Dog bites are both more common than most people realize and more dangerous. If someone else’s dog leaves you injured, the physical, financial, and emotional consequences can be immense. In fact, being attacked by a dog you don’t know is – by all accounts – terrifying. Because obtaining fair compensation that covers your losses in their entirety is critical to your ability to fully recover, it is important to work closely with an experienced New Jersey dog bite lawyer.
Dog bite victims can suffer serious losses – not the least of which is the physical and emotional pain and suffering, which is common. Your recovery can hinge on your ability to obtain just compensation, which requires you to navigate the complicated legal system forward toward a favorable resolution. Fortunately, you do not have to make this journey alone. A seasoned dog bite lawyer can help by ably taking on a range of important tasks.
Dog bite claims are often handled by the dog owner’s home or rental insurance provider, and you can count on them to do what they can to keep your settlement as low as possible. One of the tools at their disposal is obtaining statements from vulnerable claimants that only serve to weaken their claims. Leaving the communications with the insurance company to your trusted dog bite lawyer is always advantageous.
Dog bite claims are based on evidence, and your dog bite lawyer will leave no stone unturned in their quest to gather all the evidence relevant to yours. This evidence gathering generally includes:
Unlike many other states, the State of New Jersey does not have a so-called one-bite law on the books. These laws afford dog owners a bit of leeway in relation to liability if their pets have never displayed aggression prior to the attack at hand.
In New Jersey, dog owners are responsible for any injuries their pets cause – with the potential exception of attacks that are directly provoked. As such, you won’t need to prove the dog’s aggression, but you may have to fight an accusation of having provoked the incident. This is a complicated matter that is best left to a practiced dog bite lawyer.
Most dog bite claims are settled out of court, and your dog bite lawyer will engage in skilled negotiations with the insurance company handling your claim. In their efforts, your lawyer will seek compensation that is equal to the task of covering your complete range of legal damages – or losses. As long as the insurance company is willing to engage in fair negotiations that align with your rights, a settlement can be reached.
Finally, your dog bite lawyer will be prepared to address the matter of your losses in court. If the involved insurance company demonstrates that it is not interested in affording you a good faith effort to effectively and efficiently settle your claim, your focused dog bite lawyer will take the next logical step and resolve the matter in court.
Tactics that insurance companies often employ in their efforts to keep settlements low and that your lawyer will be on the lookout for include all the following:
In New Jersey, you have the right not to be attacked by someone else’s dog, and you have the right to seek compensation If you are. As mentioned, dog owners do not have to be aware of their pets’ latent aggression in order to be held liable for bite injuries. If someone’s dog bites you while you are on public property or while you are legally on private property, New Jersey’s dog bite law covers you – and this applies whether or not the dog who bites you ever gave any indication that it had the propensity to be aggressive.
Further, New Jersey law employs strict liability when it comes to dog bites. This means that even if the dog’s owner took reasonable precautions to protect the public from their pet, they are responsible for any injuries the animal causes.
Your burden is proving that you were attacked by the dog in question. However, the dog owner or insurance company might claim that you provoked the pet to deny liability altogether or reduce the compensation you receive. The challenge here is that there is no specific definition of provocation in this context, but your knowledgeable New Jersey bite lawyer has the legal insight and experience to help forcefully disprove this defense tactic.
They can also try to defend against liability by claiming you were trespassing, and you want our legal team ready to fight against any false allegations.
The damages you experience as a result of a dog bite can be immense, and they likely break down into several basic categories.
When a dog bites into the flesh of a bite victim, their sharp teeth can tear deep into the skin and underlying tissue, muscle, and – sometimes – even bone. These injuries are irregular, slow to heal, highly susceptible to serious infection, and often exceptionally painful.
Dog bite injuries are unique for the degree of care they often require. For example, if the bite is on the victim’s hand, which is common, it can lead to long-term motility concerns – even after an extensive treatment plan that can include multiple surgeries. When the bite is on the victim’s face, which is another common site of an attack – especially for children – it can lead to permanent disfigurement and can require multiple surgical procedures.
The recovery process after a dog bite can be lengthy, which can interfere with a victim’s ability to earn in the present. A dog bite, however, can also impede your ability to earn into the future, which can have much more dramatic financial consequences – and can also lead to emotional setbacks.
Being attacked by someone else’s pet can leave you feeling rattled to your core. There is not only physical pain and suffering but also emotional pain and suffering to endure. Many victims of dog bites experience troubling symptoms like the following that can take a serious psychological toll:
If you have been harmed by a dog bite, you recognize that you need to advocate for your rights – and your rightful compensation – but you are in the vulnerable position of having been injured, and you may have very little understanding of the legal process. The advantages of having a practiced dog bite lawyer in your corner can be difficult to overstate. Consider all the following:
A dog bite injury can leave you seriously injured and can come with long-lasting complications. If you find yourself in this difficult situation, David J. Cowhey at the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer is an accomplished dog bite lawyer with an impressive track record for successfully resolving complex dog bite claims like yours. The outcome of your claim is important to your recovery and your future, and our distinguished legal team is poised to help. To learn more about what we can do for you, please reach out to us through our online form or call us at (866) 259-4377 today.
Talk to The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, New Jersey's most experienced and successful dog bite attorney.
or call us at
(609) 513-0627 
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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