You have 3 years from the date the attack occurred to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner. It’s best not to wait until the last minute to file suit, however. The sooner you consult with a lawyer and get legal proceedings moving, the better.
Report all dog bites to the Department of Health or call 311 as soon as possible after the bite occurs. New York City follows a practice whereby dogs that bite are observed at home for 10 days for signs of rabies.