Animal Attack Lawyer Brooklyn

Animal attacks in Brooklyn can range from dog bites in a neighbor’s yard to encounters with other animals in a park or public space, and each scenario carries its own legal considerations under New York law. When an animal’s owner or custodian fails to prevent a foreseeable attack, the injured person may have grounds to pursue a claim for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. New York’s approach to animal attack claims differs depending on the type of animal involved and, for dogs, whether the animal has previously been found dangerous.

The firm represents Brooklyn residents who have been bitten, mauled, or otherwise injured by an animal because of an owner’s or custodian’s negligence. Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys review the facts of each animal attack case, including the animal’s history, the circumstances of the incident, and the applicable legal theory, to help clients understand their options in Kings County. Because these claims often turn on what the owner knew or should have known about the animal’s behavior, gathering evidence promptly matters. If you or a family member has been injured in an animal attack in Brooklyn, call Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.

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What an Animal Attack Claim Means in Brooklyn

Kings County Supreme Court, located at 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, in the 2nd Judicial District, handles personal injury litigation arising from incidents throughout the borough, including animal attack claims. Brooklyn’s densely populated neighborhoods, public parks, and high concentration of pet ownership mean that dog bites and other animal encounters are a recurring source of personal injury claims in Kings County.

New York’s statutory framework for dog-related injuries is narrow. N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10) makes the owner or custodian of a dog that has already been legally adjudicated a “dangerous dog” strictly liable, but only for the injured person’s medical costs, and this liability is subject to certain exceptions. This statute does not apply broadly to every dog bite, only to dogs that have gone through the formal dangerous dog adjudication process before the attack at issue.

For the majority of dog bite cases, and for attacks that do not fall within this narrow statute, N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(12) makes clear that nothing in the dangerous dog statute limits or takes away any claim an injured person may have under common law or another statute, and that these remedies exist in addition to the statutory provision. In practice, this means most Brooklyn dog bite victims pursue recovery through common law theories, such as an owner’s knowledge of a dog’s vicious propensities or ordinary negligence in controlling the animal, rather than through the dangerous dog statute alone. New York does not have a general dog-bite strict-liability statute covering all injuries beyond medical costs.

Attacks involving animals other than dogs, including other domesticated animals and, in some circumstances, animals encountered on private property, are generally evaluated under common law negligence principles, since no specific New York statute addressing non-dog animal attacks applies to these situations.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle Animal Attack Cases

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin an animal attack case by reviewing the circumstances of the incident, including where and how the attack occurred, whether the animal had a documented history of aggressive behavior, and what the owner or custodian knew or should have known before the attack. For dog bite cases, the firm evaluates whether the dog had previously been adjudicated a dangerous dog under New York law, which would trigger the narrow medical-cost liability found in N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10), or whether the claim instead proceeds under common law theories preserved by N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(12), such as the owner’s prior knowledge of the animal’s vicious propensities or a failure to reasonably restrain the animal.

For attacks involving animals other than dogs, the firm evaluates the incident under general common law negligence principles, examining whether the animal’s owner or custodian, or a property owner responsible for the premises, failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent a foreseeable attack. This may include reviewing prior incident reports, local animal control records, and witness accounts of the animal’s behavior before the attack.

Because animal attack claims in New York are generally subject to the three-year statute of limitations under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5), with certain circumstances potentially tolling or otherwise affecting that period, the firm works to identify the correct defendant and legal theory early in the process. Evidence such as animal control records, medical treatment records, and photographs of the scene can become harder to obtain over time, so a prompt review of the facts is important. The firm does not guarantee a particular outcome, and results depend on the specific facts of each case.

About the Attorneys

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of the firm, founded the firm in 1997 and has practiced law since that year. Before entering private practice, Mr. Sris served as a former prosecutor, experience that shapes how he evaluates the facts of a personal injury claim. He studied at George Mason University, and his background in accounting and information systems is applied to complex financial and technology-related cases the firm handles, including matters requiring detailed analysis of damages. Mr. Sris is admitted to practice law individually in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York.

The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys, together with Mr. Sris, bring experience in personal injury and civil litigation matters to the representation of Brooklyn clients. The attorneys work collectively to review the facts of each animal attack case, determine which legal theories apply, and identify the parties who may be responsible for an injury. This process includes examining an animal’s history, applicable statutes, and relevant case law to help clients understand the options available to them. Because outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case, no result is guaranteed, and prior results do not predict the outcome of a new matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a dog owner automatically liable if their dog bites someone in Brooklyn?

Not automatically. New York does not have a general strict-liability statute covering all dog bite injuries. The only statutory strict liability applies under N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10), and only when the dog has already been legally adjudicated a “dangerous dog,” and even then, only for the victim’s medical costs, subject to certain exceptions. For most dog bite cases, N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(12) preserves common law claims, meaning recovery typically depends on showing the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s vicious propensities, or was otherwise negligent in controlling the animal.

What if I was attacked by an animal that is not a dog?

New York does not have a specific statute addressing attacks by animals other than dogs among the sources reviewed for this page. These claims generally proceed under common law negligence principles, which require showing that the animal’s owner, custodian, or a responsible property owner failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent a foreseeable attack. The specific facts, including any prior incidents involving the animal and what precautions were or were not taken beforehand, are central to evaluating this type of claim.

How long do I have to file an animal attack claim in Brooklyn?

Animal attack claims are generally subject to the three-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5), running from the date of the injury. Certain circumstances may toll or otherwise affect this period, so confirming the applicable deadline for a specific situation is important. Because evidence such as animal control records and witness accounts can become harder to obtain over time, addressing the claim promptly can help preserve important evidence for the case.

Can I recover damages if I was partly responsible for provoking the animal?

New York applies a comparative fault framework to negligence-based personal injury claims, including many animal attack cases, under N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 1411(a). This means that a claimant’s own conduct does not automatically bar recovery, but any damages awarded may be reduced in proportion to the claimant’s share of fault. Whether and to what extent this applies depends on the specific facts of the incident, including any interaction between the claimant and the animal before the attack occurred.

Does the firm offer a free consultation for animal attack cases?

Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. does not offer free consultations. Individuals injured in an animal attack in Brooklyn can request a consultation by calling (888) 437-7747 to discuss the circumstances of the incident and the legal theories that may apply. The firm’s phone intake line is staffed 24/7 to receive calls, though scheduling a consultation with an attorney depends on the firm’s calendar and availability. Reaching out promptly can help ensure that evidence is preserved and that applicable deadlines are not missed.

The same rules apply outside Brooklyn, and our page on animal attack claims across New York walks through each stage.