An experienced dog bite attorney in New Jersey like David J. Cowhey, will evaluate your case during his free consultation regarding your dog attack claim. He will assess several pieces of vital information:
- You will be asked about the nature of your injuries, e.g. the area of your body that was injured by the dog.
- You will also be asked about the location where the dog bite took place.
- The date of the incident, to determine if the statute of limitation has expired.
- The identity of the dog’s owner(s)
- Whether you sought any medical treatment immediately following the attack.
Does The Claim Satisfy The Conditions Under NJSA 4:19-16?
Mr. Cowhey will also have to make sure that your dog bite claim is viable pursuant to the terms outlined in the New Jersey Dog Bite Statute, NJSA 4:19-16.
The New Jersey Dog Bite Statute holds that if the victim of an attack by a dog was:
i. lawfully on the premises where they were bitten (meaning they cannot have been trespassing)
and
ii. they did nothing to provoke the animal in any way prior to being bitten (meaning that the victim cannot have precipitated an attack by physically abusing the dog or touching it against the warnings of its owner)
If then the victim has a viable claim for damages based on their injuries. Your case must meet these criteria in order to be eligible for recovery. Mr. Cowhey will clearly outline this for you and explain why your case is or isn’t viable under the Statute.
The Pursuit of Damages
Not every dog bite case has to be about “catastrophic” injuries, though many are. Even “smaller” claims, such as small lacerations, bite marks and puncture wounds may be good candidates for fair compensation.
If a claim is viable, Mr. Cowhey will explain in detail to his dog bite victims how their cases will be handled. When dog bite victims agree to retain Mr. Cowhey as their attorney, letters of representation are sent to the dogs’ owners. These letters officially notify the dogs’ owners that claims for injuries sustained in attacks caused by their dogs are being brought against them and that his clients, the dog bite victims, have retained Mr. Cowhey to represent their legal interests in the matter. The letters also request that the dogs’ owners contact their homeowner’s insurance carriers to report the claims.
Normally, within a month, insurance companies contact our office to confirm that claims have been set up on our clients’ behalf. At that point, Mr. Cowhey makes every effort to bring dog bite claims to a successful outcome by reaching amicable resolutions with the insurance companies.
If you have been bitten by a dog in New Jersey, and you want to find out what your rights are as the dog attack victim, and you wish to know if you have a viable claim for damages, call the South Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, David J. Cowhey, today on our 24/7 Attorney Hotline at (609) 513-0627 or contact him online. Your initial consultation and case evaluation will be free of charge.
