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Home / Blog / Blog / My Child Was Bitten By a Dog What Do I Do?

March 16, 2022 - Blog, Dogs and Children

My Child Was Bitten By a Dog What Do I Do?

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  • My Child Was Bitten By a Dog – What Do I Do Next?”
  • The Steps to Protect Your Child After a Dog Attack In Detail:
    • Seek Immediate Medical Attention
    • 2. Exchange Information & Evidence
    • 3. Report the Incident to Local Authorities
    • 4. Cooperate with the 10-Day Quarantine
    • 5. Know Your Legal Rights Under New Jersey’s Strict Liability Statute

My Child Was Bitten By a Dog – What Do I Do Next?”

 

Step Why This is Crucial for a Child
1. Seek Medical Attention Infection Prevention: Children’s immune systems are still developing. Dog mouths contain bacteria (like Pasteurella) that can cause rapid, severe infections in deep puncture wounds common in small limbs.

Scarring Mitigation: Immediate professional cleaning and suturing (if needed) minimizes long-term scarring, which can be emotionally difficult for a child as they grow.

2. Exchange Information Avoid Unnecessary Treatment: Knowing the owner allows you to verify vaccination history. Without this information, doctors may be forced to administer a series of painful Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) shots to the child as a precaution.
3. Report to Authorities Public Record & Safety: Reporting establishes a paper trail. If the dog has a history of aggression, this report helps Animal Control take measures to prevent the dog from biting your child (or other children in the neighborhood) again.
4. Cooperate with Quarantine Rabies Verification: The 10-day observation period is the gold standard for ruling out rabies. Confirming the dog is healthy after 10 days provides 100% medical certainty that the child is safe from the virus.
5. Know Legal Rights Future Medical Needs: Children may require future medical care such as scar revision surgery or therapy for cynophobia (fear of dogs). NJ’s Strict Liability laws ensure the owner’s insurance covers these long-term costs, protecting the family’s finances.

The Steps to Protect Your Child After a Dog Attack In Detail:

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Even if the injury looks minor, dog bites carry a high risk of infection.

  • First Aid: Wash the wound gently with soap and warm water immediately. Apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop any bleeding.
  • See a Doctor: Visit a doctor or urgent care as soon as possible. In New Jersey, physicians are legally required to report dog bites to the local health department (usually within 12 hours), which initiates the necessary safety protocols.
  • Rabies Assessment: Medical professionals will determine if a rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is necessary based on the dog’s vaccination status.

2. Exchange Information & Evidence

Treat this like a car accident. You need to identify the dog and the owner to ensure your child’s safety regarding rabies and for potential medical coverage.

  • Get Particulars: Obtain the owner’s name, address, and phone number.
  • Vaccination Proof: Ask specifically for the rabies vaccination certificate. Do not just take their word for it; ask to see the tag or the paper record.
  • Document the Scene: Take photos of the wound, the location where it happened, and the dog (if safe to do so).

3. Report the Incident to Local Authorities

In New Jersey, reporting a dog bite is a crucial legal and public health step.

  • Who to Call: Contact the local Health Department, Animal Control, or the local Police Department (non-emergency line if not critical).
  • Why it Matters: Reporting creates an official record. This triggers the local Health Officer to issue a quarantine order (see Step 4), which is the only way to officially verify if the dog is healthy and if your child is safe from rabies without undergoing painful shots.

4. Cooperate with the 10-Day Quarantine

New Jersey law requires that any dog that bites a person be quarantined for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status.

  • What to Expect: In most cases, the dog is allowed to complete this quarantine at the owner’s home. It does not necessarily mean the dog is taken away or put down.
  • The Process: An Animal Control Officer (ACO) will visit the dog at the beginning and end of the 10 days to ensure it is not showing signs of rabies. If the dog remains healthy for 10 days, there is no risk of rabies transmission to your child.

5. Know Your Legal Rights Under New Jersey’s Strict Liability Statute

New Jersey is a “Strict Liability” state for dog bites (N.J.S.A. 4:19-16).

  • What this Means: The dog owner is liable for your child’s injuries even if the dog has never bitten anyone before and even if the owner took reasonable precautions. There is no “one free bite” rule in NJ.
  • Next Steps: Keep records of all medical bills, co-pays, and lost work time for parents. You may want to consult a New Jersey dog bite attorney to ensure the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance covers these medical costs.

With over 40 years of experience and a track record as the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer with the most six-figure settlements, David Cowhey is your first call after your child is bitten by a dog. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1 (609) 513-0627. You don’t pay unless your child receives a dog bite settlement.

I’ve been bitten by a dog

Talk to The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, New Jersey's most experienced and successful dog bite attorney.

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# (609) 513-0627

Dave was awesome helping me through the nightmare world of insurance claims after my daughter was attacked by a neighbors dog. Dave is very friendly, always available and extremally knowledgeable and connected to this process. I highly recommend you call him about your case,

John L.

David Cowhey, Esq. did a great job for my daughter, who had been bit by a dog and left with a scar on her leg. He is an extremely competent and responsive attorney. The whole process was very easy and he negotiated a great settlement! We are very happy. Highly recommend his professional services!!

J S

My experience with David Cowhey was amazing, he is a very knowledgeable and helpful lawyer. I got bit by a dog and it left a very noticeable scar on my leg and David was great to have on my side. He’s very easy to work with, would definitely recommend if you’re going through the same thing!

Michaela S.

Dave is so professional. My daughter was 6 when she was attacked by a friend of the family dog. I contacted Dave’s office and spoke with his secretary. She was so friendly and asked questions that made me feel comfortable. I was amazed by how fast the service was and everything was easy to understand. Dave made sure my daughter was compensated for her injuries and along with pain & suffering. There couldn’t be a more perfect choice but that’s because God helped me choose this great lawyer! He did an excellent job!!! She is 7 now and We are now able to move on better because of the help of Dave. Pick this lawyer!! I PROMISE YOU WONT REGRET ANYTHING AT ALL‼️ Thank you Dave!

Nieja M,

My entire experience with Dave and his team was 5 stars. They specialize in one thing, and this experience taught me why you want an attorney who specializes. Dave's knowledge, experience, and confidence is what made things go smoothly and quickly. Professional and quick responses always. If someone was bitten by a dog I recommend this guy, he will get you what you deserve.

Morgan K.

My wife got bit by a dog last spring; she immediately received medical care and we made a police report- all within 2 hours. Shortly thereafter, we decided to choose Attorney David to represent her. He walked us through the process. It is much more comfortable knowing that his practice only involves dog bites. He knows his stuff! We have just received notice that a fair settlement has been reached. If you have been bitten by a dog, my wife and I would highly recommend David Cowhey for an attorney. Thank you to David and his professional staff!

David D.

My 8 year old son was bitten by a neighborhood dog, leaving permanent scars on his abdomen. I immediately contacted David Cowhey. He explained the process very clearly and made it very easy for us to come to a fair settlement for my son. He was a perfect advocate for us, and he is very compassionate for the victim. We are very pleased with the hard work David has done for our son.

Stephanie D.

Lawyer Dave Cowhey (& his office) helped my wife, son and me immensely over the past 15 months. He is tremendously professional, responsive and proactive, as well as being, a great attorney. Thanks to Dave, we are now able to put our 'incident' behind us. I highly recommend his services - he will work hard and long for you to get you the settlement you deserve.

Seth K G

My experience with Dave and his law firm was wonderful. While I was nervous to start the process of something that I knew nothing about, he was extremely helpful and explained everything clearly and concisely. He answered all of my questions - day or night, weekday or weekend, and made sure I was comfortable at each step. I would highly recommend Dave and his firm!

Ariella L.

I absolutely loved my entire time of working with with Dave. He always kept my best interest in mind and made sure that I was taking care of. He was amazing at communicating all steps in the process with me, and never hesitated to answer any of my questions. Would highly recommend!

Amanda G.

Dave was extremely responsive and guided me thru the process with compassion. His specialization in dog bites really helped facilitate the process. He knows all the insurance issues and, despite the backlog of cases due to Covid, was able to settle my claim for more than we anticipated as well as earlier. I would definitely recommend Dave as I felt comfortable that I was getting the best advice every step of the way!

Kristen J.

Dave did extremely well by me and my family. He was nothing short of professional and assisted us through the entire process. I called him the day of the dog bite, and I followed his instructions to the "T". Him, and his staff, were knowledgeable on every step of the process. From medical advise, to advise on setting up our structured settlement for our child. If you need help right away, don't wait.... call him asap!!!

William W.

Dave was amazing, he handled my case with care , answered every question , email and helped me to understand the steps we needed to take. I had never dealt with a lawsuit before so of course I was nervous and thought I was going to get ripped off but nope. He was very professional and attentive. Hope I never need him again but should I ever need a lawyer for a dog bite i'm calling him first!

Neyia W.

Dave Cowhey was amazing during our case which was very personal in the sense that involved family members. He was candid and professional and always gave us his honest opinion to all our questions and concerns. He's a family man and understands how upsetting the situations are at hand. I wish he was a lawyer for everything honestly, he was fantastic! Highly recommended Dave and his team.

Courtney R.

My one year old dog and I were viciously attacked by a pit bull. I didn’t want to file a law suit initially until I realized the severity of the injuries both mentally and physically. Most lawyers are all about the money not for the justice and compassion of the victim. I am blessed to have found David. He was our hero who understood our situation was efficient knowledgeable and above all sincerely compassionate

Karol M.

Dave was hands on and always available. Steered me through the entire process and helped cover my medical costs and compensation for my scar and injury. Went over and Beyond and made me feel at ease and confident in a positive outcome. Would recommend to all.

COACH B

Honest, fast, responsive and professional. Great experience working with Mr. Cowhey and I highly recommend to handle any dog bite case.

Lilian P.

We contacted Dave when our 5 year old son was attacked by our neighbor's dog, resulting in deep wounds (and now scars) on his face and arm. Dave was extremely knowledgeable/helpful from the start, explaining how everything would work, and he was always available via phone/text if we had questions come up throughout the process. He always gave us all of the options/routes we could take and let us decide what was the best move for our family. He advocated for the best outcome for our son and always kept us in the loop. We were able to settle in a friendly hearing with the homeowner-insurance company, which was simple and straightforward, thanks to all of Dave's hard work behind-the-scenes. We definitely could not have navigated this process ourselves and we are very thankful for the help of Dave and his team!

Elisa H.

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I’ve been bitten by a dog

Talk to The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, New Jersey's most experienced and successful dog bite attorney.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

or call us at

1 (609) 513-0627
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