It is unfortunate, but if you or a loved one is attacked by a dog, you need to take careful and decisive actions to protect your health as well as your rights. The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, David Cowhey, would like to advise you about what you mustn’t do after a dog attack.
These 6 steps below you can avoid doing for the best outcome on your dog bite case. If you are considering compensation for the dog attack, you have to avoid certain actions.
You have to report the attack to the proper authorities (i.e. police and animal control) and the owner, if he/she is known to you. You may also be advised by the authorities to file a report with the State of New Jersey Department of Health. It doesn’t matter if you know or not where the dog lives and its owner – you must report the dog attack.
Filing a report is one of the most important things you need to do since it is the beginning of an investigation which will be presented in support of your case. The police will provide a record of the incident including information about the dog and its owner as well as any witness contact information.
If it is possible, you should approach any eyewitnesses before they leave the scene to record their contact information. You do not need to obtain official statements from them, your attorney can deal with the details later on.
If you fail to obtain eyewitness testimony, it could be difficult to prove that the dog was not provoked or you were not trespassing. Eyewitness testimony could also protect you from any defence strategies insurance companies may apply to weaken your case.
Ask any witnesses for their full name, phone number, and email address. Ask them to write down their description of the events that happened to make it easier to recall details later on.
No matter how minor the injury may initially be, it is vital you seek medical attention since your wound could get infected and if the dog’s vaccination record is not known, you must be treated for rabies.
Aside from the health concerns, you need to keep in mind that if you don’t see a doctor immediately, insurance companies can claim that you were not injured by the dog attack since you didn’t seek immediate medical help.
If you do not document your injuries and damages, it will be extremely difficult to receive the proper compensation since they will be contested by the other side during the lawsuit. You need to provide as much information and details as possible to prevent any dispute of your claim. The following suggestions can help you provide the court with a relatively proper picture of your injuries and financial costs:
Photographs are a great way to clearly show the injuries you incurred due to the dog attack. Smart-phones have made it easy to keep a photographic record so take as many photos of your injuries after the attack and when you visit the hospital (by the way, if it is possible, take photos of the dog as well). You should also keep a photographic record of the treatment and it’s progress, including any permanent scarring.
By saving your medical records you can provide indisputable proof of all the treatments you received and your prognosis. Also, keep every single medical bill or receipt for out of pocket treatments or medication. Likewise, insurance documents should be kept regarding anything which relates to your dog bite injuries and treatments. What’s more, don’t forget to keep track of any missed time from work and ask your employer to verify it.
Since dog bite lawsuits can take months or even more than a year to settle, it is highly recommended that you keep a journal of what happened to you and how you are coping after the attack from day to day. You should describe the pain you experience and how the attack has impacted your physical and mental well-being.
A pain diary can include a pain rating and how your every day life has been changed by the dog attack. You should also record, on a daily basis, your physical pain, treatments, medications, your quality of life and your psychological state (i.e. anxiety, depression, nightmares, fears, stress).
Not consulting with an experienced dog bite attorney can determine whether you receive the compensation you deserve. The insurance companies and dog owners will most likely consult with attorneys to protect themselves and to pay you as little as possible for your suffering. In fact, you should expect that insurance companies will want to come to a settlement as early as possible before you have the chance to discover what your options are and the possibilities of demanding a higher settlement. That’s why consulting an attorney who specializes in dog bite cases, immediately after your dog bite incident, could mean the difference between receiving a fair settlement you are entitled to or a token compensation to get you to settle quickly.
Dave J. Cowhey has over 33 years of experience as a personal injury lawyer specializing in dog bite cases. He has always battled hard against insurance companies in order to provide his clients with the compensation they deserve. His track record shows that he can successfully pursue big dollar cases and will not be intimidated by insurance companies.
If you have been bitten by a dog, contact David J. Cowhey to get started. Call him at 609-513-0627, or contact him online to schedule a free case review.
Originally posted October 15, 2020
Talk to The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, New Jersey's most experienced and successful dog bite attorney.
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Dave was awesome helping me through the nightmare world of insurance claims after my daughter was attacked by a neighbors dog. Dave is very friendly, always available and extremally knowledgeable and connected to this process. I highly recommend you call him about your case,
David Cowhey, Esq. did a great job for my daughter, who had been bit by a dog and left with a scar on her leg. He is an extremely competent and responsive attorney. The whole process was very easy and he negotiated a great settlement! We are very happy. Highly recommend his professional services!!
My experience with David Cowhey was amazing, he is a very knowledgeable and helpful lawyer. I got bit by a dog and it left a very noticeable scar on my leg and David was great to have on my side. He’s very easy to work with, would definitely recommend if you’re going through the same thing!
Dave is so professional. My daughter was 6 when she was attacked by a friend of the family dog. I contacted Dave’s office and spoke with his secretary. She was so friendly and asked questions that made me feel comfortable. I was amazed by how fast the service was and everything was easy to understand. Dave made sure my daughter was compensated for her injuries and along with pain & suffering. There couldn’t be a more perfect choice but that’s because God helped me choose this great lawyer! He did an excellent job!!! She is 7 now and We are now able to move on better because of the help of Dave. Pick this lawyer!! I PROMISE YOU WONT REGRET ANYTHING AT ALL‼️ Thank you Dave!
My entire experience with Dave and his team was 5 stars. They specialize in one thing, and this experience taught me why you want an attorney who specializes. Dave's knowledge, experience, and confidence is what made things go smoothly and quickly. Professional and quick responses always. If someone was bitten by a dog I recommend this guy, he will get you what you deserve.
My wife got bit by a dog last spring; she immediately received medical care and we made a police report- all within 2 hours. Shortly thereafter, we decided to choose Attorney David to represent her. He walked us through the process. It is much more comfortable knowing that his practice only involves dog bites. He knows his stuff! We have just received notice that a fair settlement has been reached. If you have been bitten by a dog, my wife and I would highly recommend David Cowhey for an attorney. Thank you to David and his professional staff!
My 8 year old son was bitten by a neighborhood dog, leaving permanent scars on his abdomen. I immediately contacted David Cowhey. He explained the process very clearly and made it very easy for us to come to a fair settlement for my son. He was a perfect advocate for us, and he is very compassionate for the victim. We are very pleased with the hard work David has done for our son.
Lawyer Dave Cowhey (& his office) helped my wife, son and me immensely over the past 15 months. He is tremendously professional, responsive and proactive, as well as being, a great attorney. Thanks to Dave, we are now able to put our 'incident' behind us. I highly recommend his services - he will work hard and long for you to get you the settlement you deserve.
My experience with Dave and his law firm was wonderful. While I was nervous to start the process of something that I knew nothing about, he was extremely helpful and explained everything clearly and concisely. He answered all of my questions - day or night, weekday or weekend, and made sure I was comfortable at each step. I would highly recommend Dave and his firm!
I absolutely loved my entire time of working with with Dave. He always kept my best interest in mind and made sure that I was taking care of. He was amazing at communicating all steps in the process with me, and never hesitated to answer any of my questions. Would highly recommend!
Dave was extremely responsive and guided me thru the process with compassion. His specialization in dog bites really helped facilitate the process. He knows all the insurance issues and, despite the backlog of cases due to Covid, was able to settle my claim for more than we anticipated as well as earlier. I would definitely recommend Dave as I felt comfortable that I was getting the best advice every step of the way!
Dave did extremely well by me and my family. He was nothing short of professional and assisted us through the entire process. I called him the day of the dog bite, and I followed his instructions to the "T". Him, and his staff, were knowledgeable on every step of the process. From medical advise, to advise on setting up our structured settlement for our child. If you need help right away, don't wait.... call him asap!!!
Dave was amazing, he handled my case with care , answered every question , email and helped me to understand the steps we needed to take. I had never dealt with a lawsuit before so of course I was nervous and thought I was going to get ripped off but nope. He was very professional and attentive. Hope I never need him again but should I ever need a lawyer for a dog bite i'm calling him first!
Dave Cowhey was amazing during our case which was very personal in the sense that involved family members. He was candid and professional and always gave us his honest opinion to all our questions and concerns. He's a family man and understands how upsetting the situations are at hand. I wish he was a lawyer for everything honestly, he was fantastic! Highly recommended Dave and his team.
My one year old dog and I were viciously attacked by a pit bull. I didn’t want to file a law suit initially until I realized the severity of the injuries both mentally and physically. Most lawyers are all about the money not for the justice and compassion of the victim. I am blessed to have found David. He was our hero who understood our situation was efficient knowledgeable and above all sincerely compassionate
Dave was hands on and always available. Steered me through the entire process and helped cover my medical costs and compensation for my scar and injury. Went over and Beyond and made me feel at ease and confident in a positive outcome. Would recommend to all.
Honest, fast, responsive and professional. Great experience working with Mr. Cowhey and I highly recommend to handle any dog bite case.
We contacted Dave when our 5 year old son was attacked by our neighbor's dog, resulting in deep wounds (and now scars) on his face and arm. Dave was extremely knowledgeable/helpful from the start, explaining how everything would work, and he was always available via phone/text if we had questions come up throughout the process. He always gave us all of the options/routes we could take and let us decide what was the best move for our family. He advocated for the best outcome for our son and always kept us in the loop. We were able to settle in a friendly hearing with the homeowner-insurance company, which was simple and straightforward, thanks to all of Dave's hard work behind-the-scenes. We definitely could not have navigated this process ourselves and we are very thankful for the help of Dave and his team!
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