New York Dog Bite Laws Changed in 2025: What Victims Need to Know

As temperatures continue to rise and more Long Islanders head outside, you’re bound to interact with a higher number of dogs this season. From walks through your local neighborhood to parks, beaches, community events, and even outdoor restaurants, four-legged friends are practically everywhere in Suffolk and Nassau County.

The Long Island Dog Owners Group (LI-DOG), a non-profit organization, even estimates that over 450,000 families on Long Island own a dog. But while many scientific studies show that domesticated canines are friendly and not inherently dangerous, dog bites and attacks still happen more often than you might think. United States Postal Service (USPS) workers alone accounted for 83 dog bite incidents on Long Island in 2024, per a June 2025 press release.

The resulting injuries from a dog bite can be severe too, and in the wake of an attack, victims may be left wondering whether they’re able to seek compensation under New York law.

The good news is that, historically, it was much more complicated to pursue a dog bite case in New York. But following a landmark 2025 New York Court of Appeals decision, the landscape surrounding dog bite liability has changed, and victims are now able to exercise new rights.

Common Causes of Dog Bites on Long Island 

Dog attacks have the potential to occur in various environments throughout Long Island, including neighborhoods, apartment complexes, sidewalks, public parks, beaches, and even on private property.

There are many possible contributing factors to dog bites as well, such as canines being improperly leashed, owners having inadequate fencing or failing to close their gates, and owners failing to supervise or restrain their aggressive pet.

Additionally, dog bites can be the result of defensive actions, particularly when a canine feels threatened, scared, or overwhelmed. So, it’s possible for a dog to attack in crowded public environments, for instance, because they’re overstimulated in an unfamiliar situation. Finally, on private property, dogs may become territorial.

The summertime only heightens these risks, as warmer weather typically leads to more interactions between pets and strangers. And kids are especially vulnerable due to their smaller size and the fact that children tend to get physically closer to animals.

Common Dog Bite Injuries   

Depending on the attack, dog bite injuries can range from minor to severe and life-altering. Victims may suffer deep puncture wounds and lacerations, sometimes requiring stitches, surgery, reconstructive procedures, and/or leaving permanent scarring.

However, one of the biggest risks associated with dog bites is infection. Even a seemingly insignificant bite can quickly become dangerous if bacteria enters the wound, and it’s left untreated. As a result, victims could suffer serious complications like cellulitis or sepsis.

Dog attacks can also cause nerve damage, leading to numbness, chronic pain, limited mobility, or paralysis. And in more violent attacks, particularly those involving larger canines, victims may suffer crush injuries, broken bones, or even head trauma due to falls during the incident.

It’s important to note that aside from the large physical toll, dog bites can have long-term emotional and psychological impacts, too. Some victims might experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and fear around animals that continues to impact their quality of life long after their physical wounds start healing.

Understanding New York’s Dog Bite Laws

Imagine this hypothetical scenario: you’re out for an evening walk in your neighborhood, when a dog that escaped from its owner’s yard runs up and attacks you. You’re forced to visit the hospital to address a dog bite on your leg, but beyond your medical expenses, you also want to pursue compensation for pain and suffering.

Before the spring of 2025, this wouldn’t be possible under New York law. That’s because, for years, New York State operated under a framework in which dog owners could only be held “strictly liable” for a victim’s medical expenses that resulted from a dog attack. And if a victim wanted to seek additional compensation beyond those medical expenses, including damages for pain and suffering, the victim needed to prove the dog’s owner knew or should’ve known their dog had “vicious propensities.” Owner negligence, such as failure to secure fencing, wasn’t considered a basis for liability.

This standard made dog bite claims difficult to litigate because victims were forced to provide evidence that the dog had previously displayed dangerous tendencies. Some examples included prior bite incidents, as well as growling, lunging or snapping, previous complaints about the dog, etc.

As you can probably imagine, though, finding documented evidence of such aggressive behavior is difficult in many cases. Which is why so numerous victims struggled to recover damages prior to last year.

New York’s Dog Bite Laws Recently Changed

Then, in April 2025, the New York Court of Appeals issued a significant decision in Flanders v. Goodfellow, ruling that negligence could now serve as an independent basis for liability in dog bite cases.

In other words, victims no longer need to solely rely on proving that a dog had a history of aggression to fight for compensation following an attack. Instead, New York courts may now also look at whether a dog owner failed to exercise reasonable care in a given situation, which resulted in an attack.

Some examples of owner negligence could include letting a dog roam off-leash or violating leash laws, failing to secure a gate or fencing, or improperly supervising or restraining a dog in different environments.

This latest development in New York dog bite laws has given victims more legal pathways to seek damages beyond medical expenses.

What To Do Immediately After a Dog Bite in New York

What you do right after suffering a dog bite will impact both your health and your potential claim. First, get medical attention as quickly as possible, no matter how minor your injuries may seem, to prevent infection and determine rabies risk.

Next, you should file an official complaint with animal control or the police to create documentation of the incident and keep the report number for your records. Additionally, gather the contact information of the dog owner, as well as any witnesses, and make sure to preserve all evidence that you can. This may include photographs of your injuries and the scene of the attack, any torn clothing or other belongings damaged in the attack, medical records, prescription receipts, etc.

Then, consult a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so they can investigate your attack, determine whether the dog was involved in previous complaints, and figure out the best legal pathway for your claim.

Rely on Langella & Langella Personal Injury Attorneys

Dog bite claims in New York are complex, especially as laws continue to evolve. So, don’t try to navigate the aftermath of your attack alone.

Langella & Langella Personal Injury Attorneys is committed to helping dog bite victims across Suffolk County and Nassau County protect their rights and pursue compensation that reflects both the physical and emotional impacts.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack on Long Island, let us advocate for you. Contact us today for a Free Consultation at (631) 348-9500.