Nobody plans for a dog bite. One minute you’re walking the trail in Cunningham Park or carrying groceries up a driveway off Springfield Boulevard, and the next you’re holding a bleeding hand and trying to think straight. In that moment, it’s easy to do things that feel sensible but end up making life harder later.
We’ve put together the mistakes we see most often, along with what to do instead. None of them make you a bad person or a careless one. They’re just very human reactions to a frightening event. If you’ve already made one or two, that’s okay. Most can be softened if you act soon.
Mistake 1: Deciding the Bite Is “Not That Bad”
Lots of people rinse the wound, put on a bandage and go on with their day. Dog bites fool you, though. A small puncture can carry bacteria deep under the skin, and infection can set in a day or two later. Nerve and tendon damage aren’t always obvious right away either.
Instead: see a doctor the same day if you can. Tell them it was a dog bite. Follow up if you notice redness spreading, swelling, warmth or fever. Your health comes first, and those medical records will matter too if you make a claim later.
Mistake 2: Letting the Owner Walk Away Without Their Name
It’s awkward to ask a stranger, or a neighbor on your tree-lined street, for their information while you’re both upset. Many people don’t. Then they can’t find the owner later, and they can’t confirm whether the dog had its rabies shots, which may mean going through a series of rabies injections.
Instead: calmly ask for the owner’s name, address and phone number, and whether the dog is vaccinated against rabies. If they won’t tell you, note what the dog looks like, where they went and anyone who saw it.
In a big park like Cunningham, people often assume a loose dog was allowed to be off leash. Off-leash time is only permitted in designated areas and hours, which you can check on the NYC Parks dog areas page. Jot down exactly where you were, so it’s clear later whether the dog should have been leashed.
Mistake 3: Skipping the Health Department Report
Many people don’t realize New York City requires dog bites to be reported within 24 hours. Others worry that reporting will get the dog in trouble.
Instead: file the report through the NYC Health animal bite page. It protects public health, helps with the rabies question, and gives you an official record with a date on it.
Mistake 4: Not Taking Enough Photos
Wounds heal. Torn clothes get thrown out. A broken gate gets fixed. Weeks later, there’s nothing left to show what happened.
Instead: photograph the bite right away, then keep taking photos every week or so as it heals. Photograph your torn clothing, the place where it happened, and any “Beware of Dog” sign, chain or fence. Your phone is one of the best tools you have.
Where to Find Us
Our office sits at 1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422, a short drive south from Hollis Hills. The map traces the way from your neighborhood to our building. If getting out is hard, we’re happy to visit you at home or in the hospital, or meet on video.
Mistake 5: Chatting Freely With the Insurance Adjuster
Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. That’s good news, because it usually means your neighbor isn’t paying personally. But the adjuster who calls you works for the insurer. A friendly chat, especially a recorded one, can be used to downplay your injuries or suggest you caused the bite.
Instead: you can politely decline a recorded statement until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. You’re allowed to. Our article on who pays after a dog attack explains how the insurance side works.
Mistake 6: Assuming You Can’t Recover Because the Dog Never Bit Before
People often hear “every dog gets one free bite” and give up. That’s not quite how New York works. The Court of Appeals, in Collier v. Zambito (2004), said the question is whether the owner knew or should have known the dog had vicious propensities. That can be shown by growling, snapping, lunging, jumping on people, a warning sign, keeping the dog chained or muzzled, or complaints, not only a prior bite.
Instead: think back. Did neighbors mention the dog? Did it bark and lunge at people along Union Turnpike? Write down anything you remember, and let a lawyer look into it. If the dog was ever officially found dangerous, Agriculture & Markets Law § 123 makes the owner strictly liable for medical costs from its attacks.
Mistake 7: Thinking Partial Blame Ends Your Claim
Maybe you reached down to pet the dog. Maybe you walked into a yard. People sometimes feel so guilty that they never ask about their rights.
Instead: know that New York uses pure comparative fault. If you were partly responsible, your compensation is reduced by your share, but you still have a claim. Our guide to shared fault gives more detail.
Mistake 8: Signing a Quick Settlement
An early offer can feel like a relief, especially with medical bills arriving. But once you sign a release, you usually can’t ask for more, even if you later need plastic surgery on a scar.
Instead: wait until you understand the full injury. A claim can include medical bills, future care such as scar revision, lost wages, pain and suffering, and disfigurement.
Mistake 9: Overlooking Other Responsible Parties
It’s natural to think only of the dog’s owner. But if the dog lived in a rental, a landlord who knew about its behavior and could have removed it may also be responsible. A business with a guard dog can be, too. And if you were bitten while working, you’ll generally have workers’ compensation through your employer and may have a separate claim against the owner.
Instead: tell your lawyer everything about where the dog lived and who controlled the property.
Mistake 10: Waiting Too Long
Time slips by during recovery. In general, you have three years to file a lawsuit under CPLR § 214. For children, the clock is generally paused until age 18. But claims involving city or public housing property usually need a notice of claim within just 90 days.
Instead: reach out early, even if you’re not sure you want to pursue anything yet. Early conversations cost you nothing.
Talk With a Dog Bite Lawyer in Hollis Hills
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates has recovered over $80 million for people hurt across New York. Your first consultation is free, and we work on contingency, so there’s no fee unless we win. Our team can talk with you in English, Russian or Spanish.
If you’d like a Hollis Hills dog bite lawyer to hear your story, we’d be glad to. Call 718.775.3110 to start that conversation, or send us a message on the contact page. You can also read about our dog bite practice or visit our Queens accident lawyer page.
If the bite happened a few blocks over, our neighboring pages may help: dog bite lawyer in Holliswood, dog bite lawyer in Jamaica Estates and dog bite lawyer in Forest Hills.
Please note: this is Attorney Advertising. The tips above are general information to help Hollis Hills families, not legal advice for your own case.