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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.