Case settlements vary based on the circumstances of the attack
In this case, Certified Civil Trial Lawyer David Cowhey secured a $295,000 dog bite settlement for a Cumberland County 5-year-old with a 6cm facial scar on her cheek and nose. In the summer of 2018, the 5-year-old girl was attacked by a Rottweiler while playing at a family member’s home and suffered a 6cm laceration to her cheek. She needed cosmetic surgery and post-operative care to minimize the scarring, and she went on to make an excellent physical recovery. Facial bites like this are among the most common dog bite injuries to children’s faces, because a young child’s face is at the height of a dog’s mouth.
To document her injuries and plan for her future, New Jersey child dog bite attorney David Cowhey retained a cosmetic surgeon to perform the reconstructive procedures and evaluate her healing, and a financial expert to design the structured settlement.
Protecting a Child’s Settlement with a Structured Settlement in New Jersey Dog Attack Cases
Why Children’s Dog Bite Settlements Need Extra Protection
When a child is injured, the compensation has to last well beyond the medical bills. A child’s facial scar can change as she grows, and the emotional impact can surface years later. New Jersey also requires a court to approve a minor’s settlement before it becomes final, to make sure the amount is fair and protected. Learn more about what happens at a friendly hearing in child dog bite cases.
How a Structured Settlement Grew This Child’s Award
Instead of a single lump sum, David worked with a financial expert to set up a structured settlement that grows with interest over time. As a result, this $295,000 settlement is projected to pay out nearly $375,000 by the time the girl reaches 30. Because New Jersey’s strict liability dog bite statute holds owners responsible for bite injuries, the focus of a case like this shifts to valuing and protecting the child’s compensation.
Securing a Significant Settlement
The result was a $295,000 structured settlement, projected to pay nearly $375,000 by age 30. It funds the girl’s recovery today and gives her financial security as an adult.
Why This Case Matters to Your Dog Bite Case
- Facial scars on young children carry long-term value: a 6cm cheek scar on a 5-year-old led to a six-figure recovery because it affects her for decades.
- Expert evidence drives the result: a cosmetic surgeon documented the injury and the treatment, giving the claim a firm medical foundation.
- How the settlement is paid matters as much as the amount: a structured settlement turned $295,000 into a projected $375,000 for her future..
Do I Have a Dog Bite Case?
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts.
Injured in a Dog Attack in New Jersey?
If your child has been attacked, bitten, or scarred by a dog in New Jersey, call David J. Cowhey, the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, today. We are ready to help your child today. Call now for a free consultation.
