Dog Bite Lawyer Bronx County
A dog bite can happen on a Bronx County sidewalk, in an apartment building hallway, or at a neighbor’s home, and the resulting wound often requires stitches, reconstructive treatment, or a course of rabies prophylaxis. New York’s approach to dog-bite liability is narrower than many people expect: it is not a strict-liability state for dog bites in the way some other states are. Instead, New York layers a limited statutory remedy on top of a long-standing common law rule, and understanding how the two interact matters to evaluating a claim. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. reviews dog-bite injury claims for Bronx County residents, examining the dog’s history, the owner’s knowledge of any prior aggressive behavior, and the circumstances of the bite. If you or a family member has been bitten by a dog, you can reach the firm’s 24/7 intake line at (888) 437-7747 to request a scheduled consultation.
What a Dog Bite Claim Means in Bronx County
New York’s dog-bite framework centers on N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123, which establishes a judicial process for adjudicating a dog “dangerous.” Subdivision 10 of that statute makes the owner or lawful custodian of a dog that has been adjudicated dangerous strictly liable, but only for the medical costs resulting from an injury the dog causes; the statute does not, by its own terms, provide pain and suffering, lost income, or other non-medical damages. Subdivision 12 of the same statute expressly preserves any claim a person may otherwise have under the common law or another statute for an injury caused by a dog with a vicious disposition or propensity, and states that the statute’s provisions are in addition to those common law and statutory remedies.
In practice, this means that most compensation in a New York dog-bite case, beyond the narrow medical-cost remedy tied to a dangerous-dog adjudication, is pursued under the common law rule holding a dog’s owner liable where the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s vicious propensities, such as a prior bite, aggressive behavior, or a breed-neutral history of dangerous conduct. New York’s general comparative fault rule, N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(a), can apply to reduce recovery where the injured person’s own conduct contributed to the incident. The general limitations period for a personal injury action, including a dog-bite claim, is three years under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5). Dog-bite claims arising in Bronx County are filed and litigated in the New York State trial courts in Bronx County.
How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle These Cases
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin a dog-bite case by investigating the dog’s history, including any prior complaints, animal-control records, or evidence that the owner knew of the dog’s aggressive tendencies, since that knowledge is central to the common law theory of liability that governs most of the compensation available in these cases. The firm also determines whether the dog has previously been the subject of a dangerous-dog proceeding under N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123, which can support the narrower statutory medical-cost remedy in addition to a common law claim.
The firm works with treating physicians and, where scarring or disfigurement results, plastic or reconstructive specialists, to document the injury and its lasting effects. Because landlords, property managers, and, in some cases, dog-walking services may also bear responsibility depending on the circumstances, the firm evaluates every party whose conduct may have contributed to the bite occurring. The firm does not offer free consultations and does not guarantee any particular outcome; prospective clients may request a scheduled consultation by calling the intake line.
About the Firm and Mr. Sris
Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. was founded in 1997. Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder, is a former prosecutor admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. His background in accounting and information systems from George Mason University has been applied to complex financial and technology-related cases. The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with the firm and are referred to collectively as Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys; no individual Of Counsel attorney is named on this page. The firm’s principal office is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and the firm does not maintain a physical office in Bronx County. Matters involving Bronx County residents are handled through the firm’s intake and case-management process, and appointments can be scheduled by calling (888) 437-7747. The intake line is staffed 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York a strict liability state for dog bites?
No, not in the general sense. N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10) creates strict liability only for medical costs, and only where a dog has already been judicially adjudicated a “dangerous dog.” Most dog-bite compensation is instead pursued under the common law, which requires showing the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s dangerous propensities.
What does “vicious propensity” mean in a New York dog-bite case?
It generally refers to evidence that the owner knew, or reasonably should have known, that the dog had aggressive or dangerous tendencies, such as a prior bite or documented aggressive behavior, even toward people or other animals.
Can I recover for pain and suffering, not just medical bills?
The statutory medical-cost remedy under N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10) does not itself provide pain and suffering damages. Subdivision 12 preserves your common law claim, which can include a broader range of damages depending on the facts and the owner’s demonstrated knowledge of the dog’s propensities.
How long do I have to bring a dog-bite claim in Bronx County?
The general limitations period for a personal injury claim is three years under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5).
What if the dog bit me on someone else’s property?
Depending on the facts, a landlord or property owner may also bear responsibility if they knew of the dog’s presence and dangerous tendencies and failed to take reasonable action, in addition to any claim against the dog’s owner.
Related Pages
This page provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.
Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
If you want to see how a Bronx claim fits into the wider process, our page on dog bite lawyer New York covers it from start to finish.