Every year dozens of people are injured by dog bites. More than half of all dog bite victims are children, but joggers, bikers, service and delivery people are also frequent victims of dog mauling. Often times this tragedy could have been avoided if the dog owner had taken greater care with the animal. If you or a family member suffered serious injury from a dog attack, you may be able to seek financial compensation from the dog’s owner or the dog owner’s insurance company. Talk with a Bergen County dog bite lawyer at Aretsky Law Group, P.C.. We can explain your rights and options in a dog bite case.
We fight to ensure our clients get the financial recovery they need. Contact our Ridgewood law office to schedule an initial consultation. Call 800-537-4154 and dial “9” to speak to an attorney. Our phones are answered 24/7.
Dog Bites Can be Extremely Serious InjuriesAlthough fatal dog attacks are rare in New Jersey, the injuries dog bites can cause are extremely serious. Child and adult victims alike suffer severe emotional distress and often develop a lasting fear of dogs that can be debilitating in itself.
New Jersey dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dogs. Even if their dog has never attacked anyone before, our Bergen County dog bite attorneys can hold them accountable to pay for damages. But like other types of premises liability cases the court will look at whether the injured person was acting in a lawful manner or was negligent. New Jersey dog bite law views children and adult victims differently. We can explain how the law applies in your case.
Proving Your Case to CourtOur personal injury lawyers will immediately investigate your injury claim to make sure we have all the information we need to prove your case to the insurance company or in court.
At Aretsky Law Group, P.C., we work hard to ensure you receive the financial recovery you need to recovery physically and emotionally from a dog attack. We put the financial resources of our firm into your case. You pay no attorney fees or costs until we recover money for you.
FAQsIf I’m Hurt by a Dog in New Jersey, What is the Dog Owner’s Liability?
New Jersey, like many other states, imposes what’s known as strict liability on dog owners whose canine bites a human, which means the bite victim does not need to prove that the owner acted negligently in any way as long as they were on public property, their own property, or on the dog owner’s property lawfully at the time of the incident. As long as the victim was not illegally trespassing, the dog’s owner is liable for their damages, and this includes not only personal guests of the owner but mail carriers, delivery people, tenants, and even police officers. However, non-bite injuries caused by a dog’s aggression—such as injuries sustained from falling—require the victim to prove the owner failed to act with reasonable care, the same as other personal injury cases.
Under What Circumstances is a Dog Owner not Responsible if Their Dog Bites a Person?
If you were trespassing or otherwise not legally present on the dog owner’s property, or if you deliberately provoked the dog that bit you, you might not be able to recover damages from the dog’s owner. New Jersey is a “comparative fault” state, which means that a plaintiff’s damages are reduced—and even eliminated—to the extent the plaintiff’s own actions contributed to their injuries. The fact-finder such as judge or jury is usually tasked with determining your portion of fault, and the damages you could recover are reduced accordingly. The one exception is that owners of dogs who are known to be dangerous based on past aggression are liable even to trespassers, except during the commission of a crime.
How Does New Jersey Law Govern Potentially Dangerous Dogs?
New Jersey statute (4:19-22-32) requires dog owners to use reasonable care in the restraining of their dogs based on the dog’s history. If a dog bites or scratches a person or attacks another pet unprovoked, the dog is required to be quarantined for 10 days at the owner’s expense to determine its health, upon which the jurisdiction could designate it a “potentially dangerous” dog after affording the owner a hearing. Once so designated, the owner must obtain a special license, use proper measures to restrain and enclose the dog, and post warning signs on their property, or else face fines up to $1,000. If a dog seriously injures or kills a person without being provoked, it could be judged a vicious dog and destroyed.
Contact us to schedule an initial consultation. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 800-537-4154 and dial “9” to speak to a dog bite lawyer in Bergen County.