After a serious dog attack, you’ll hear from insurance adjusters long before you’re ready to think about lawyers. Most families have never hired an injury attorney and don’t know what separates a strong dog bite lawyer from a general practice that takes a few of these cases a year.
I’ve been practicing law in New Jersey since 1982, and today my practice handles dog bite cases only. Here is the checklist I’d give a family member: what to look for, how to check it, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.
Why Your Choice of Lawyer Matters in a New Jersey Dog Bite Case
New Jersey’s dog bite statute, N.J.S.A. 4:19-16, makes a dog owner strictly liable when their dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner’s property. You don’t have to prove the dog had bitten before. That sounds simple, but it doesn’t make the case easy:
- The statute covers bites. If a dog knocked you down or chased you into traffic without biting, the claim usually has to be proven under negligence or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s dangerous tendencies, which takes more evidence.
- Insurers still fight these claims. Common defenses include saying you provoked the dog, weren’t lawfully on the property, or that your scarring or emotional injuries are minor.
- The value is in the damages. Facial scarring, nerve damage, infections, plastic surgery and a child’s long-term emotional trauma all have to be documented and proven, often with expert testimony.
- Deadlines apply. Most adults have two years from the bite to file a lawsuit (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2). For children, the deadline is generally extended, but evidence and witnesses fade quickly.
An experienced dog bite lawyer knows how insurers value these cases and what evidence moves the number.
Six Things to Check Before You Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer
1. A real focus on dog bite cases
Ask how many dog bite cases the lawyer has handled and what share of their practice they make up. A firm that mainly handles car accidents may treat a dog bite like a slip-and-fall. Look for practice pages, case results and articles devoted to dog bite law, not a single paragraph on a long list of practice areas.
2. Certification as a Civil Trial Attorney
The Supreme Court of New Jersey certifies a limited number of lawyers as Civil Trial Attorneys. To earn it, a lawyer must show substantial trial experience, pass a written exam, and be reviewed by judges and other attorneys. You can confirm any lawyer’s certification on the New Jersey Courts website. It’s one of the few credentials in New Jersey that’s independently verified.
3. Results you can verify
Ask for dog bite settlements and verdicts, not general personal injury totals. Good results pages describe the injury and facts, so you can see whether the lawyer has handled cases like yours. Past results don’t predict your outcome, but they show experience.
4. Experience in front of a jury
Most dog bite cases settle. Insurers, however, track which lawyers will go to trial and which won’t, and they make better offers to the ones who will. Ask how many cases the lawyer has tried to a jury verdict.
5. Clear, written fee terms
Dog bite lawyers in New Jersey typically work on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless there’s a recovery. New Jersey Court Rule 1:21-7 limits the percentage a lawyer may charge in injury cases and requires the agreement to be in writing. Ask how case costs, such as medical records and expert fees, are handled if you win and if you don’t.
6. Direct access to the attorney
Ask who will return your calls and who will make decisions on your case. At many high-volume firms, you’ll mostly speak with case managers. You should know before you sign.
Questions to Ask in Your Free Consultation
Green Flags and Red Flags
Be cautious of any lawyer who promises a dollar amount before reviewing your medical records, asks for money up front on an injury case, or pushes you to settle before your treatment is finished. Scarring and emotional injuries often aren’t fully known for months, and a settlement is final.
How Our Firm Measures Up
We hold ourselves to the same checklist:
- Dog bites are all we do. Our practice handles dog bite cases only.
- Both of our attorneys are certified. David J. Cowhey and Rob Morello are each Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney.
- Over $50 million recovered for dog bite victims across New Jersey.
- Courtroom experience. David has tried more than 150 jury cases.
- No recovery, no fee. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
- Direct access. You work with David or Rob, not a case manager.
Recent results include a $1,000,000 settlement for a 7-year-old boy bitten in the face by a relative’s dog, $700,000 for an Atlantic County police officer who needed back surgery after a dog attack on a domestic call, and $500,000 for an arson investigator bitten by a K9. See all dog bite case results.
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
We represent dog bite victims across New Jersey, from Newark and Trenton to Toms River, Cherry Hill and Atlantic City. If your child was bitten, our guide to child dog bite claims explains what’s different.
Talk to a New Jersey dog bite lawyer today. Call 24/7 at (609) 513-0627 for a free dog bite case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a dog bite lawyer cost in New Jersey?
Most dog bite lawyers work on a contingency fee, so there’s no upfront cost and the fee is a percentage of the recovery. New Jersey Court Rule 1:21-7 limits contingency percentages in injury cases and requires a written fee agreement.
Does it matter if my lawyer is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney?
It’s one of the best objective measures available. Certification by the Supreme Court of New Jersey requires substantial trial experience, a written exam and peer and judicial review, and you can verify it on the New Jersey Courts website.
Do I need a lawyer near where the bite happened?
Not necessarily. Dog bite claims are usually handled with the owner’s insurance company, and many consultations can be done by phone or video. What matters more is the lawyer’s dog bite experience and willingness to go to court in the county where the case would be filed.
How long do I have to hire a dog bite lawyer in New Jersey?
Most adults have two years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit. Deadlines for children are generally extended. It’s best to speak with a lawyer early, while photos, medical records and witness memories are fresh.
What if the dog had never bitten anyone before?
Under N.J.S.A. 4:19-16, it usually doesn’t matter. The owner is responsible for a bite in a public place or when you were lawfully on private property, even if it was the dog’s first bite.
Who pays my settlement?
In most cases, the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy pays, not the owner personally.
