What Is the Average Dog Bite Settlement in New Jersey?

Last edited: April 12, 2026.

Dog bite settlements in New Jersey vary widely. The average settlement amount typically ranges from $30,000 to $100,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute.  The compensation amount depends on a range of factors, including injury severity, dog owner negligence, and the victim’s likelihood of a full recovery. 

With medical costs increasing, NJ dog bite victims and their families must analyze their legal options carefully after an attack. Below, we highlight your dog bite compensation recovery process and answer common questions to help you secure a fair settlement. 

The Types of Settlement to Expect for Dog Bite Injuries 

What Damages Does a Dog Bite Settlement Cover Under New Jersey Law?

While your life may never be the same after a dog attack, financial compensation can help you pay for past and future medical care and maintain your standard of living. You may be able to recover the following:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering, including counseling and therapy
• Loss of enjoyment
• Wrongful death

In extreme cases, you may also be eligible for punitive damages, though punitive damages are not common in New Jersey.

Insurance companies pay dog bite damages for economic and non-economic damages. Personal injury lawyers can provide legal advice on what damages you are eligible for when you bring your dog bite claim. 

The named insured on a homeowner’s policy may not always be the owner of the dog that attacked you. But they can still be held liable for damages if that dog was harbored at their residence, and also if the dog’s true owners are resident relatives of the named insured (meaning that they lived with their dog at the insured’s home at the time of the bite). 

Who is Eligible for a Settlement Under New Jersey Law?

To secure a settlement, you must first establish that the dog owner (or another party) is financially liable for the incident.

• Strict Liability: New Jersey is a “strict liability” state (N.J.S.A. 4:19-16). You do not need to prove the owner was negligent to win a settlement; owners are financially responsible even if the dog has never bitten anyone before (no “one-bite rule”).

• Location Matters: To qualify for strict liability damages, you must have been bitten in a public place or lawfully on private property. Trespassers (such as burglars) are generally not entitled to a settlement because the property owner does not owe them the same duty of care.

• Delivery Drivers & Postal Workers: Because these workers have an “implied invitation” to enter the property for their jobs, they are lawfully on the premises and fully eligible to seek a settlement for a dog attack.

• Knock-Downs vs. Bites: If a dog knocks you down but does not bite you, you can still pursue a settlement, but strict liability does not apply. You must instead prove the owner was negligent and failed to control the dog.

Damages and Compensation for Dog Bites in New Jersey

A settlement can cover economic losses (medical expenses, lost wages) and non-economic losses (emotional distress from pain and suffering, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and loss of quality of life). You can also claim compensation for psychological trauma. Dog attacks often cause PTSD or a phobia of dogs. You will generally need a mental health professional to document your diagnoses in order to the mental health impact within the total settlement value.

Important note: New Jersey does not place a specific cap on compensatory damages in dog bite cases. Settlements are negotiated based on what is deemed fair for the specific injuries sustained.

Your settlement can be reduced or denied if you provoked the dog. If a jury or adjuster determines you were 20% at fault for the incident, your settlement is reduced by 20%. If you are found to be more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover any damages.

Compensation Recovery Timelines and The Settlement Process

• Statute of Limitations: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Failing to file within this window usually forfeits your right to sue for a settlement.

• Settlements for Minors: If the victim is a child, the two-year statute of limitations is tolled (paused) until they turn 18. Furthermore, settlement funds awarded to a minor must typically be held in a secure trust until they come of age.

• Length of the Process: A settlement typically takes anywhere from 6 to 18 months. Attorneys usually wait to settle until you have finished medical treatment and reached maximum medical improvement, so all costs are accounted for. Complex cases or disputed liability can extend this timeline.

This 6 to 18-month process typically includes the following steps:

1. Reporting: Seek care. Report attacks to the local police and Municipal Animal Control for mandatory rabies quarantine.

2. Counsel: Hire a lawyer through the NJ State Bar Association to collect medical records and evidence.

3. Claims: Submit a demand letter to the owner’s insurance provider, regulated by the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance.

4. Negotiation: Discuss compensation with adjusters. NJ Court Roster Mediators can assist if talks stall.

5. Litigation: If unsettled, file a lawsuit within the NJ Superior Court civil system.

Who Pays the Settlement After a Dog Bite in NJ?

Most dog bite settlements are not paid out-of-pocket by the dog owner, but rather through insurance companies. An attorney will negotiate with the owner’s insurance adjuster to pursue compensation for you. 

Immediate Medical Bills

Usually, your own health insurance pays your immediate medical bills as they come in. Once you receive your final settlement, your health insurer will seek reimbursement from that payout—a process known as subrogation.

Types of Insurance That Cover Settlements

The following insurance policies may be utilized to cover a dog bite claim:

• Homeowner’s, condo, or co-op insurance (Note: Some carriers exclude specific breeds like Pit Bulls or Rottweilers)

• Renter’s insurance

• Mobile homeowner’s insurance

• Landlord insurance

• Canine liability coverage or dog owner liability insurance

• Automobile insurance (if the bite occurred in or around a vehicle)

• Business or general liability insurance (if the incident happened at a commercial property)

• Umbrella or Excess policies

What if the Dog Owner is Uninsured?

If the dog owner has no applicable insurance, you may have to sue them personally. Collecting a settlement can be difficult if the owner lacks personal assets. In these scenarios, an attorney will look for other liable parties.

Call Dog Bite Lawyer David Cowhey for 40 Years of Winning NJ Dog Bite Settlements

• A leader in high-value recoveries: David has a vast portfolio of six-figure settlements for accident victims.

• A million-dollar advocate: He’s one of the few New Jersey lawyers to successfully negotiate and win $1 Million settlements for severely injured clients.

• Four Decades Negotiating Dog Bite Settlements for NJ Dog Bite Victims: From dog bites at work to tragic dog attacks on children, David Cowhey has won cases across the Garden State.

While New Jersey dog bite laws protect your right to claim compensation, the path to securing a settlement features complex liability statutes, aggressive insurance adjusters, and comparative fault defenses. To navigate this legal minefield successfully, you require an advocate who knows the system.

David Cowhey is a distinguished New Jersey personal injury attorney with extensive experience handling a wide variety of complex settlement claims across the state. He intimately understands the heavy physical and financial burdens these cases bring, as well as the deceptive tactics insurance companies consistently deploy to undervalue your injuries.

Do not sign any settlement agreement from any insurance carrier until you complete your free consultation with David Cowhey.

Call 1 (866) 791-1251 to speak with the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer for a completely free, no-risk case evaluation.

Examples of Our Law Firm Dog Bite Settlements in New Jersey

$322,500 Settlement For An Ocean County Woman 

The woman suffered a severe injury to her arm after an attack by a dog. She required corrective surgery as part of her medical treatment for the dog attack wounds.

$165,000 Settlement For A 3-Year-Old Monmouth County Boy

A child attacked by a dog suffered a bite mark to his face. 

$225,000 Settlement For A Burlington County Woman

A pit bull attacked this client while visiting a friend in Burlington County. The victim suffered facial injuries. This was a difficult case in which the defense alleged liability on the part of the victim, claiming trespassing. Mr. Cowhey was able to prove that, under New Jersey case law, his client was not a trespasser and was thus able to bring the case to a successful conclusion. 

$300,000 Policy-Limit Settlement For Two Young Children

Two children were attacked by Great Danes in Salem County. Both children sustained extensive scarring, and one will require future orthopedic treatment. 

$175,000 Settlement For An Atlantic City Man

While buying groceries at a small market in Egg Harbor Township, a dog attacked and bit a man, leaving severe scars on his ankle. The man developed secondary injuries as a result of the dog bite. The wound caused an infection, osteomyelitis, for which he had to take certain antibiotics. The antibiotics caused him to have a reaction that left him with rashes and skin discoloration. 

$250,000 Dog Bite Settlement in New Jersey For A Woman

A dog attacked and injured a woman at a gathering in Camden County. In addition to suffering broken bones and scarring on her foot, which required surgical correction, the client’s back was also injured in the ordeal.

$150,000 Settlement for Essex County Man

A man bitten by an acquaintance’s dog faced $75,000 in medical bills as he was uninsured. He required multiple treatments and shots for his wounds. 

$295,000 Settlement for A Cumberland County Child

A dog bit and attacked a 5-year-old girl, resulting in lacerations and scarring to her face. The child underwent cosmetic surgery and healed very well. David J. Cowhey set up a structured settlement for this child victim, expecting it to grow to pay out at $375,000 when the child reaches 30 years of age. 

$250,000 Settlement for Cumberland County Woman

A dog owned by relatives of the named insured on the homeowner’s insurance policy attacked a 19-year-old woman, biting off a significant portion of her chin. The young woman suffered a severe and disfiguring bite wound to her chin as a result of the attack. She had to undergo multiple plastic surgery procedures in the form of corrective skin grafts. The skin graft donors had to be taken from the young woman’s neck/collarbone, leaving her with permanent scarring in that area in addition to the scars on her chin. 

Related Topics

• Types of compensation you can get as part of a settlement
• Who pays dog bite injury settlements in NJ?
• Understanding Dog Bite Lawsuit Settlement Amounts: Part 1
• Understanding Dog Bite Lawsuit Settlement Amounts Part 2
• Navigating the cost of compensation