If you’re reading this, a dog probably hurt you or someone you love in Murray Hill, and you have more questions than answers right now. That’s normal. Below are the questions people ask us most often after a bite, answered as plainly as we can. Read the ones that matter to you and skip the rest.
Your Questions After a Murray Hill Dog Bite
Where do bites tend to happen around here?
Almost anywhere people and dogs share space. Murray Hill mixes busy commercial blocks with quieter residential streets, so you’ll hear about bites on the sidewalk along the 149th and 150th Street shopping blocks as often as at a neighbor’s front steps. Some happen near the Murray Hill LIRR station at rush hour, some on Northern Boulevard, and some on the residential streets near Kissena Park where people walk their dogs in the evening. Where it happened matters, because it can change who is responsible and which rules apply.
What should you do in the first day?
Take care of your body first. Get to a doctor or an emergency room, even if the wound looks minor, because puncture wounds can hide deep damage and infections set in quickly. Then, while it’s fresh:
- Get the owner’s name and address and ask whether the dog’s rabies vaccination is up to date.
- Photograph your wounds, any torn clothing, and the exact spot where it happened.
- Write down names and numbers of anyone who saw it, including shop workers on the block.
- Report the bite to NYC Health within 24 hours using the city’s animal bite report page.
Keep taking photos as you heal. Those later pictures often tell the story of the injury better than the first ones.
Is the owner automatically responsible?
Not automatically, and it helps to know that going in. In New York, you generally need to show that the owner knew, or should have known, that the dog had “vicious propensities.” The Court of Appeals laid out this rule in Collier v. Zambito (2004).
The good news is that proof can take many forms. Maybe the dog bit someone before. Maybe it regularly growls, snaps or lunges at people passing by. Maybe it jumps on strangers, or the owner keeps it chained or muzzled, or has a “Beware of Dog” sign on the gate. Complaints from neighbors count too. You may already know some of this history without realizing it matters.
There’s also a separate rule for dogs officially found to be “dangerous.” Under Agriculture & Markets Law § 123, the owner of such a dog is strictly liable for the medical costs its attacks cause.
What if you were bitten in a store or apartment building?
Then the owner may not be the only one on the hook. A business or building owner can be responsible for a dangerous dog kept on its property, including a guard dog. A landlord can be liable if it knew about the dog’s vicious propensities and had the power to have the dog removed. These are premises questions, and our page on premises liability explains the broader idea.
You don’t want to sue your neighbor. Do you have to?
This is the question we hear most, and it’s a kind one. Here’s what usually eases the worry: in most cases, the money comes from the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance, not from your neighbor’s savings. A claim is usually a conversation with an insurance company.
When the adjuster calls, you don’t have to give a recorded statement. You’re allowed to say you’d like to speak with a lawyer first. Also know that no-fault car insurance does not cover dog bites, so that isn’t a path here.
What if part of it was your fault?
Maybe you reached down to pet the dog, or you stepped between two dogs. That doesn’t end your case. New York follows pure comparative fault, which means any compensation is reduced by your share of the blame but not taken away. If you want the details, our guide to comparative negligence in New York walks through it.
What can you be compensated for?
More than the ER bill. A dog bite injury claim can include:
- Medical bills, now and in the future, including scar revision
- Rabies shots, if the dog’s vaccination couldn’t be confirmed
- Wages you lost while recovering
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement from scarring
Injuries vary a lot. Some people have lacerations and punctures that heal well. Others face nerve or tendon damage, infections, or fractures from being knocked to the pavement. And the emotional side is real, especially for children, who may become afraid to walk past any dog at all.
How long do you have?
Generally three years to file a lawsuit under CPLR § 214. For a child, that time is generally paused until age 18. If the bite involves city property or public housing, you’ll usually need to file a notice of claim within 90 days, which is a much shorter window. Please don’t wait to find out which applies to you.
One more situation to mention here. If you were bitten on the job, delivering packages or doing repairs, workers’ compensation through your employer generally covers you. On top of that, the dog’s owner may owe you on a claim of your own. The two can exist side by side.
Do you handle bites outside Murray Hill?
Yes. You may live in Murray Hill but have been bitten a short walk away. We have pages for neighboring areas too: a dog bite lawyer in Flushing, one for Auburndale dog bite cases, and another as your dog bite lawyer in Kew Gardens Hills. Our Queens injury page covers the rest of the borough.
What is the first conversation with a dog bite lawyer in Murray Hill actually like?
Less formal than you might expect. You tell us what happened, where, and what the dog was like. We ask about your injuries, your treatment so far, and whether you know anything about the dog’s past behavior. You don’t need to have paperwork organized or know the owner’s insurance company. That part is our job.
By the end of the call, you should understand whether you likely have a claim, what evidence is still worth collecting, and what the next few weeks could look like. If it turns out we aren’t the right fit, we’ll say so plainly.
How do you work with us, and what does it cost?
You pay nothing up front. The consultation is free, and there’s no fee unless we win. We can meet you at home, in the hospital, or over video, in English, Russian or Spanish. Yakov Mushiyev & Associates has recovered over $80 million for injured New Yorkers, and our dog bite practice handles these claims from the first phone call to the final check.
If you’d like a Murray Hill dog bite lawyer to look at what happened, you can simply call 718.775.3110 and tell us in your own words. Prefer writing it down? Use our online contact page and we’ll get back to you.
Coming to Our Office
You’re welcome to visit us at 1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422. The map shows the route from Murray Hill to our door, so you can see roughly how long the trip takes before you head out.
Attorney Advertising. What you’ve read here is general information meant to help you understand your options, not legal advice about your specific bite.