Understanding New Jersey’s Strict Liability Law for Dog Bites

Regardless of how you feel about dogs, getting bitten by someone else’s pet is a terrifying and exceptionally dangerous event that is more common than you may realize. If a dog bite leaves you injured in New Jersey, the most important point to keep in mind is that the state employs a strict liability law, which ensures that dog owners are liable for – or are held responsible for – any dangerous behaviors their pets engage in.  While dog bite claims are complex, obtaining the fair compensation you need to regain your health and well-being is paramount. This makes it to your advantage to have an experienced New Jersey dog bite liability lawyer in your corner from the outset. 

What Happens After My Attack?

If you’ve suffered a bite from someone else’s dog, there are several important steps you should take to help protect both your health and your dog bite claim, including:

• If more than one dog is around, identify the one that bit you and its owner and inquire whether or not the dog is up to date with its rabies vaccinations. 
• Seek the medical attention that you need. Infections are common, and if it’s been a while since you’ve had a tetanus shot, it may be time for a booster. 
• Report the dog bite to the local animal control office, which may instruct you to also inform the police. 
• Carefully follow your doctor’s orders and instructions. 
• Seek the professional legal guidance of a trusted dog bite liability lawyer to help ensure that your rights are well protected as you move forward through the legal process. 

  The Mayo Clinic informs us that dog bites can lead to very serious infections, which makes taking a better-safe-than-sorry approach when it comes to seeking medical care in the best interest of your health. Reporting the dog bite is also the right thing to do in terms of protecting the community from a dangerous dog and in relation to determining whether or not there’s a need for considering a rabies treatment.  

What Is the One Bite Law, and Does It Apply in New Jersey?

One-bite laws are dog bite laws that basically give dog owners the benefit of the doubt regarding a pet’s first known bite. Under a one-bite law, a dog owner who doesn’t realize that their pet is inclined to bite and who has no reason to mistrust the animal may not be held legally accountable for the losses the dog’s first bite victim experiences. After this first bite, however, the dog owner is on notice regarding their dog – and can be held legally responsible for any subsequent attacks. Too many pet owners see this as a ticket for one free bite.  New Jersey does not have a one-bite law. If someone else’s dog bites and injures you – regardless of whether or not the owner knew the dog had the propensity to bite – you can seek compensation through a dog bite claim for the legal damages you suffer, including:

• Your medical costs, both current and ongoing 
• Your lost income – if the bite leaves you unable to work for any amount of time
• The physical and emotional pain and suffering you experience, which – when it comes to being attacked by a strange dog – can be immense

Liability in New Jersey Dog Bites Cases

Being a pet owner can be exceptionally rewarding, but it comes with immense responsibility. In New Jersey, dog owners bear the following primary responsibilities in relation to their pets:

• Dog owners are required to maintain control of their dogs.
• Dog owners are required to protect others from their dogs, including protecting them from being bit – even one time.

The only exceptions to this strict liability are if the dog bite victim was trespassing on the dog owner’s property at the time or is determined to have provoked the animal in some way. The State of New Jersey takes its dog bite laws seriously, and if you’ve been bitten, you may have a valid claim. This does not, however, mean that obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled will be an easy or straightforward process.   

Seek Help from a New Jersey Dog Bite Liability Lawyer

If someone else’s dog bites you and causes you to be injured, bringing your strongest claim is paramount, and for that, you’re going to need a seasoned New Jersey dog bite liability lawyer on your side. Your dog bite lawyer will capably take on all the following critical tasks in pursuit of your claim’s best possible resolution:

• Gathering all the relevant evidence, which will likely include eyewitness testimony and your medical records, and compiling into a strong claim that supports your legal rights 
• Communicating with the involved insurance company – generally, the dog owner’s homeowners policy provider – so you don’t have to
• Skillfully negotiating with the involved insurance company for a settlement that reflects your complete physical, financial, and emotional losses
• Carefully preparing to take your claim to trial in response to any unfair dealings or disinterest in making a fair settlement offer on the part of the insurance company

It’s important to note that the insurance company is more interested in protecting its bottom line than it is in settling your claim fairly, which makes working closely with a dog bite liability lawyer that much more important.   

Reach Out to an Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Liability Lawyer for the Help You Need Today

Dog bites can be traumatic and harmful incidents, and victims should always know their legal rights under the law. David J. Cowhey is a practiced dog bite liability lawyer at the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer who takes immense pride in his proven track record of successfully guiding complex claims toward advantageous outcomes that honor his valued clients’ rights and best interests.  If you or someone you love has been injured by the bite of someone else’s dog, please reach out to us through our online form or call us at (866) 259-4377 today.