New York Dog Bite Settlement Calculator

Under New York's strict liability statute for dog bites, an owner is responsible for their dog's attack even on the dog's very first incident. Unlike states following the "one-bite rule," New York does not require the victim to prove the owner knew of the dog's dangerous tendencies. This straightforward standard substantially simplifies liability proof in New York dog bite cases.

The statute of limitations for this type of claim in New York is 3 years — in line with the national average of 2.7 years. This is a standard timeframe, but acting sooner preserves evidence and strengthens your position.

New York follows a pure comparative fault rule for dog bite cases, meaning there is no threshold that bars recovery. Whether you are 10% or 90% at fault, you can still recover the remaining percentage of your damages. Every dog bite claim in New York has some settlement value, making fault allocation the central negotiation point.

New York dog bite damages typically include medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, plastic surgery for scarring, antibiotics, rabies shots), lost wages, pain and suffering, and scarring or disfigurement damages. In cases involving children or facial injuries, non-economic damages can be substantial. New York courts also consider the psychological impact of a dog attack, including PTSD and cynophobia (fear of dogs), as compensable harms.