Whether you are at a family member’s house or are attacked at a dog park, a dog bite can be a frightening and traumatic experience and can also produce serious physical injuries. For the most part, dogs are friendly and do not pose a threat. However, some dogs can turn on a dime and become aggressive and start biting – even if they’ve never bitten anyone before. When a dog does cause injury, then the injured person can seek compensation for their injuries under New Jersey law.
NJ Dog Bite Law: Strict Liability
New Jersey has a strict liability law meaning that the victim doesn’t have to prove that the owner of the dog was negligent in any way. It’s enough to show that the dog bit or attacked the person and caused the injuries.
This replaces an older law called the “one bite rule” which meant that if a dog had never bitten anyone before, then the owner wasn’t on notice that the dog was aggressive, and thereby wasn’t negligent.
Lawyer for Dog Bite Injuries in NJ
At the Pearce Law Firm, P.C., we understand how painful a dog bite can be, and that it can cause serious and lasting injuries. Some of the common injuries that we’ve seen in dog bite cases are:
- Deep and severe lacerations and punctures
- Muscle and nerve damage
- Fractured and crushed bones
- Infections
- Permanent Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Rabies
- Emotional Stress
Lawsuit for Damages for a Dog Bite Injury in New Jersey
New Jersey law allows a dog bite victim to seek certain monetary damages from the owner of the dog. These damages are designed to compensate the victim for their medical bills and other financial losses including the suffering of pain and the emotional stress that comes with a dog bite. Some of the damages allowed under New Jersey law are:
- Medical bills
- Past and future lost or diminished earning
- Pain and suffering
- Any permanent disability
- Lost time from work
- Loss of quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Any permanent disfigurement
Contact an NJ Dog Bite Lawyer Near You
After any accident involving a serious injury, contact a Cherry Hill Personal Injury Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.
Contact The Pearce Law Firm, P.C. at (856) 354-5688 for a free consultation and case evaluation. We handle clients in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
NJ Dog Bite Attorneys Near You
Man’s best friend can become your worst nightmare in an instant. Nearly 60 million households in the United States are home to at least one dog, and many New Jersey residents undoubtedly encounter dogs at the park, near the ocean, or while on a leisurely stroll around their neighborhood. Any one of these dogs – even a dog you know and recognize well – is capable of biting you or a loved one.
When you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog in New Jersey, your life can be turned upside-down. You may require expensive medical treatment and ongoing therapy in order to fully recover from your injuries. You may need to miss work for days or weeks, resulting in a decrease in household income. This only adds to the mental anguish and pain you experience and the activities you are no longer able to enjoy as a result of the attack. You need an experienced New Jersey injury lawyer at your side.
Fortunately, the New Jersey dog bite attorneys of The Pearce Law Firm are here to help you and may be able to assist you in recovering monetary compensation for your dog bite injuries and related losses.
Dog Bite Statistics
Dog bite incidents happen much more frequently than you might think. According to a 2008 study, approximately 1,000 U.S. citizens require emergency treatment for dog bites and dog attacks each day. Some estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hold that over 4 million people in the U.S. suffer dog bite injuries each year. Of these, almost 900,000 incidents are serious enough to require treatment at an emergency room or hospitalization.
Did you know:
- Dog bite attacks can cause a variety of injuries such as cuts and lacerations, puncture wounds, internal bleeding, amputation and disfigurement, and can transmit illnesses like rabies?
- Although some dog breeds, such as pit bulls, are statistically more likely to bite than others, any dog breed has the potential to bite you or a loved one?
- The majority of dog bite victims are children?
It is estimated that dog bites and dog attack injuries cost approximately $10 billion in annual medical expenses.
Why Do Dogs Attack?
Some dogs do not get nearly the amount of training needed to prevent an attack. Some dogs are trained TO attack. Of course, dogs attack when provoked, and that’s usually what an insurer will say, especially after a child is bitten. However, that’s usually not true and children are rarely to blame for someone’s vicious animal attacking them.
Bully Breeds do make up a very large portion of attacks. And, their attacks often make the news as many bully breeds “hold and shake”, causing significant tissue, muscle, tendon, and even bone damage. Some attack victims even suffer certain forms of anxiety or PTSD after an attack, and other victims with minor bites may later discover infections, scarring, or nerve damage.
This all said, not all dogs are inherently bad just because they’re “pit bulls”. There are dozens of dog breeds people call “pit bulls” such as American pit bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, bullmastiffs, American bulldogs or any mix of these breeds. However, studies do show that over 50% of dog bites to children are indeed from bully breeds. Anyone who has an aggressive dog should keep a very close eye on it.
Dog attacks at NJ Playgrounds
Some dog bite attacks take place at a playground. At times, an owner may not be present. New Jersey is a strict liability dog bite state. That means that dog owners are almost always responsible for their dog’s actions. Even if the dog has never shown any aggression in the past, people who have been attacked may hold the dog’s owner liable.
Most dog bite victims know the owner
Sometimes we meet people who do not like to sue or don’t want to ruin their relationship with the dog owner. However, people have insurance for a reason and your friends probably want to see you compensated for their dog’s viciousness. If this is a concern to you and you or your child was attacked in a friend’s home or at a playground, be sure to speak to an attorney.
New Jersey Dog Bite Laws
New Jersey statutes govern the legal liability a dog owner faces after his or her dog bites another. Like most other states, the general rule in New Jersey holds a dog owner responsible for all the injuries his or her dog causes to another in a dog bite or attack. This is true even if the dog’s owner had no knowledge that the dog was prone to violence or even if the dog had never previously attacked another person.
There are exceptions to this general rule, however. A dog owner may not be responsible for injuries caused to a trespasser who is trespassing on the owner’s private property. Similarly, if another person was partly responsible for the incident – a negligent professional dog-walker, for instance – then you may need to also bring suit against that other individual in order to recover the maximum amount of compensation.
The experienced and knowledgeable South Jersey dog bite attorneys at The Pearce Law Firm are best suited to evaluate the facts of your dog bite or dog attack incident and determine what compensation – and from whom – you may be entitled to receive.
Why You Need a New Jersey Dog Bite Attorney
You may feel as if your dog bite injury case is “clear cut” and that you do not need an attorney to represent you. However, there are any number of potential problems with a dog bite case that can result in you receiving less compensation than you would otherwise get with an attorney’s assistance:
- You may not be able to identify the owner of the dog;
- You may not identify and bring suit against all parties responsible for your injuries; and/or
- You may not know how to admit certain crucial evidence and/or testimony to support your case.
The Pearce Law Firm can help you locate and preserve important evidence and persuasively present your case and claim in court. We vigorously represent our clients’ interests in court and out of court so they and their families can focus on their recovery following a dog bite attack. Contact The Pearce Law Firm at (215) 600-1433 or contact The Pearce Law Firm online to schedule a free initial consultation today.
Additional Resources About NJ Dog Bite Injuries
- Children and Dog Bites – Child Injury Lawyer Edith Pearce
- New Jersey Dog Bite Injuries While in a Home
- What are the Dog Bite Laws in New Jersey?
- South Jersey Dog Bite Attorney
- When Good Dogs Go Bad: How To Prevent Dog Bites
- Motorcycles and Dog Attacks in NJ
- What Happens If Your Dog Bites A FedEx Driver?
- NJ Dog Bite Injuries at a Dog Park
- Dog Bite Infographic
