Why the rules here have been moving
For decades, New York handled most injuries caused by pets under a rule that asked whether the owner knew or should have known the animal had dangerous tendencies, and it largely kept ordinary negligence claims out of the picture. Farm animals that strayed off their property were already treated somewhat differently. In 2025 the state's highest court changed course and allowed negligence claims against owners of domestic animals, so a careless owner can now be answerable without proof of a known prior incident. Courts are still working out how the older rule and the newer negligence path fit together. Other states follow their own approaches, and many have dog bite statutes that impose liability more directly, so where the injury happened matters a great deal.
Evidence that fades quickly
Photographs of the injuries over the following days, the medical records, and the name of the owner or keeper are the starting points. Animal control, the local health department, or the police may have taken a report, and a bite usually leads to a rabies observation record that also helps confirm which animal was involved and who owns it. Prior complaints about the same animal, posts by the owner about its behavior, and accounts from neighbors still matter, even after the change in New York law. If the injury happened at a rental property, a stable, a dog daycare, or a farm, the person in control at the time may not be the owner, and that affects who is named. Exchanging contact and insurance information is usually enough; discussions about fault are better left to counsel.
Coverage, landlords, and a first conversation
Most animal injury claims are paid, if at all, through a homeowner's or renter's liability policy, and some policies exclude particular breeds or animals with a bite history, which affects how a case is approached. A landlord may share responsibility in some circumstances, typically where it knew about a dangerous animal and had the ability to do something about it. Horseback riding and similar activities raise questions about assumed risk and about any release you signed. When you contact us, we look at where and how the injury happened, which legal theory fits after the recent change in New York, and what coverage exists. We also check for shorter deadlines, which can apply when a municipality or public housing authority is involved.
