A dog bite rarely ends when the bleeding stops. The skin closes, but what happens under it over the next few weeks decides how much the injury really costs you. As a Willets Point dog bite lawyer, we want you to understand the wounds, how doctors treat them, and why each one matters when an insurer later puts a number on your claim.
Willets Point is an unusual corner of Queens. On game nights and during the tennis season, thousands of fans pour through the area around Citi Field and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. On ordinary weekdays, mechanics and workers keep the auto shops and redevelopment sites along 126th Street busy, and some of those commercial lots are watched by guard dogs. Next door, families bring their own dogs into Flushing Meadows Corona Park. That mix of visitors, workers and animals is why a bite here can happen to almost anyone.
Starting with the wound itself
Not every bite looks the same, and doctors treat them differently. Here are the injuries that come up most often.
Puncture wounds
A dog’s canine teeth push deep and leave small holes on the surface. They can look minor. The trouble is that bacteria from the dog’s mouth get carried down into the tissue, where they are hard to clean out. Many puncture wounds are left partly open instead of stitched shut so they can drain.
Lacerations and torn skin
When a dog bites and then pulls or shakes its head, the skin tears. These wounds bleed more, often need stitches, and are more likely to leave a visible scar. Bites to the face, hands and legs tend to be the worst for this.
Nerve and tendon damage
Hands and forearms are packed with small tendons and nerves. A bite there can leave numbness, weak grip or fingers that won’t bend the way they used to. Sometimes this needs a specialist and surgery, followed by months of therapy.
Fractures from the fall
Some of the worst injuries don’t come from teeth at all. A large dog that jumps on someone, or a leashed dog that lunges, can knock a person to the pavement. Broken wrists, hips and ankles from those falls count as part of the dog bite injury too.
What treatment usually involves
If you have been bitten, please get medical care the same day, even if the wound seems small. An emergency room or urgent care clinic will clean the bite, decide whether to close it, and usually prescribe antibiotics. Tell them exactly what happened. Those notes become part of your medical record.
Infection
Infection is one of the most common problems after a dog bite. Watch for redness that spreads, swelling, warmth, pus, fever or pain that gets worse instead of better. An infected bite can mean more antibiotics, a return visit, and in some cases a hospital stay or a procedure to drain the wound. Every one of those visits should be written down.
Rabies shots
If no one can confirm that the dog is vaccinated against rabies, doctors may recommend a series of rabies shots. That is more likely when the dog ran off into a crowd. The shots are unpleasant and add real cost. It helps to ask the owner about vaccination right away, if you can do so safely.
Scars and plastic surgery
Some scars fade. Others stay raised, dark or tight, especially on the face or on a child who is still growing. A plastic surgeon may suggest scar revision, sometimes more than once and sometimes years later. When a scar is likely to need future treatment, that future cost belongs in your claim, not just the bills you have already paid.
The part no one can see
Many people, and children most of all, become afraid of dogs after an attack. Nightmares, anxiety on the sidewalk, or refusing to go back to a park they used to love are all real. Counseling can help, and that emotional harm is part of what a claim can cover.
How each injury shapes the value of a claim
An animal bite claim is not valued by a chart. It is built from the evidence of what you went through. A few patterns hold true, though.
- Medical bills are the starting point: the ER visit, antibiotics, stitches, rabies shots, follow-up care and any surgery.
- Future care matters when a surgeon expects scar revision, more therapy or another operation down the road.
- Lost wages count if you missed work, including shifts lost to appointments and recovery.
- Pain and suffering covers the physical pain and the fear, sleeplessness and stress that followed.
- Disfigurement is considered separately when a bite leaves a lasting scar, especially one that other people can see.
That is why photographs are so useful. Take pictures of the wound on day one, and then keep taking them as it heals. Photograph torn clothing and the spot where it happened. A healing wound changes fast, and a series of photos tells the story better than any description.
Our dog bite attorney team uses those records to show an insurer what the injury really cost, instead of letting them look only at the first ER bill. For a fuller picture of who pays and how, read our article on who pays after a dog attack in Queens.
A few words about the law
In New York, a person bitten by a dog generally has to show that the owner knew, or should have known, the dog had “vicious propensities.” Earlier bites, growling, lunging, a “Beware of Dog” sign or keeping the dog chained can all help show that. If a dog has been officially found dangerous, Agriculture & Markets Law § 123 makes the owner strictly liable for the medical costs its attacks cause. A business that keeps a guard dog on its lot can also be responsible for that dog. Our New York dog bite law guide explains these rules in more depth.
If you were working when you were bitten, you would generally get workers’ compensation through your employer, and you may also have a separate claim against the dog’s owner. Time matters too: most people have three years to sue under CPLR § 214, but waiting makes evidence harder to find.
One more practical step: bites in New York City should be reported to the Health Department within 24 hours. You can do that through the city’s animal bite reporting page. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that millions of people are bitten in the U.S. each year and about half of them are children, so you are far from alone.
Talking with us
If you are looking for a dog bite lawyer in Willets Point, we would be glad to listen. Our firm, Yakov Mushiyev & Associates, has recovered more than $80 million for New Yorkers who were hurt. Your consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win. We speak English, Russian and Spanish, and if you are still healing, we can meet you at home, in the hospital or by video.
You can learn more on our dog bite practice page or our Willets Point injury lawyer page. When you’re ready, call 718.775.3110 or send us a short note. No pressure, just a conversation.
We also help people bitten in the neighborhoods around the park. Families nearby can visit our pages for a dog bite lawyer in Corona, a dog bite lawyer in East Elmhurst, and a dog bite lawyer in Jackson Heights.
Getting from Willets Point to our office
Our office is at 1 Cross Island Plaza, Suite 325, Rosedale, NY 11422. The map below traces the drive from Willets Point to our door, though we are just as happy to come to you.
Attorney Advertising. What you have read here is general information about dog bite injuries and is not legal advice for your situation.