Dog Bite Lawyers in White Plains, NY

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Keith Ahlers

White Plains Dog Bite Attorneys

Have you or a loved one been injured in a dog bite or animal attack? With over 35 years of experience with dog bite-related cases in White Plains, Westchester County and all of New York state, Curan & Ahlers is ready to fight for you. If you’re looking for experienced dog bite attorneys in White Plains, give us a call today.

We handle many different dog bite-related cases that could result in medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. 

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(914) 428-3313

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(914) 428-3313

White Plains Dog Bite & Animal Attack Attorney

Dog bites and animal attacks can cause serious injuries, permanent scarring, emotional trauma, and unexpected medical expenses. Under New York law, victims may be entitled to compensation when a dog owner’s negligence or knowledge of an animal’s dangerous behavior contributes to an attack.

At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, our experienced White Plains dog bite attorneys represent injured individuals and families throughout White Plains, Westchester County, and surrounding New York communities. With over 35 years of personal injury experience, our legal team helps victims navigate complex liability laws and pursue compensation for their injuries.

Whether you were attacked while walking through your neighborhood, visiting someone’s property, or working, our White Plains personal injury attorneys can investigate your case and explain your legal options.

Understanding New York Dog Bite Laws

Is New York a Strict Liability State for Dog Bites?

New York recognizes both strict liability and negligence claims involving dog bites. Under strict liability, an owner may be responsible for injuries if they knew or should have known that their dog had vicious propensities, including previous aggressive behavior.

Following the April 2025 Flanders v. Goodfellow ruling, victims can also pursue negligence claims when an owner’s failure to exercise reasonable care causes an animal attack. This means a dog does not necessarily need a documented history of biting for a victim to pursue compensation.

Learn more about how Flanders v. Goodfellow affects New York dog bite claims.

New York’s Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Lawsuits

Most dog bite personal injury lawsuits in New York must be filed within three years of the attack, although certain exceptions and different deadlines may apply. Acting quickly helps preserve evidence, secure witness statements, and protect your right to pursue compensation.

Common Dog Bite Injuries in White Plains, NY

Animal attacks can result in injuries requiring extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, or reconstructive surgery. Common dog bite injuries include:

  • Nerve damage and loss of sensation

  • Facial injuries, scarring, and disfigurement

  • Deep puncture wounds and severe infections

  • Broken bones and traumatic brain injuries

  • Amputations and permanent physical disabilities

  • Emotional trauma, anxiety, and psychological distress

Children and older adults may be especially vulnerable to severe injuries. Our attorneys work to document the immediate and long-term effects of an attack when pursuing compensation.

What to Do After a Dog Bite or Animal Attack

Taking immediate action after a dog attack can protect your health and strengthen your potential injury claim.

  • Seek Medical Attention: Have your injuries evaluated and treated promptly, even if they initially appear minor.

  • Document Your Injuries: Photograph wounds, damaged clothing, and the location of the attack.

  • Identify the Dog’s Owner: Obtain contact information and relevant vaccination details when possible.

  • Report the Incident: Notify local animal control or the appropriate public health authority.

  • Gather Witness Information: Preserve witness contact details, surveillance footage, and other available evidence.

  • Contact a Dog Bite Attorney: Discuss your legal rights and potential compensation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Medical records, photographs, witness statements, and previous reports of aggressive behavior can help establish liability.

Compensation for Dog Bite Victims in White Plains

Victims of dog bites and animal attacks may be eligible to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages depending on the circumstances of their case.

Potential compensation includes:

  • Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization

  • Reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation

  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity

  • Physical pain and emotional suffering

  • Permanent scarring or disfigurement

  • Future medical expenses and ongoing care

The compensation available depends on the severity of the injuries, evidence of liability, and other case-specific factors.

Experienced Animal Attack Attorneys in White Plains

At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, we investigate animal attacks to determine whether an owner knew about previous aggressive behavior or failed to take reasonable precautions.

Our attorneys review witness statements, animal control reports, prior complaints, and available records, including information related to the Westchester County Dangerous Dog Registry. This evidence may help establish an owner’s knowledge of dangerous behavior and strengthen a personal injury claim.

We also represent individuals injured by dogs while performing job duties, including delivery drivers, postal workers, and maintenance professionals. In these situations, our team can evaluate potential Workers’ Compensation claims alongside any available third-party personal injury claims.

Whether negotiating with insurance companies or pursuing litigation, we work to secure fair compensation for our clients.

Contact Our White Plains Dog Bite Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a dog bite or animal attack in White Plains or Westchester County, Curan & Ahlers, LLP is ready to help.

With over 35 years of personal injury experience, our attorneys provide dedicated legal representation and handle qualifying cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Call (914) 428-3313 today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our White Plains dog bite attorneys.

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Case Results

$1.5M

Motorcycle Accident

Motorcyclist killed when defendant vehicle made a sudden left turn in front of her

$900k

Car Accident

Pedestrian crossing street struck by tow truck requiring back surgery

$750k

Motorcycle Accident

Motorcyclist struck at intersection resulting in broken leg

$1.5M

Car Accident

Passenger in Diplomatic van seriously injured requiring neck surgery when defendant vehicle went through light

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Our Reviews

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“Amazing experience working with Keith Ahlers and his staff. After my accident, they gave me a referral to quality physical therapy and rehabilitative care close to my home. His staff provided me with timely status updates on my case and Keith worked diligently to negotiate on my behalf for a timely settlement/compensation for my injuries. I would highly recommend them as they provided a superior experience from start to finish!”

Joseph L.

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“It was so great working with this law firm Alex Aguilar was a pleasure and so was Attorney Keith Ahlers was amazing he worked beyond my expectations I would give them a 100000 stars if I could 💜”

Jasmine M.

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“Kudos to Curan & Ahlers, made our lawsuit a smooth, efficient and successful process. Josh, Keith and the staff took care of everything.
Thanks again.“

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do immediately after a dog bite in New York?

After you have been bitten by a dog in White Plains, the first thing that you should do is seek medical attention. Hopefully, once you have determined that your injuries are not life-threatening, you need to begin to gather some information.

First and foremost, you must determine who is the owner of the dog. It is crucial that you do your best to determine the owner of the dog because you may be able to obtain compensation from the owner’s homeowner’s insurance company. The vast majority of attacks take place by dogs that have an owner rather than stray dogs. For example, in 2017, 72 percent of all dog-bite fatalities in which the person who was attacked by a dog was killed was the result of an attack by a dog who had an owner.

Next, you should also determine if anyone witnessed the incident and ask for their contact information so our attorneys and support staff at Curan & Ahlers, LLP can work with private investigators to obtain sworn statements from the witnesses that can help to advance your personal injury claim. You should also inquire as to passerby, most likely the owner of the dog’s neighbors, whether there have been similar incidents in which this dog has bitten anyone.

Who is liable for a dog bite injury in New York?

In many cases, the dog owner can be held responsible for injuries caused by their pet. Under New York law, owners may be liable if the dog had known “vicious propensities”, meaning the owner was aware the dog had previously shown aggressive behavior such as biting, lunging, or attacking.

What is the “one-bite rule” in New York?

Up until April 2025, New York followed a form of the one-bite rule, where an injured person had to prove a dog had a history of aggressive behavior and the owner knew or should have known about it. However, in the case Flanders v. Goodfellow, the New York Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that injured people can now bring negligence claims against dog owners.  

What compensation can I recover after a dog bite in New York?

Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, reconstructive surgery, lost wages, pain and suffering, scarring, emotional distress, and other damages related to the injury.

How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in New York?

In most cases, dog bite injury claims fall under New York’s three-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. However, if the attack involved a government entity or special circumstances, different deadlines may apply.

Are you entitled to Workers' Compensation benefits if you are bitten by a dog in White Plains?

If you are bitten by a dog while working and you are hurt, you will be entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits. In 2018, there were approximately 6,000 members of the postal service that were bitten by dogs in the United States. As a gig-based economy begins to take shape in White Plains and more people engage in apps such as DoorDash and Uber Eats, it is more and more likely that members of the public wind up on people’s property to provide a service and wind up being bitten by their dog. It is important to realize that even you are self-employed and working for one of these apps, when you are bitten by a dog, you are still entitled to Workers’ Compensation. Our firm will work with you to file your claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve when your injuries prevent you from being able to sign in to your app and make your deliveries.

How can I pay my medical bills that resulted from a dog bite?

In White Plains, the owner of the dog that has attacked you will be strictly liable for paying your medical bills regardless of whether or not the owner was negligent in allowing his dog to bite you and regardless of the dog’s history of aggression. This means that no matter what the circumstances, if you are bitten by a dog that has an owner, your medical bills must be paid by the owner of that dog. At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, we work with our clients to ensure that their medical bills are taken care of and billed to the right insurance company or individual responsible for paying the medical bills. It often happens that medical providers will send unpaid medical bills to collection agencies which can ruin a person’s credit. We ensure that all medical bills are paid by the owner of the dog so that you do not wind up in debt with a ruined credit score.

Am I able to recover compensation, other than for medical bills and expenses, after being bitten by a dog in White Plains?

You will be able to recover compensation, other than for medical bills and expenses, after being bitten by a dog in White Plains if you meet a few criteria. First, you must prove that the owner of the dog negligently permitted his dog to bite you. A typical example of this is that you are walking down a street in Westchester County and a dog has been left off his leash in an owner’s front yard and runs into the street and attacks you. Second, you must prove that the dog has vicious propensities and the owner knows about it. At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, we can help you to prove that a particular dog has vicious propensities in several ways such as sending our investigators to speak with the owner’s neighbors and consulting the Westchester County Dangerous Dog Registry which is a registry of all dogs in Westchester county that have been classified as dangerous. The dogs on this registry have already been involved in incidents that caused their owner to go before a judge for a hearing and the judge to find that the dog considered “dangerous” pursuant to General Municipal Law 209-cc. We are also able to conduct searches to determine if there have been prior incidents regarding this dog that have resulted in personal injury claims. Third, you must prove that you have a serious injury which is defined by the law in New York State. At Curan & Ahlers, LLP, our firm is here to analyze your injuries, advise you as to whether you will meet this criteria, and argue on your behalf with the owner’s insurance company about your injuries.

What are common dog bite injuries?

There are several injuries that are common in dog bite victims. Approximately 800,000 people have to seek medical attention for dog bites every year and about 1,000 people seek emergency care for dog bites every single day in the United States. The victims will often sustain injuries such torn ligaments, puncture wounds, and scarring. Dog bites can often lead to parts of a victim’s body being disfigured and requiring reconstructive procedures. The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery found that in 2017 there were 27,752 people that had been bitten by dogs and had to undergo reconstructive surgery. Victims also can die from a dog attack, especially when there is more than one dog that is involved in the attack. In 2017, there were 39 dog-bite related fatalities in the United States. A very concerning statistic is that 38 percent of the victims who died from the dog attacks were under the age of 8 years old. An even more shocking statistic is that in 2011, 68 percent of the children killed in dog attacks in the United States were ages 1 and under. This means it is essential to watch infants and young children around dogs as they are very likely victims.

Which dogs are most likely to attack you?

Despite the fact that in 2020 pit bulls made up only 6.2 percent of the total U.S. dog population, they contributed to 72 % of the 46 dog bite-related fatalities that occurred in 2020. From 2005 to 2020, 568 people were killed in the United States by dogs and 76 % of these people were killed by either pit bulls or Rottweilers.

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