New Jersey Dog Bite Attorneys

Dog bites are one of the leading causes of injury in New Jersey and the United States. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, “Approximately 334,000 people are admitted to US emergency departments annually with dog bite-associated injuries, and another 466,000 are seen in other medical settings.” The vast majority of these incidents are preventable.

Dog owners will typically be liable for injuries if their pet bites someone in New Jersey, even if they used reasonable care to prevent the attack. Any person injured in a dog attack may be able to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. The New Jersey dog bite attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. can help you. They are dedicated to helping victims of dog bites get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Our law firm can investigate the unique facts of your case at no cost and let you know if you have a claim that can be pursued. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 529-9997.

Dog Bite Laws in New Jersey

New Jersey is one of several states that hold dog owners strictly liable if their dog bites someone. It doesn’t matter if the dog involved in the attack never showed any signs of viciousness in the past. Pursuant to New Jersey Revised Statutes 4:19-16, “The owner of any dog which shall bite a person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.” As implied by the statute, there are exceptions that would allow dog owners to not be liable for an attack. This includes instances where the person who was bitten was trespassing or physically provoking the dog prior to being attacked.

Common Injuries Associated With New Jersey Dog Bites

Dog bites can leave victims with traumatic and serious injuries. It is imperative that bite victims seek medical treatment, since many of the injuries associated with dog bites will not be immediately obvious. Many can progressively become worse over time without medical intervention. Here are just some of the common injuries that dog bite victims may sustain.

• Physical Injuries: Dog bite attacks can cause major physical injuries, including deep cuts and puncture wounds. Larger dogs with a heavy bite force can even cause amputations in certain cases.
• Psychological Injuries: Even after the physical injuries from a dog bite heal, it is common for victims to suffer long-term psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. This can manifest in recurring thoughts and nightmares of the traumatic event.
• Long-Term Effects: It is common for dogs to attack the open areas of skin on a person, such as their face. This can lead victims to suffer long-term scarring. Bites to the legs and arms can also cause major nerve damage that compromises a person’s ability to walk or return to work.

The American Kennel Club estimates that a dog’s mouth has over 600 different types of bacteria. These bacteria can cause major infections long after a person has been initially bitten. If left untreated, victims run the serious risk of developing life-threatening conditions like sepsis.

Who Can Be Held Liable For A Dog Attack?

Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous liable parties for any dog bite in New Jersey. It is important that all potentially liable parties are investigated. This can increase the amount of available insurance coverage for bite victims. What follows are just a few of the parties that could face liability for a dog bite.

• Dog Owner: As discussed previously, dog owners are held strictly liable if their pet bites someone. This includes attacks that take place at the home of the owner of the dog.
• Dog Caretaker: The person or entity who was taking care of a dog could also potentially be liable for a dog bite. For example, a dog walker could face liability if the dog bites someone on a walk.
• Property Owners: Property owners in New Jersey could also face liability for a dog bite on the basis of a premises liability claim. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition. If they knew (or should’ve known) that there was a dangerous dog on their property and failed to take action, this could form the basis of a civil claim.
• Municipal Entities: Municipal entities like police departments could be liable for a dog attack through an excessive force claim under 42 U.S. Code § 1983. Dogs are routinely used in police work. They may needlessly bite suspects or even complete strangers.

Given the legal exposure that dog owners have to liability claims in New Jersey, they should take a number of measures in order to prevent their dog from biting someone. Dog owners should properly confine their pet within their yard or home. In most public places in New Jersey, dogs must be on a leash. But far too often this does not happen.

Why You Should Hire a New Jersey Dog Bite Attorney

Victims of dog bites in New Jersey should seek legal representation as early as possible. Attorneys play a crucial role in helping to ensure that bite victims get the medical and financial support that they are entitled to. They serve a number of critical roles throughout the legal process.

• Demonstrating Liability: An attorney can provide clear and compelling legal arguments that demonstrate the owner of the dog was liable for a person’s injuries.
• Gathering Evidence: An attorney can help gather all of the relevant evidence needed to build the strongest case possible. This includes collecting witness testimonies, medical records, and police reports.
• Negotiating Claims: One of the most critical roles that dog bite attorneys play is negotiating with opposing insurance providers. Attorneys understand the tricks and tactics that insurance providers often use in order to avoid paying fair settlements.

There is no need for victims of dog bites to worry about the cost of hiring an attorney to represent them. New Jersey dog bite attorneys work entirely off of a contingency fee basis. They are only paid by the opposing insurance provider if they are able to successfully resolve your claim.

Steps to Take After a Dog Bite in New Jersey

It can be hard to know where to begin after being attacked by a dog. The first thing victims should do is preserve their own safety by going someplace the dog can’t access after the attack. After this has been accomplished, victims should take several other steps in order to protect their health and legal rights.

• Medical Care: Dog bite victims should seek immediate medical attention. The injuries associated with dog bites are not always immediately obvious. This is why it is so important that victims undergo a thorough medical evaluation. This will usually involve receiving a strong round of antibiotics to avoid potentially life-threatening infections.
• Report the Incident: Dog bite victims should report the incident to the police and animal control. These entities create an official record of what happened and document the circumstances that led up to the attack.
• Contact an Attorney: Dog bite victims should seek the guidance of an experienced New Jersey dog bite attorney as early as possible after they’ve been injured. An attorney can begin the initial process of preparing a civil claim on your behalf so that you’re able to be fairly compensated for your injuries.

It is common for insurance companies to contact dog bite victims and offer early settlements. But it is virtually never a good idea to accept any of these offers before you get a chance to speak with a lawyer. Among other things, the extent of a person’s medical injuries and financial losses are not always immediately clear. Accepting any early settlement offer will foreclose the possibility that you may be fairly compensated down the road.

Compensation Available for Dog Bite Victims

Dog bites can have a major impact on virtually all parts of a person’s life. Victims often have to contend with very serious injuries, including permanent scars and nerve damage. They may also need to take long periods of time away from work in order to recover. Any person attacked by a dog in New Jersey may be able to seek various forms of compensation.

• Economic Damages: Victims of dog bites can recover for all of the financial losses related to the attack. This covers lost wages from taking time off of work. It also includes any diminished earning capacity that they suffer as a result of their injuries.
• Non-Economic Damages: Not all of the damages associated with dog bites are tangible in terms of a monetary loss. Victims can be compensated for the pain and suffering they go through.
• Punitive Damages: In certain cases, a court may award punitive damages if the defendants conduct was particularly terrible. Punitive damages are designed to punish bad behavior or misconduct, partially in the hopes that it will prevent similar incidents down the road.

New Jersey dog bite attorneys can help maximize the compensation that victims receive by being meticulous and documenting all of the damages associated with an attack. Attorneys will use their knowledge of the law and negotiation skills to help get their clients the best outcome possible.

Why Choose Us?

Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. has a long track record of fighting on behalf of accident victims across New York and New Jersey. Our attorneys have decades of experience and have successfully recovered over $1 billion for our deserving clients. When you’re thinking about hiring a New Jersey dog bite attorney, it is critical to hire someone with a proven track record of success. That is exactly what you get when you hire our firm.

We are committed to giving each case the personalized care that it needs. Unlike many other firms, we are not interested in settling cases quickly if that does not serve the best needs of our clients. Our law firm is prepared to take every case to trial if that is what is needed to ensure that our clients will be fairly compensated for their injuries. When you hire us, you can rest assured that we will do everything in our power to get you the justice and support that you deserve.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Dog bites can have a profound impact on a person’s physical, psychological, and financial well-being. It is important that victims consider all of their legal options. They will normally be able to pursue a civil claim. But failing to take prompt action could lead to numerous adverse outcomes, both medically and legally. An attorney can play a crucial role in protecting your rights and helping to get you a positive outcome for your dog bite case.

Have you been injured in a New Jersey dog attack? You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our team of New Jersey dog bite lawyers at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. can take steps to help protect your rights. There is absolutely no cost to have us review your case. We can let you know if you have a claim that can be pursued and what all of your legal options are. The choice to hire an attorney is a very personal decision and one that we respect. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney can help with your case, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 529-9997.