Syracuse, New York: Cyclists Injured By Dogs

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Dog Bite Victims Across Syracuse. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in an Onondaga Dog Bite Accident That Was Not Your Fault, You Deserve Effective, Aggressive Representation and a New York Personal Injury Lawyer Willing to Fight for Your Rights.

Dogs have a reputation for being man’s best friend, but every animal is different in personality and temperament. Some dogs, for instance, were bred to have high prey drives, while others developed powerful jaws. If a cyclist is in the right place at the wrong time, a dog’s instinct could kick in, potentially culminating in a crash or worse.

If you, or a loved one, were injured by a dog in Syracuse, you could be entitled to significant compensation. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients throughout Upstate New York secure more than $250 million in damages, which they have used to eliminate their medical debt, seek higher-quality care, and begin rebuilding their lives. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a dog bite lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Dogs are the most popular household pet in the United States, with Americans owning more than 60 million of them. However, the prevalence of dog ownership means that problematic and poorly socialized dogs often live near people. They are taken on the same walks as other dogs and run the same trails as their canine companions. They are, for the most part, indistinguishable from their better-trained counterparts. In certain situations, this can pose an imminent danger to cyclists who would have no reason to think that the friendly-looking dog up ahead is anything but friendly.

Nobody knows exactly how often these types of attacks occur.

According to some estimates, about 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Of these, nearly a half-million are admitted to emergency rooms; another 466,000 are seen in other medical settings. The severity of victims’ injuries varies, but cyclists who are attacked while moving sometimes suffer complex injuries if they are forced into traffic or off a trail.

An aggressive dog could target anybody on a bicycle, but some groups of people tend to have a much higher risk of injury than others. Here is what you need to know about:

Dog owners cannot always predict what their pet will do, but a history of aggressive behavior precedes many attacks. Oftentimes, this behavior is a reflection of the dog’s inherent behavioral characteristics as well as its socialization. Some studies suggest that aggression can also be triggered by factors including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Fear. Dogs that feel threatened can sometimes lash out against people, whether members of their own family or passing cyclists.
2. Territoriality. All dogs have the potential to be territorial, but certain breeds, such as Rottweilers and German Shepherds, tend to be more defensive of their territory than others. Most territorial dogs will growl and bark without escalation, but others may attack with little to no warning.
3. Surprise. Dogs, like people, cannot always control their reactions when they are surprised or upset. If a dog is startled by a trail bike, it could instinctively lunge or snap at the legs.

Dogs are not typically aggressive without reason, but the reason for this aggression is rarely related to strangers and passersby.

Every state has its own dog bite laws, with New York combining the common one-bite rule with a variation of the strict liability rule. Together, these two rules determine the types of arguments and evidence that you will need to win your case, with most dog bite lawsuits required to establish either of the following:

1. The owner did not know their dog was dangerous. If a pet owner had no reason to believe that their dog could be dangerous, they are strictly liable for the victim’s medical costs. In other words, they must pay for the victim’s hospital bills, no matter how well-behaved their dog may or may not have been. This approach makes it easy for cyclists to address their medical debt, but it also bars claims for damages such as emotional pain and suffering, lost income from work, and disfigurement.
2. The owner had good reason to believe their dog was dangerous. New York has a precise definition of what constitutes a dangerous dog. In general, a dangerous dog exhibits “vicious propensities.” This is a vague term, but you may be able to prove that a dog was dangerous by obtaining evidence that it had a history of behaving violently or acting aggressively around other people, pets, or animals. If you can prove that the dog was dangerous, you may be able to obtain a wide range of economic and non-economic damages.

You may also be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against a pet owner whose negligence caused or facilitated the circumstances leading up to your attack. Notably, these types of negligence-based lawsuits were prohibited in New York until April of 2025, when the state Court of Appeals issued a decision in Flanders v. Goodfellow. Negligence-based lawsuits are held to different standards than those predicated on the one-bite rule or strict liability, but they can also provide a more comprehensive recovery.

The New York Court of Appeals’ decision in Flanders v. Goodfellow means that cyclists, along with other dog bite victims, have more opportunities to obtain compensation from negligent pet owners than ever before. However, filing and winning a personal injury lawsuit is rarely an easy process.

Fortunately, you do not have to do it alone.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping our clients assert their rights to a fair recovery. A recognized U.S. News World Report Best Law Firm and an American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Personal Injury Law Firm, we know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based case for compensation—and we have the reviews and results to prove it. Let us help you. Please send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online, or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a dog bite lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!