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.
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.
Dog Bite Injuries
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
Damages for a Dog Bite Injury
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
Additional Resources
- Motorcycles and Dog Attacks
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Truck and Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- What Happens If Your Dog Bites A FedEx Driver?
Contact a Cherry Hill Personal Injury Lawyer.
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.