New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Logo
  • Home
  • About
    • Handling Cases Throughout New Jersey
    • Our Philosophy of Representation
    • Case Results
    • Choosing a New Jersey Dog Bite Attorney
    • Your Free Consultation With Our Attorney
    • Why Consider Legal Action?
    • FAQ
  • Dog Bite Resources
    • Dog Bite Injuries
      • Facial Injuries
      • Broken Bones
      • Infections From Dog Bites
      • Neck and Back Injuries
    • NJ Dog Bite Laws
      • Dog Owner’s Responsibilities
      • Dog Bites Child Law
      • The Issue of “Provocation”
      • Dogs With a History of Attacks
    • Dog Bite Facts
      • Breeds That Bite
      • The Dangers of Large Dogs
    • What To Do
      • Seeking Medical Attention
      • Dog Bites Child
  • Service Areas
    • New Jersey
    • Toms River
    • Trenton
    • Atlantic City
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
1 (609) 513-0627

No Fee Unless We Win

phone-icon-white phone-icon Call Now Open 24/7
February 15, 2023 - Blog, Dog Injuries

The Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Cases in New Jersey

Many of us are dog lovers, but if someone else’s dog attacks and bites you, it is a very different matter. Dog bites are not only terrifying but are also quite dangerous and are especially susceptible to serious infections. The State of New Jersey takes dog bites seriously by implementing a strict liability law that holds pet owners strictly responsible for the injuries their dogs cause.

It’s important to note, however, that there is a time restriction in terms of filing a lawsuit against the owner of a dog that bites you. This time constraint is called the statute of limitations, and it represents one of the many challenges inherent to dog bite cases. If someone else’s dog leaves you injured, discuss your claim with an experienced New Jersey dog bite liability lawyer today.

How Long Do You Have to Report a Dog Bite in NJ?

If a dog that is not your own bites you, you should report the attack to your local animal control office, which may advise you to also inform the police. The New Jersey Department of Health advises anyone who has been bitten by an animal to not only seek immediate medical care but also to notify their local health department as soon as they are able to do so. 

While dogs are rarely infected by rabies, they can be, which makes it important for the appropriate agency to contact the owner of the dog in question in an effort to ensure that the pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Protecting your health and recovery is paramount, but by contacting the authorities, you also help protect the community at large from an aggressive or unpredictable canine. The sooner you alert the authorities, the better.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Injury Claims in NJ?

In New Jersey, you have only two years from the date of the injury-causing dog bite to file a lawsuit against the pet owner – generally through their homeowners’ insurance provider. The fact is that the legal process can take a considerable amount of time, and this two-year limitation calls for swift action. Factors like the following can all slow down the dog bite claims process in which you negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement:

  • The involved insurance company may artificially prolong negotiations in the hope of waiting out the clock.
  • Dog bites are often very slow to heal and are closely associated with complications, which can delay your efforts.
  • Successful negotiations between your dog bite liability lawyer and the insurance company can require considerable back and forth, which can quickly gobble up the two years that are allotted to you. 

In the end, filing a lawsuit against the applicable insurance company can spark a renewed interest on their part regarding striking a fair settlement that addresses your physical, financial, and emotional losses in their entirety.

 

Your Dog Bite Injury

The Mayo Clinic shares that dog bites are closely associated with serious infections and other dangerous complications. Consider the following:

  • Because a dog’s teeth gnash rather than slice the skin, dog bite wounds tend to be jagged, which makes them slower to heal and more prone to infections and serious scarring. 
  • A dog bite wound that is on or near the face can be permanently disfiguring.
  • When a dog bite is on the hand, which is common, it can lead to serious physical complications due to the finely tuned mechanics of our hands. 

Even if you don’t believe your dog bite is especially serious, it is always in your best interest to seek medical attention. 

 

The Legal Responsibilities of Dangerous-Dog Owners

While many states have what is known as a one-bite law on the books, New Jersey is not one of them. One-bite laws implement strict liability for dog bites only after a pet owner’s dog demonstrates that it has the propensity to bite – after it actually bites someone. New Jersey, however, does not afford the same leniency. 

Your Losses

If someone else’s dog bites you in New Jersey, the pet owner is responsible for covering your losses in all the following categories:

  • Your medical bills, including those related to complications and ongoing healthcare needs
  • Your lost earnings on the job, including any losses related to your earning potential
  • Your physical and emotional pain and suffering, which – when it comes to being attacked by an unknown dog – can be immense

Dog bite claims, however, are challenging, and working closely with a dedicated dog bite liability lawyer from the outset is in your best interest.  

The Dog Owner’s Primary Responsibilities

Dog owners in New Jersey are responsible for ensuring that their pets don’t attack and bite others, and this breaks down into the following two prongs of responsibility:

  • Maintaining control of their dogs outside of their homes
  • Ensuring that others are protected from any bites, including first bites

Exceptions to the Rule

The only exceptions to New Jersey’s strict liability stance include the following:

  • If the dog-bite victim was on the dog owner’s property illegally at the time of the dog-bite incident
  • If the dog-bite victim is found to have provoked the dog into reacting aggressively

Never assume an exception applies or does not apply to your situation. Allow a dog bite attorney to evaluate your rights. 

 

An Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Liability Lawyer Is Standing by to Help

If you have been injured by a dog bite, seeking just compensation that covers your complete losses in their entirety is critical to your recovery. David J. Cowhey at the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer is a formidable dog bite liability lawyer who dedicates his impressive practice to helping clients like you obtain favorable claims resolutions that afford them the opportunity to fully regain their health and well-being. Our legal team is on your side and here to help, so please do not delay reaching out and contacting or calling us at 866-343-3181 for more information about what we can do for you today.

  • How Long Do You Have to Report a Dog Bite in NJ?
  • What Is the Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Injury Claims in NJ?
  • Your Dog Bite Injury
  • The Legal Responsibilities of Dangerous-Dog Owners
  • An Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Liability Lawyer Is Standing by to Help

I’ve been bitten by a dog

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,

John L.

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!!

J S

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!

Michaela S.

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!

Nieja M,

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.

Morgan K.

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!

David D.

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.

Stephanie D.

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.

Seth K G

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!

Ariella L.

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!

Amanda G.

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!

Kristen J.

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!!!

William W.

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!

Neyia W.

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.

Courtney R.

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

Karol M.

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.

COACH B

Honest, fast, responsive and professional. Great experience working with Mr. Cowhey and I highly recommend to handle any dog bite case.

Lilian P.

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!

Elisa H.

Related Blog Posts

January 21, 2022
How to Help a Child After a Dog Bite

When a child suffers a dog bite, parents and adults in their lives can help them to recover. Dog bites and dog attacks can happen in a split second, but...

read more
February 22, 2022
Should I Launch A Dog Bite Lawsuit in NJ?

If you’ve been bitten by a dog, one of the questions you may be asking yourself is if you should start a dog bite lawsuit. There are factors you may...

read more
May 14, 2019
Secondary Injuries from Minor Bites

  Not every dog attack incident leaves the victim with severe, visible bite scars. However, such incidents can result in secondary injuries to the affected area, and even in other...

read more
all blog posts
New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Logo

South

East Gate Center 309 Fellowship Road, Suite 200 Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

1 (609) 513-0627 GET DIRECTIONS

South

6638 Delilah Rd Suite A, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234

1 (609) 513-0627 GET DIRECTIONS

Central

Shore Crossings 3600 Route 66 Neptune, NJ 07753

1 (609) 513-0627 GET DIRECTIONS

North

One Gateway Center, Suite 2600 Newark, NJ 07102

1 (609) 513-0627 GET DIRECTIONS

I’ve been bitten by a dog

Talk to The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, New Jersey's most experienced and successful dog bite attorney.

or call us at

1 (609) 513-0627
  • Home
  • About Our Attorney
  • Resources
  • Service Areas
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 | Law Office of David J. Cowhey. All rights reserved.

New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Logo