Dog Bite Lawyer Amherst, NY
Cellino Law is proud to serve Amherst and surrounding New York communities with experienced, compassionate personal injury representation. Dog bites and animal attacks can cause serious physical and psychological injuries, from deep lacerations and nerve damage to lasting anxiety and PTSD. Children are especially vulnerable. When a dog attack injures you or your child in Amherst, Cellino Law is prepared to hold the animal’s owner accountable and pursue the full compensation you deserve under New York law.
New York’s dog bite laws are specific and require careful legal analysis. Whether you were attacked by a neighbor’s dog on a walk through Amherst’s residential neighborhoods, bitten at a local park, or injured by a dog that escaped its yard, Cellino Law will evaluate your case and build the strongest possible claim.
Call Cellino Law in Amherst today to schedule your free consultation. There are no fees unless we win.
How New York Dog Bite Law Works
New York applies a mixed liability standard in dog bite cases. Under New York Agriculture and Markets Law Section 123, a dog owner is strictly liable for medical and veterinary costs when their dog injures someone, regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous. For pain and suffering and other non-economic damages, New York follows a “one bite” rule — the injured person must show that the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous or vicious propensities.
Evidence of prior vicious behavior — a history of growling, lunging, or previous bites — establishes that dangerous propensity. Cellino Law investigates each dog bite case thoroughly, including animal control records, prior incident reports, and witness accounts of the dog’s behavior, to build the most comprehensive claim possible.
Common Dog Bite Scenarios in Amherst
Dog bite cases Cellino Law handles throughout the Amherst area include:
- Attacks on pedestrians or joggers by dogs that escaped their yards along residential streets
- Bites at Ellicott Creek Park and other off-leash or recreational areas in and around Amherst
- Attacks on children by dogs owned by neighbors or family acquaintances
- Postal worker and delivery driver attacks on private property
- Incidents involving dogs that were improperly restrained or supervised
Injured in a dog attack in Amherst? Get trusted legal help from Cellino Law now.
What Compensation Is Available After a Dog Bite?
Dog bite victims in Amherst may be entitled to recover:
- Medical expenses including emergency care, surgery, wound treatment, and reconstructive procedures
- Future medical costs for ongoing treatment or scarring
- Lost wages during recovery
- Pain and suffering, including physical pain and psychological trauma
- Costs of counseling or therapy for anxiety or PTSD following the attack
- Wrongful death damages if an attack was fatal
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the dog had never bitten anyone before?
Prior biting history is not the only evidence of dangerous propensity. A dog that has a history of growling, snapping, lunging at people, or being reported to animal control may still satisfy the legal standard. Cellino Law will investigate all available records and witness accounts to establish the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s dangerous nature.
What if I was partially on the dog owner's property when the attack happened?
Being on or near the owner’s property does not automatically bar your claim. If you were lawfully present — as a guest, a neighbor, or a postal worker — you retain your right to seek compensation. The specific circumstances of where and how the attack occurred will affect your claim, and Cellino Law will evaluate all relevant facts.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in New York?
New York’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the attack. Cellino Law recommends contacting us promptly so we can preserve witness accounts and other time-sensitive evidence.
Serving Amherst and All of Erie County
Cellino Law represents dog bite victims throughout Amherst, Williamsville, Clarence, Cheektowaga, and the greater Buffalo area. Call today for a free consultation with an experienced New York personal injury attorney.
Call Cellino Law in Amherst today to schedule your free consultation. Trust. Experience. Results.
