An 11-year-old is facing a long recovery both physically and emotionally after being attacked by a dog during a family vacation at a beach in Wildwood, NJ. The boy approached a man with a dog on a leash and asked if he could pet the dog when it lunged and bit him on his face causing him severe injuries including the loss of his nose.
The attack happened August 16, 2019, while the family was on their annual beach vacation after choosing Wildwood beach this year. Right after the attack and while the family was calling 911, the owner of the dog fled with the dog on a leash. Wildwood police put pictures of the dog’s owner or handler on their Facebook page and soon learned who he was
The man turned himself in and is facing charges of endangering the public and several city ordinances for having his dog on the beach. A GoFundMe page has raised almost $10,000 of its goal of $150,000 to help with the costs of surgeries, trips to the hospital and counseling for the injured child.
Children and Dog Bites
For a child, one of their worst fears is being bitten by a dog. The bite can be painful, and the wound to the child’s psyche can be devastating. Unfortunately, dog bite wounds can also be physically devastating too as many require surgery, skin grafts, long recovery and rehabilitation.
At The Pearce Law Firm, PC, we understand that your child is one of the most precious things in your life, and seeing your child go through the physical and emotional pain of a dog bite is tough to bear. Edith Pearce, one of the founders of The Pearce Law Firm, PC, is known for being a compassionate and fierce advocate for injured children. She will fight hard to get justice for your child and to make sure that he or she gets all the compensation the law allows for a serious dog bite injury.
Making a Dog Bite Injury Claim
In New Jersey, the laws are favorable to the victim of a dog bite. In many states, the victim has to prove that the owner knew that their dog was likely to be vicious and this meant that it had bitten before. This is called the “one bite rule” and it was the law in the majority of the states for a time.
Today, New Jersey, like many other states, has done away with the one bite rule in favor of a law that holds the dog owner liable for any injuries from a bite so long as:
- The dog was not provoked, and
- The victim was in a public place or invited to where the attack took place.
This is called a strict liability law meaning that the victim doesn’t need to show that the owner was negligent, but just prove that the dog bit the victim in a public or invited place without provocation.
Damages for a Dog Bite
At the Pearce Law Firm, we know that the consequences of a dog bite injury can wreak havoc on someone’s life, and we know what damages can be claimed after a dog bite. The law allows someone to “be made whole again” after any form of personal injury, but the truth is, no amount of money can put the person back together just like it never happened.
However, the next best thing is to demand that the person responsible pay for all damages allowed under the law. Getting compensation for all the damages is just as important as any phase of a dog bite injury claim.
Some of the common damages sought for a child’s dog bite injury are:
- All medical bills,
- Physical pain and suffering, past and future,
- Mental anguish, counseling both short and long term,
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Rehabilitation
- Future lost income if disabled
These are just a few of the most common, and at The Pearce Law Firm, PC, we look for any ways the attack has caused the injured victim and the family to suffer any losses allowed by the law.
Contact a Children’s Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Today
Edit Pearce is respected in the legal and even medical community as someone who is knowledgeable in the law and both sensitive and passionate to the needs of injured children. Insurance companies won’t try their tactics on her when it comes to defending the most precious and vulnerable in our society.
If you and your child has suffered an attack by a dog, call Edith today. She will meet with you in a free consultation where she can inform you of your rights as a parent and the rights your child has under the law as a dog bite victim.
Don’t delay, call The Pearce Law Firm, PC, today at (215) 557-8686 or text at 215 880 6164. You can also contact us online by clicking here.