A dog attack to the face is a uniquely traumatic event. It leaves victims, especially children, with deep physical wounds, permanent scarring, and profound emotional distress.
With over 60 years of combined experience and millions of dollars in settlements and judgments won in facial dog bite cases, David Cowhey and Rob Morello know how to secure maximum compensation for severe face scarring, injuries, and disfigurement. We handle the complex legal and medical documentation so you and your family can focus entirely on healing.
Schedule a Free Consultation or Call Our Offices Now at (866) 791-1251 to Speak with an Attorney About Your Dog Attack Options
Injuries in Facial Dog Attacks
Unlike the arms or legs, the human face lacks thick muscle layers for protection. When a dog lunges, its jaws easily tear through delicate skin, intricate nerve networks, and sensory organs. The physical damage is often immediate and catastrophic.
Common facial injuries sustained in a canine attack include:
- Deep tissue lacerations requiring complex suturing
- Fractures to the orbital bones, jaw, and cheekbones
- Torn cartilage around the nose and ears
- Severed facial nerves resulting in partial or full paralysis
- Puncture wounds near the eyes leading to vision impairment
Our Lawyers Fight for Reconstructive Care and Scar Revision Compensation
Emergency room treatment is rarely the end of the medical journey. Canine mouths carry dangerous bacteria, making facial wounds highly susceptible to severe infections. Even with prompt and exceptional medical care, these injuries frequently heal into permanent, disfiguring scars.
Because a child’s face heals differently than an adult’s, early scarring can severely impact the growth of underlying facial structures. Victims often require a multi-disciplinary approach spanning several years, heavily relying on:
- Plastic and reconstructive surgeons
- Maxillofacial specialists
- Neurologists
- Psychologists for trauma and PTSD
Our dog bite lawyers work directly with leading medical experts throughout New Jersey to accurately calculate the lifetime cost of your care.
We ensure your settlement demand reflects the totality of future scar revision surgeries, skin grafting, dermabrasion, laser treatments, and the heavy emotional toll of disfigurement.
New Jersey Strict Liability for Dog Bites
New Jersey operates under a “strict liability” statute. Under strict liability, a dog owner is legally responsible for your injuries, regardless of the animal’s past behavior or breed.
Even if it was the dog’s very first time showing aggression, the owner is completely liable as long as you were lawfully on the property (public or private) and did not actively provoke the animal.
Our attorneys thoroughly investigate the attack, locate the applicable insurance policies, and hold the negligent parties fully accountable.
The 5 Steps Our Team Takes to Win Facial Dog Bite Compensation
Step 1: Establish Strict Liability
New Jersey’s strict liability law allows many dog bite victims to recover without proving the owner knew the dog was dangerous. We immediately verify the legal requirements, identify every liable party, confirm you were lawfully present, and locate all applicable homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies to build a strong claim from the outset.
Step 2: Prove the Full Extent of Your Injuries
Facial injuries require far more than emergency room records. We work with plastic surgeons, maxillofacial specialists, neurologists, and mental health professionals to document permanent scarring, disfigurement, nerve damage, future surgeries, and the emotional impact, ensuring every consequence of the attack is supported by medical evidence.
Step 3: Calculate Your Lifetime Losses
A facial dog bite can require years of treatment. Our team works with medical experts to calculate future reconstructive procedures, scar revision, laser treatments, counseling, and other anticipated expenses. We build a settlement demand that reflects both your current losses and the long-term cost of recovery.
Step 4: Build a Case Insurance Companies Cannot Ignore
We prepare every claim with detailed medical records, expert opinions, photographs, and evidence of how your injuries affect your daily life. By presenting a comprehensive demand package supported by compelling documentation, we place maximum pressure on insurers to negotiate a fair settlement.
Step 5: Prepare for Trial
Insurance companies know which firms are prepared to go to court. Led by Certified Civil Trial Attorney David Cowhey, our team prepares every case as though it will be tried before a jury. That reputation for trial readiness often strengthens negotiations and helps maximize compensation for our clients.
Dog Bite Case Results in New Jersey
When choosing a legal advocate for a severe facial injury, previous results matter. David Cowhey is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court, and together with firm Partner Rob Morello, the attorneys have built a reputation for forcing New Jersey insurance companies to pay what victims truly deserve.
Our track record of six- and seven-figure dog bite settlements across the state includes:
- $1,000,000 for a 7-year-old boy bitten in the face by a relative’s dog, resulting in significant trauma and scarring.
- $700,000 for an Atlantic County Police Officer who was forced to undergo back surgery after a dog attack during a domestic call.
- $500,000 secured for an Arson Investigator who was bitten by a K9 dog while on duty.
- $450,000 awarded to an HVAC service worker after a devastating dog attack
Book a Free Consultation for Advice Backed by 40 Years Winning Facial Dog Bite Cases
After suffering facial injuries in a dog attack, you need attorneys known for their dog bite scarring and disfigurement case experience. The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer team of
Rob Morello and David Cowhey are known for winning million-dollar settlements in serious facial injury cases. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your next step.
Answering Your Facial Dog Bite Questions
How is compensation calculated for a permanent facial scar?
Insurance companies evaluate the scar’s visibility, size, and location, as well as the victim’s age. Facial scars on children or young adults typically yield higher settlements due to the longer duration of disfigurement and the intense psychological impact. We work with medical experts to estimate the lifelong costs of scar revision and its emotional toll.
Will homeowner’s insurance cover multiple reconstructive facial surgeries?
A dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy typically includes personal liability coverage, which pays for damages caused by their pet. We aggressively negotiate to ensure the settlement limit covers both immediate emergency care and all future required plastic surgeries.
What if my child’s facial bite was caused by a family member’s dog?
Many attacks happen at the homes of relatives or friends. Pursuing a child dog bite claim involving a family member’s dog means seeking compensation from their insurance provider, not draining their personal savings. This insurance is designed specifically to cover catastrophic accidents and fund the specialized reconstructive care your child needs.
Can I claim emotional distress for the disfigurement caused by the attack?
Facial injuries carry a heavy psychological burden, often leading to severe anxiety, social withdrawal, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. We fight to maximize non-economic damages to compensate for the emotional pain and the sudden, permanent change to your appearance.
