Hollis is a neighborhood of detached homes, front gates and backyards. Plenty of families here keep a dog, and most of those dogs never cause a problem. When one does, it usually happens in an ordinary moment: walking past a house on Hollis Avenue, cutting down a side street toward the Hollis LIRR station, or stopping at a neighbor’s front gate to say hello.
We put this field guide together for anyone in Hollis who has been bitten or wants to know what to do if it happens. Each tip is short. Read the ones you need, skip the rest, and call us if you have questions.
On the sidewalk and at the gate
Watch the gate, not just the dog
Many bites in Hollis happen on the sidewalk just outside a house or right at the front gate. A latch that doesn’t catch, or a gate left open for a delivery, is often all it takes. Give an open gate a wide berth.
Don’t reach over a fence
A dog guarding its yard may treat a hand over the fence as a threat. That goes for friendly dogs too. Teach kids to ask the owner first and to keep their hands at their sides.
Stand still if a dog comes at you
Running can make a dog chase. Keep still, turn slightly sideways, and avoid staring into its eyes. Put a bag or a jacket between you and the dog if you can.
Know the leash rule
In public, New York City expects dogs on a leash of six feet or less. The city’s guide for responsible dog owners also covers licensing and rabies vaccination for dogs four months and older, and it says a dog shouldn’t be tethered for more than three hours.
Talk with your kids about dogs
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about half of dog bite victims are children. A few simple habits help: never pet a dog without asking the owner, never bother a dog that is eating or sleeping, and back away slowly from a dog that growls. Practice it with them once or twice.
Busy avenues bring people and dogs together
On Farmers Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue, foot traffic runs close to yards and driveways. A dog that is calm at home can react badly to a crowd, a bus or a skateboard. Pass leashed dogs with some space.
Near the station, give dogs room
Mornings and evenings around the Hollis LIRR station get busy. Owners walking dogs and commuters hurrying for a train end up on the same stretch of sidewalk. Slow down, keep your hands in, and let a leashed dog pass before you squeeze by.
Right after a bite
See a doctor, even for a small wound
Bites can look minor and still cause infection or deeper damage. Get checked the same day. Keep your discharge papers and every bill.
Ask about rabies
Find out who owns the dog and whether it has had its rabies shot. If nobody can confirm it, your doctor may recommend rabies shots, and that’s something you want to know quickly.
Report it within 24 hours
New York City asks that animal bites be reported to the Health Department within 24 hours. You can do that through the NYC Health animal bite page.
Take pictures, then take more
Photograph your wounds the first day, and again as they heal. Get pictures of torn clothing, the gate, the fence and the spot on the sidewalk where it happened.
Get names
Write down the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the attack, and anyone who tells you the dog has done this before. That second group can matter a great deal.
Watch the wound for a few days
Redness that spreads, swelling, warmth, pus or a fever are reasons to go back to the doctor. Numbness or weakness in your fingers after a hand bite deserves attention too.
Keep everything in one folder
Bills, pharmacy receipts, doctors’ notes, pay stubs showing missed work and your photos. A simple folder, paper or on your phone, saves a lot of stress later.
Hold off on a recorded statement
If the owner’s insurance company calls and asks to record your account, you can say no until you’ve talked to a lawyer. Being polite and brief is fine.
Rules that shape your claim
What the owner knew matters most
New York generally asks whether the owner knew, or should have known, that the dog had “vicious propensities.” The Court of Appeals described that rule in Collier v. Zambito (2004). Prior bites, growling, lunging, jumping on people, a “Beware of Dog” sign, a dog kept chained or muzzled, or complaints can all help show it.
Dangerous dog findings
If a dog has been found dangerous, Agriculture & Markets Law § 123 makes the owner strictly liable for the medical costs its attacks cause.
The neighbor usually isn’t paying
Most dog bite claims are paid by homeowners or renters insurance. That often eases people’s minds when the owner lives down the street. Our article on who pays after a dog attack in Queens explains how that works.
Landlords and businesses can share responsibility
A landlord who knew about a dangerous dog and could have removed it may be liable. So may a business or property owner keeping a dangerous dog, including a guard dog.
Bitten at work?
If you were on the job, say delivering a package or reading a meter, you generally get workers’ compensation through your employer. The dog’s owner can still be pursued in a separate claim.
Partly at fault still counts
New York uses pure comparative fault. If you share some blame, your compensation is reduced by that share, not wiped out. Our shared fault guide has examples.
Watch the calendar
You generally have three years to sue under CPLR § 214. Kids get extra time: the deadline usually waits until they reach adulthood. If city property is involved, a notice of claim is usually due within 90 days.
What compensation can include
Medical bills, future care like scar revision, lost wages, pain and suffering, and disfigurement. Emotional harm is real too, especially for kids who become afraid to walk past a dog.
Getting help from us
Who we are
Yakov Mushiyev & Associates is a personal injury firm in Rosedale, not far from Hollis. We’ve recovered over $80 million for injured New Yorkers. We speak English, Russian and Spanish, and we’ll come to your home, meet you at the hospital or talk by video. Learn more on our dog bite practice page or our Hollis injury lawyer page.
What it costs
The first conversation is free. If you hire us, there’s no fee unless we win.
How to reach a dog bite lawyer in Hollis
Call us at 718.775.3110. If writing is easier, fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you.
Next door to Hollis
Friends or family a few blocks over? Point them to our pages for a dog bite lawyer in Queens Village, a dog bite lawyer in St. Albans or a dog bite lawyer in Cambria Heights.
Route from Hollis to our office
We’re at 1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422. The map shows how to get there from Hollis. As a Hollis dog bite lawyer team, we’re close enough to meet you in person when that suits you.
Attorney Advertising. These tips are general information for Hollis residents and are not legal advice for any particular case.