Dog Bites and Attacks

Dog bites and attacks can be a frightening experience that can cause lifelong physical and emotional injuries, especially when the victim is a child. If you or your child were injured by a dog, our experienced attorneys at Injury Lawyers of NJ help you obtain the recovery you deserve to help compensate you for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages caused by your injuries.

Dog bite lawyer team Sheri Breen and Natalie Zammitti Shaw apply more than 50 years of combined personal injury experience to those who have been injured throughout New Jersey by dog bites and offer clients extraordinary personal attention throughout the entire legal process.

In New Jersey a specific statute, N.J.S.A. 4:19-16, establishes strict liability of dog owners for dog bites. Essentially, under this law, the dog’s owner is liable for all damages no matter if the dog has previously bitten someone or if the owner was not previously aware of the dog’s propensity to bite. The bite can occur on public or private property, however it does not apply if you are trespassing on the property at the time of the bite.

If the dog bite law does not apply to the situation, established common law principles provide a basis for imposing liability and recovering compensation, including when the negligence of a dog owner or the another person in charge of the dog causes the injuries. In certain cases, the dog owner’s landlord can also be held liable for the dog bite. No matter which laws apply to the circumstances, our dog bite attorney team has the experience, knowledge, and skills to pursue justice and get the best possible recovery for the injured victim.

When you contact Injury Lawyers of New Jersey, our New Jersey dog bite attorneys can explain the law and how it applies to your situation.

What Should You Do After a Dog Bite?

Getting bitten by a dog is traumatic. To make sure you take the right steps to protect yourself, you should:

Seek Medical Care Immediately

Dog bites can cause serious injuries, including:

• Severe skin wounds that can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Infections
• Nerve damage
• Broken bones

Taking care of your injuries should be your first priority after a dog bite or animal attack.

Report and Document the Dog Bite

It is important after a dog bite to document the incident, so you have the evidence to pursue a claim if you wish. You will need proof of the incident and your injuries.

• Obtain the name and address of the dog’s owner
• Get information about the dog including name, breed, color and size
• Take a picture of the animal if you are able and your injuries
• Get the names and contact information from any witnesses
• Call the police and obtain a copy of the report
• Contact the health department in the town where the incident occurred
• Obtain homeowner or renter’s insurance information from the dog owner

We have over five decades of experience in fighting for those who have been attacked by a dog.

New Jersey Dog Bite Law

When an injury involves a dog bite, N.J.S.A. 4:19-16 imposes strict liability on the dog’s owner. That means the dog owner is legally responsible for the dog bite injuries regardless of whether the owner knew of prior vicious incidents or tendencies of the dog and regardless of whether the owner used reasonable care to warn or protect others. The law applies even if the victim’s skin was not broken by the bite. The victim must prove only that: 1) the person owned the dog, 2) the dog bit the victim, and 3) the victim was lawfully in a private (such as on the dog owner’s property) or public place. Compensation is based on the injuries caused by the bite, which must be documented by evidence.

In most cases, compensation for a dog bite is paid by an insurance company for the dog owner under a homeowner’s policy. Insurance companies try to minimize the compensation or deny the claim entirely. Our dog bite lawyers are masters of negotiating aggressively with insurance companies to secure the full compensation the victim deserves.

If you or your child suffer a dog bite, or other dog related injury, contacting an attorney as soon as possible after the incident is strongly recommended. Our dog bite lawyers act quickly to help document the circumstances, collect the evidence to establish liability, identify responsible insurance companies, and file a claim with the insurer.

Dog Bite Lawyer Pursuing Maximum Compensation for Victims

Determining damages (financial recovery) for a dog bite or dog attack involves calculating damages based on a wide range of losses, including both economic and non-economic losses, such as:

• Permanent disability and/or disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium (loss of marital companionship and services)
• Past, current, and future medical and treatment bills and expenses
• Current and future lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Cost of long-term rehabilitation treatment

Other injury-related expenses and losses may also be recoverable as part of damages under New Jersey law.

Calculating all the elements of compensation and documenting the losses with evidence is a complex undertaking. Our dog bite lawyer team knows how to collect and analyze evidence of all the ways in which dog-related injury impacts the victim’s well-being and quality of life. Proper determination of full compensation is one of the reasons that a victim with legal representation is likely to recover more damages than an injured person who does not seek legal counsel after an accident.

Time Limit For Filing a Dog Bite Lawsuit

For all types of dog bite and animal attack claims, a two-year statute of limitations applies in New Jersey, N.J.S.A. §2A:14-2(a). Generally, if you do not file a claim within two years of the date of the injury, you lose the ability to pursue a legal action.

In every case involving dog-related injuries, contacting an experienced dog bite lawyer as soon as possible after the incident is the best way to protect your legal interests and recover full compensation.

Injury Lawyers of NJ — Bridging the Gap From Victim to Victor For Dog Bite Victims

To build the best case for liability and compensation, our dog bite attorneys conduct an exhaustive investigation into all the circumstances and the nature and impact of the victim’s injuries, including their present and future medical condition.

We will:

1. Fully investigate the dog bite or attack, gather any available surveillance video and photos, interview witnesses, and more.
2. Consult with experts that are knowledgeable regarding medical injuries and other issues, if needed to prove your case.
3. Submit a claim with the dog owner’s or responsible person’s insurance company and, if necessary, file a lawsuit.
4. Negotiate a full and fair settlement.
5. Take your case to court if the property owner fails to negotiate a settlement in good faith.

In most dog injury cases, victory comes through a negotiated settlement, rather than in a courtroom verdict. However — unlike many dog bite attorneys who try not to take a case to trial — the dog bite lawyer team at Injury Lawyers of NJ never hesitates to try a case to verdict when court proceedings are necessary to secure the full compensation the client deserves.

The remarkable proven success of our personal injury lawyers’ negotiation and litigation skills is one of the most notable distinctions that sets us apart from other law firms. Our reputation for taking cases to trial is a significant benefit to clients — even during the negotiation stage of a claim. Insurance company representatives and adverse parties know that our dog bite lawyers will go to court for victory if they do not obtain justice for the client in the settlement negotiation process.

Our dog bite lawyers provide compassionate personal attention and support to each client, addressing every question and concern thoroughly, and communicating closely throughout the entire process.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a NJ Dog Bite Lawyer

If you or your child suffered injuries from a dog bite, dog attack, or attack by another type of animal, our experienced dog bite lawyer team offers a free initial consultation to discuss your case. We help clients throughout the State of New Jersey. Our attorneys at Injury Lawyers of NJ are also licensed in the State of New York. For families who lose a loved one in a dog or animal attack, our lawyers help with wrongful death claims.

If you retain us to represent you, we take the case on a contingent fee basis. You do not pay us any legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. We welcome you to use the online contact form to schedule a no-cost consultation to discuss your case.