Dog bite claims in Queens
A dog bite is not only a wound. Scarring is common, injuries to children are often to the face and head, and the emotional effect of an attack can last far longer than the injury itself. In a borough with the housing density of Queens, these incidents happen in hallways, stairwells, lobbies, small yards and parks, which often means more than one party has a role.
Our office is at 4740 21st Street, Suite 904, in Long Island City, and we represent people bitten or knocked down by dogs anywhere in Queens.
Two ways New York law can hold an owner responsible
For many years New York allowed a claim against a dog owner only on a theory of strict liability, which depends on what the owner knew about the animal. In Flanders v Goodfellow, 44 NY3d 57 (2025), decided April 17, 2025, the Court of Appeals changed that. The Court wrote that "to the extent we previously held that a plaintiff may not assert a common-law negligence cause of action against the owner of a domestic animal for harms caused by that animal, we now overrule that precedent."
The strict liability route remains. As the Court put it in the same decision, "an owner of a domestic animal who has actual or constructive knowledge of their animal's vicious propensities will be held strictly liable for harm caused as a result of those propensities." A claim can now be evaluated under either theory, depending on the facts.
What the owner knew still matters
Like other claims involving a dangerous condition, these cases often turn on what the responsible party knew and when. What can be established about the animal before the day of the attack is usually central: earlier complaints, earlier incidents, how the dog was confined or restrained, and what neighbors and building staff had seen or been told.
That evidence is easiest to secure early. Veterinary and animal control records, building complaint histories and witness recollection all decay, and some of it is discarded as a matter of routine.
Dangerous dogs under the Agriculture and Markets Law
New York's Agriculture and Markets Law has its own rules for a dog that has been found dangerous. Section 108(24)(a) defines a "dangerous dog" to include any dog which, without justification, attacks a person and causes physical injury or death. Under section 123(10), the owner or lawful custodian of a dangerous dog is strictly liable for medical costs resulting from injury caused by that dog to a person, subject to the exceptions in subdivisions four and eleven of that section.
More than the owner may be involved
Where the attack happened in or around a rental building, a landlord or managing agent can also have a role depending on what they knew about the animal and what control they had over the premises. That is a fact-specific question and one of the first things we look at.
What to do after a dog bite
Get medical care promptly, even for a bite that seems small, because puncture wounds can become infected. Find out who owns the dog and where it lives, and get the names of anyone who saw the attack. Photograph the injuries as they heal, the location, and any gate, fence or leash involved. Keep your medical records and bills, and write down what you remember while it is fresh, including anything the owner or neighbors said about the dog.
The evidence that matters
The useful evidence usually includes the medical records, photographs of the injury over time, any report made after the attack, veterinary and animal control records, complaints made to a landlord or building management, and statements from neighbors, building staff and witnesses about the animal's past behavior and how it was kept.
Deadlines
Most personal injury actions in New York must be started within three years under CPLR 214. If a public entity such as the City or a housing authority is involved, General Municipal Law §50-e generally requires a notice of claim within ninety days after the claim arises, and missing it can end the claim before it begins.
Where a Queens case is heard
A personal injury lawsuit venued in Queens is brought in the Supreme Court, Queens County, which sits at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica and at 25-10 Court Square in Long Island City.
Our Queens personal injury page lists every type of injury case we handle in the borough.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have a claim if the dog had never bitten anyone before?
Possibly, and it is worth asking rather than assuming. Since Flanders v Goodfellow, 44 NY3d 57 (2025), New York allows a negligence claim against the owner of a domestic animal as well as a strict liability claim. A previous bite is also not the only thing that matters for strict liability: earlier complaints, earlier incidents, and how the animal was confined or restrained can all be relevant to what the owner knew.
What changed in New York dog bite law in 2025?
In Flanders v Goodfellow, decided April 17, 2025, the Court of Appeals overruled its earlier precedent to the extent it barred a common-law negligence claim against the owner of a domestic animal. Strict liability based on the owner's knowledge of the animal's vicious propensities remains available.
Can the landlord be responsible as well as the owner?
Sometimes. Where an attack happened in or around a rental building, a landlord or managing agent may have a role depending on what they knew about the animal and what control they had over the premises. It is fact-specific.
What is a dangerous dog under New York law?
Agriculture and Markets Law §108(24)(a) defines a dangerous dog to include any dog which, without justification, attacks a person and causes physical injury or death. Under §123(10), the owner of a dangerous dog is strictly liable for the medical costs of an injury the dog causes, subject to the exceptions in that section.
How long do I have to bring a dog bite claim?
Most claims must be started within three years under CPLR 214. A notice of claim is generally required within ninety days under General Municipal Law §50-e where the City or a housing authority is involved.
Where would a Queens dog bite case be filed?
A lawsuit venued in Queens is brought in the Supreme Court, Queens County, which sits at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica and at 25-10 Court Square in Long Island City.
