New York dog bite law

Mixed / hybrid rule state

New York applies strict liability for medical costs only, regardless of the owner’s prior knowledge. For other damages (pain and suffering, lost wages), the one-bite / negligence rule applies.

Whether a claim succeeds usually turns on this classification plus a few facts: where the bite happened (a dog owner is generally not liable for trespassers provoking the dog on the owner's own property), whether the victim provoked the dog, and — in one-bite-rule states — whether there is evidence the owner knew the dog could be dangerous. Comparative fault rules can also reduce recovery if the victim is found partly responsible.

This is a general reference, not a determination for your specific facts — confirm how this rule applies to your claim with a licensed attorney in New York.

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