Dog Bite Lawyer Brooklyn

A dog bite can cause deep puncture wounds, lacerations, nerve damage, infection, and lasting scarring, and injuries from a dog attack often require emergency treatment, follow-up surgery, or reconstructive care. Brooklyn residents encounter dogs daily in parks, apartment buildings, sidewalks, and shared courtyards, and most dog owners keep their animals under control, but when an owner fails to do so and a dog injures another person, New York law provides more than one path to recovery.

Unlike some states, New York does not have a broad statute making every dog owner strictly liable for every bite. Instead, the law distinguishes between a narrow statutory remedy that applies only after a dog has already been legally declared dangerous, and the common law rules that apply to most other dog bite situations. Understanding which framework applies to a given incident, and what it takes to prove a claim under each one, requires a careful review of the dog’s history, the circumstances of the attack, and any prior complaints or incidents involving the animal. The firm represents individuals in Brooklyn who have been bitten or otherwise injured by a dog, and works to identify what legal theory the facts support and what evidence is needed to pursue a claim for medical expenses, lost income, and other losses. If a dog has bitten or attacked you or a family member in Brooklyn, call the firm at (888) 437-7747.

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What Dog Bite Liability Means in Brooklyn

Kings County Supreme Court hears civil claims arising from dog bites and other animal-related injuries that occur throughout Brooklyn, from co-op buildings to sidewalks and public parks across the borough. Because Brooklyn is dense with apartment living, shared building entrances, and busy public spaces where dogs and pedestrians regularly cross paths, dog bite incidents can happen in hallways, elevators, courtyards, or on the street.

New York’s approach to dog bite liability is narrower than many people expect. Under N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10), an owner or lawful custodian of a dog that has already been legally adjudicated a dangerous dog under that statute can be held strictly liable, but only for medical costs resulting from an injury the dog causes, and this liability is subject to certain statutory exceptions. This provision is narrow: it applies only after a court has already found the specific dog to be dangerous in a prior proceeding, and it reaches medical costs rather than the full range of damages an injured person may have suffered.

For a victim seeking compensation for pain and suffering, lost income, scarring, or other losses beyond medical costs, or for a case where the dog has no prior dangerous-dog adjudication, New York’s common law generally governs. Under common law, an injured person can pursue a claim by showing the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s vicious propensities, or by pursuing an ordinary negligence theory based on how the owner controlled or supervised the animal. Importantly, N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(12) makes clear that the statute does not limit or take away any claim a person injured by a dog with a vicious disposition may otherwise have under common law or another statute; the statutory remedy exists in addition to, not instead of, these other legal theories. Sorting out which theory applies, and what evidence supports it, is central to building a dog bite claim in Brooklyn.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle Dog Bite Cases

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin a dog bite matter by determining whether the dog involved has any prior history, including whether it has previously been declared a dangerous dog, since that history affects which legal theories are available. When N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10) applies, the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys evaluate the strict liability remedy for medical costs while also considering whether additional common law claims may be available for other losses, consistent with N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(12).

In cases without a prior dangerous-dog adjudication, which make up most dog bite matters, Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys focus on gathering evidence of the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s vicious propensities, such as prior bites, aggressive behavior, or warnings the owner may have received, or on building a negligence case around how the dog was restrained, supervised, or allowed to roam. This process often includes obtaining animal control records, veterinary records, witness statements from neighbors or building staff, and photographs of the scene and the injuries.

The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys also coordinate medical documentation of the bite, including any surgical or scarring treatment, since these records establish both the extent of the injury and its connection to the attack. Throughout the case, the team evaluates comparative fault issues and any factual defenses the dog owner may raise, and works to present a complete picture of the incident to support the claim.

About Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys

Mr. Sris founded the firm in 1997 and serves as its Owner and Founder. Before entering private practice, he worked as a prosecutor, an experience that shapes how he and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys assess witness credibility and build a factual record in personal injury matters, including dog bite and animal attack cases. Mr. Sris holds a background from George Mason University in accounting and information systems, which he has applied to complex financial and technology-related cases. He is admitted to practice law individually in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York.

The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys bring additional experience to the practice and work alongside Mr. Sris on personal injury claims throughout Brooklyn, including matters involving animal attacks and premises-related injuries. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys evaluate each dog bite matter individually, considering the dog’s history, the circumstances of the incident, and the applicable New York statutes and common law principles. The firm does not guarantee any particular result, and outcomes depend on the facts unique to each case. Clients can expect the team to explain, in plain terms, which legal theories may apply to their situation and what evidence will be needed to support a claim, whether the matter proceeds through negotiation or litigation in Kings County Supreme Court.

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

Not automatically. New York does not have a broad law making every dog owner liable for every bite. The only dog-specific strict liability statute, N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10), applies solely to a dog that has already been legally adjudicated dangerous, and even then it covers medical costs rather than every type of loss. Most dog bite victims must instead rely on common law theories, showing that the owner knew or should have known the dog had vicious propensities, or that the owner was negligent in controlling or supervising the animal. Which theory applies depends on the dog’s history and the facts of the incident.

What is a vicious propensity claim?

A vicious propensity claim is a common law theory under which an injured person can recover damages by showing the dog’s owner knew, or should have known, that the dog had a tendency to behave in a way that could cause harm, such as prior aggressive behavior, growling, snapping, or a previous bite. This theory is not created by statute; it comes from New York common law, and N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(12) confirms that this and other common law remedies remain available alongside the narrow statutory claim for dogs already adjudicated dangerous. Evidence of the dog’s prior behavior and the owner’s awareness of it is central to this type of claim.

Can I recover for pain and suffering after a dog bite?

The statutory remedy under N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10) is limited to medical costs and applies only to dogs already adjudicated dangerous. To pursue pain and suffering, scarring, lost income, or other losses, an injured person generally needs to proceed under common law, either through a vicious propensity claim or an ordinary negligence theory. N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(12) makes clear that these common law remedies are not limited by the statute. The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys evaluate which theories the facts support when determining what damages may be pursued.

How long do I have to bring a dog bite claim in Brooklyn?

Dog bite claims based on negligence or common law liability are generally subject to the same three-year statute of limitations that applies to 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 the exact deadline can depend on the specific facts involved. Because witness memories fade and animal control or veterinary records can become harder to obtain over time, contacting the firm soon after an attack helps preserve the evidence needed to support a claim.

What evidence helps a dog bite claim?

Useful evidence often includes animal control or police reports, veterinary records showing the dog’s history, prior complaint records, witness statements, photographs of the injury and the location of the attack, and medical records documenting treatment. If the dog has previously bitten someone or been reported for aggressive behavior, records of those incidents can help establish the owner’s knowledge of its vicious propensities. The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys work to gather this evidence promptly, since records and witness recollections can become harder to obtain as time passes after the incident.

Does it matter where the dog bite happened?

Yes, the location can affect who may be liable. A bite that occurs on a dog owner’s property may involve premises liability considerations in addition to dog bite law, particularly if a landlord or building owner had reason to know a tenant’s dog posed a danger. A bite that occurs in a public space, such as a Brooklyn sidewalk or park, more often centers on the owner’s control and supervision of the animal at the time. The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys review where and how the incident occurred to determine every potential source of liability.

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