can share responsibility depending on where and how the attack occurred.

• Dog owner: Strictly liable for your medical costs if the dog was previously declared dangerous, and liable for all damages if vicious propensity was known or the owner negligently failed to control the dog.

• Landlord: A landlord who knew a dangerous dog lived in their building and failed to remove or contain it can share responsibility for your injuries.

• Dog walker or caretaker: Anyone who had physical control of the dog at the time of the attack can be held accountable for failing to restrain it.

• Business or property owner: A business that permitted a known-aggressive animal on its premises is responsible if that dog injures a visitor.

In most cases, compensation is paid by the responsible party’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, not their personal savings.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Queens

What you do in the hours after an attack directly shapes both your recovery and your legal claim.

Get Medical Care and Document Your Injuries

See a doctor the same day, even if the wound looks minor. Dog bites push bacteria deep into tissue and can quickly develop into serious infections like cellulitis or sepsis without treatment. Take photos immediately, then continue photographing the wound as it heals. Documenting scarring over time is one of the most consequential factors in the value of your claim.

Report the Attack to NYC Health via 311

In New York City, all animal bites must be reported to the Department of Health within 24 hours. This official record often surfaces prior attacks by the same dog, information the owner will not volunteer, and becomes critical evidence when our Queens dog bite attorneys build your case.

Collect Owner Information and Preserve Evidence

Get the owner’s full name, address, and the dog’s rabies vaccination records before leaving the scene. Collect contact information from any witnesses. Save torn or blood-stained clothing. It is direct physical evidence of the force of the attack.

Call Before You Speak to the Insurance Adjuster

The owner’s insurance company may contact you quickly and frame it as a routine check-in. It is not. Adjusters ask carefully worded questions to get you to minimize your injuries or accept partial blame, answers they record to reduce what they owe you. Contact our law firm before you say anything.

Can You Sue if a Dog Knocked You Down With No Bite?

Yes. A dog that jumps, charges, or runs into you can cause broken hips, fractured wrists, and head injuries just as serious as any bite wound. Since Flanders v. Goodfellow (2025), New York allows you to hold the owner accountable under ordinary negligence, such as failing to leash or restrain the dog, even when no bite occurred and even without proof of prior aggression.

What Injuries Do Queens Dog Bite Victims Suffer?

Dog attacks cause damage that extends well beyond the initial wound, and many of the worst consequences develop over time.

• Facial lacerations and disfigurement: Deep cuts to the face are especially common in children and often require multiple surgeries over several years.

• Nerve and tendon damage: Bites to the hand or forearm can permanently sever nerves and tendons, leaving lasting weakness or numbness.

• Serious infections: Without prompt treatment, bite wounds can progress to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening bloodstream infection that may require hospitalization.

• PTSD and lasting anxiety: Many victims, particularly children, develop a long-term fear of dogs, nightmares, and anxiety that interferes with daily life.

Visible scarring on the face or hands is one of the most significant factors in the overall value of a dog bite claim.

What our Queens dog bite lawyers see across the dog bite injury cases we handle in Queens is that facial and hand wounds treated in the emergency departments at Elmhurst Hospital or NewYork-Presbyterian Queens are often closed quickly to prevent infection, with scar revision left for months later.

Insurers routinely try to settle during that window, before a plastic surgeon has weighed in on what the scar will look like long term. We document the healing process with photos and specialist opinions so the claim reflects the injury you will actually live with.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Dog Bite?

We pursue every dollar your case is worth, not just what the insurance company is willing to put in writing.

Type of Damages	What It Covers
Economic (Special) Damages	Medical bills, future surgeries, lost wages, reduced earning capacity
Non-Economic (General) Damages	Pain and suffering, emotional trauma, PTSD, permanent scarring

Pain and suffering compensation accounts for the physical toll of your injury, the sleepless nights, the follow-up procedures, and the permanent change to your daily quality of life. Scarring and disfigurement awards can be substantial, particularly for injuries to the face or hands that are visible every day.

Before we negotiate, we benchmark every claim against comparable New York verdicts and settlements. That number defines what fair looks like, and we do not accept anything less.

How We Prove Vicious Propensity

The insurer’s first move will be to argue the owner had no warning their dog was dangerous. We build a factual record that makes that position impossible to sustain.

We pull:

• Prior 311 complaints and NYC Department of Health bite records tied to the dog.

• Animal control reports associated with the owner’s address.

• Neighbor statements about past growling, lunging, or unprovoked aggression.

• Photographs of “Beware of Dog” signs posted at the property.

• Landlord notices or written tenant complaints about the animal.

• Veterinary records that reflect behavioral concerns.

This evidence exists outside of what the owner tells you, and it often decides the outcome of the case.

One pattern we consistently see in Queens dog bite claims is that the people on the block knew about the dog long before the attack. Building supers in Ridgewood and Astoria, neighbors who share a hallway or a backyard fence, and mail carriers on the route often describe the same lunging or snapping behavior the owner denies ever seeing.

Their statements, matched with Health Department bite records, are frequently what moves an insurer off the claim that the owner had no warning.

Does No-Fault Insurance Cover Dog Bites?

No. New York’s no-fault system applies only to car accidents. You cannot file a claim with your own insurer after a dog bite the way you might after a collision. Instead, you must build a liability claim against the dog owner or another responsible party through their homeowner’s, renter’s, or commercial policy.

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in New York?

In New York, you have three years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. If the bite occurred on city-owned or NYCHA property, you have only 90 days to file a Notice of Claim before permanently losing your right to sue. For children, the three-year time limit typically starts at age 18, but delaying can put the evidence needed to win cases out of reach.

How Grigor Law Handles Your Case

We treat every case as trial-ready from day one. Insurance companies know which firms back down and which ones fight, and that knowledge determines what they put on the table from the first negotiation.

We Come to You for a Free Case Review

We start with a free, no-obligation consultation. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, our attorneys come to you at your home, at the hospital, or wherever you need us.

We Build and Preserve Your Evidence Fast

Our team pulls official records, canvasses for witnesses, and photographs your injuries on a consistent schedule from the first day we take your case.

We Negotiate from a Position of Strength

We present the insurer with a precise demand backed by documented evidence and comparable case results. They know we take cases to trial when an offer falls short, and that changes how they negotiate.

You Make the Final Call

If the insurer refuses full value, we file suit and prepare for verdict. The decision to settle or go to trial belongs entirely to you, made with complete information and no pressure from us.

Why Work With Grigor Law?

Grigor Law was founded in 2015 by Chrissy Grigoropoulos, Esq. to give injured New Yorkers a real fighter in their corner. We serve clients across all five boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester County from our offices in Ridgewood, the Bronx, and Hempstead.

• No fee unless we win: Every case is handled on a contingency basis. You owe us nothing if we do not recover for you.

• We come to you: Our attorneys travel to clients who cannot visit an office because of their injuries.

• Shark attitude in the courtroom: Insurers know we take cases to trial, and that reputation directly affects what they offer our clients.

• As Seen On: Our firm has earned mainstream media recognition for our advocacy and commitment to the Ridgewood and Queens communities.

“I just wrapped up my case with Chrissy and her team. The experience I had with them was amazing. From the beginning to the end of the case, I was well-informed of the case and where it stood. If I had any questions, her team was very quick to respond. Chrissy is an amazing attorney and you know that she will win this case for you. I recommend everyone who has had an accident to go to her firm.” – Carlos Tuesday

Contact Our Queens Dog Bite Law Firm Today

Insurance adjusters are building their case right now. Before evidence fades or you accept an offer that won’t cover your future, get a proven advocate in your corner.

Call Grigor Law at (718) 249-7447 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.

Frequently Asked Questions

What If the Dog Owner Has No Homeowner’s Insurance?

We investigate every available source of recovery, including the owner’s personal assets, the landlord’s liability policy, and any commercial coverage that applies based on where the attack occurred.

How Can We Identify the Owner if They Fled After the Attack?

Our team uses neighborhood canvassing, nearby surveillance footage, animal control records, and 311 bite reports to identify the owner even when they left the scene.

Does a Child’s Dog Bite Claim Work Differently in New York?

Yes, in your favor. Young children are not held to the adult standard of care, so arguments that your child provoked the dog carry very little legal weight in court.

Should We Wait to Settle Until Scarring Has Fully Healed?

Yes. Settling before a plastic surgeon has provided a final prognosis permanently forfeits compensation for future revision surgeries. Never settle a scarring claim before your medical picture is complete.

Can an Undocumented Person File a Dog Bite Claim in New York?

Yes. Immigration status does not affect your right to file a personal injury claim or recover compensation under New York law.

Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Dog Bites That Happen Off Your Property?

Yes. In most cases, a homeowner’s or renter’s policy covers the insured’s dog regardless of where the attack occurred, whether at a park, on a sidewalk, or at another person’s property.

Does the 90-Day Notice Rule Apply if the Attack Happened on City Property?

Yes. If the bite occurred on property owned by a city or government entity, including NYCHA housing, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days to preserve your right to sue.