New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog BiteIf you or someone you love has sustained serious injuries from a dog attack or even just bitten by a dog, you should call a New Jersey dog bite lawyer at your earliest convenience.

It is estimated that the dog population in the United States is at approximately 6.5 million. Pet owners are held responsible for all the damages inflicted upon a person regardless of the previous tendencies of the dog in attacking humans.

Irresponsible dog owners take advantage of a dog’s innate instinct to bite by training their dogs to attack without having adequate control over them. As a result, 386,000 Americans visits a hospital emergency room to treat a dog bite each year. And unfortunately, the majority of dog bite victims are senior citizens and children under 14 years of age.

Have a New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Examine Your Dog Bite Claim

If you or someone you know was bitten by a dog, it is important that you consult with a dog bite lawyer as soon as possible. If you have experienced dog attack injuries there could be helpful information out there for you. Your lawyer will make sure that you get the proper medical treatment, find out as much as possible about the dog that bit you, get witness statements regarding your attack and the dog’s previous behavior, and identify sources of compensation for your loss. Your New Jersey dog bite lawyer will build a strong case and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.

New Jersey Law

New Jersey law holds an owner of a dog strictly liable for injuries suffered by the victim of an attack or a bite. However, the law does have certain limitations. The dog owner is responsible for the dog bite under the following conditions:

  • The bite occurred in a public place;
  • The bite occurred when the victim was lawfully on private property; and
  • The dog was not provoked.

If you have been bitten by a dog and sustained injuries, New Jersey law entitles you to damages including compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent scarring and disfigurement.

Free Consultation

If you or someone you love was injured or bitten by a dog, it is important to have a dog bite personal injury attorney with experience in similar cases review your claim. Your lawyer will use all necessary resources to put together a strong case and get you the just compensation that you deserve for the injuries that you have suffered. Call (908) 248- 4404 to arrange a free consultation with dog bite lawyer Dan Matrafajlo in Elizabeth, NJ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar to many other states in the country, New Jersey’s dog bite rule (New Jersey Statute 4:19-16) provides that if a dog bites or attacks someone, the owner will be responsible. In other words, if you have been bitten by a dog, you can sue the owner for monetary damages.

There is a “strict liability” dog bite statute in the State of New Jersey. This law specifically holds dog owners liable for any injuries caused by their dogs, even if they used reasonable care to restrain their animal or to protect or warn others.

If you suffered serious injuries from a dog bite or attack, you may have monetary recourse from the dog owner for your resulting damages, including medical bills, loss of income, scarring and possibly loss of future earning capacity. Your claim will usually be paid out of the owner’s pet insurance.

You only have two years from the date of the dog bite and/or attack to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit in court. If you fail to bring your claim within this time frame, you will be forever barred from seeking damages.

One-bite laws protect do owners when their dog attacks the first time. If the dog showed no former signs of aggression, this law might erase the owner’s liability. These situations often leave victims without compensation. However, there are exceptions to the rule. Witnesses can attest to former aggressiveness to show the owner could have prevented this first-time offense.

In a New Jersey dog bite case, there is no impact on the compensation if the person knew the dog or the dog owner. Homeowner's insurance typically covers dog bite incidents, as it is assumed that their dog could bite someone and the insurance company would pay for it.

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