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Dog Bites

Dog Bite Attorneys in New Jersey

Few things are more frightening than being attacked by a dog. Such an attack can leave the victim severely injured and traumatized. If the victim is a child, the injuries can be fatal. Many states have statutes which hold the owner of the dog strictly liable for the dog’s behavior if the attack is unprovoked; that is, the victim did nothing to threaten the dog or cause it to attack in self-defense. It makes no difference where the attack took place or if the attack is the first for the animal. In some states, the dog gets “one free bite”, meaning the owner is not presumed to know the dog is dangerous until an attack has occurred once.

As an owner, there are steps you can take to minimize the possibility of your dog attacking someone:

  • Spay or neuter your dog
  • Do not teach your dog to play roughly
  • Be sure your dog has up-to-date vaccinations
  • Take your dog to obedience classes so it becomes accustomed to obeying voice commands
  • Never leave babies or small children with a dog unless there is an adult with them
  • Keep your dog in a fenced yard, do not allow it to roam

Basic safety tips include:

  • Leave strange dogs alone
  • Never approach any dog while it is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies
  • Never try to pet a dog until you have let it see you and smell you
  • Never leave children alone with any dog
  • Never be aggressive with a dog, stare it in the eye, or run from it - if a dog does attack, stay still
  • If a dog knocks you down, roll into a ball to protect yourself

If you are attacked, seek help quickly. Try to find out who the owner is, but seek medical help first.

Dog Bite Injuries

Dogs have been around for almost as long as man himself and have probably been biting us for just as long. Dog bite injuries are no laughing matter and can be severe. While many animal bites are minor, serious injuries can result. In addition to the wounds and pain associated with them, dog bites present the added risk of infection or exposure to rabies, which could be deadly to the victim if left untreated. Even a minor dog bite can leave the victim with residual scarring. So, if your dog bites someone, who is liable for dog bite injuries? Well, the short answer, if you live in New Jersey, is “you.”

Dog Bite Injury Claims

Laws regarding dog bite injury claims vary from state to state. Many states used to follow the “one bite rule”. Those laws stated that the dog owner was not responsible for the dog’s actions until the dog was shown to be a risk of biting someone. It was allowed one free bite before it was classified as a biting risk. Very few states still follow that rule today. 

The State of New Jersey follows what is known as “strict liability” when it comes to animal bites. Current New Jersey law, as stated in New Jersey Statute 4:19-16 reads:  

“Liability of owner regardless of viciousness of dog – The owner of any dog which shall bite a person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.” 

Dog Bite Injury Treatment

When bitten by a dog or any other animal, the victim should immediately seek medical treatment. The faster the wound is tended to by a medical professional, the lower the risk of infection. Early wound care will also lessen the chance of long-term scarring. In addition, dog bite injury treatment can include a professional assessment of the victim’s risk of contracting rabies and allow for rabies testing and treatment if needed. 

Contact DeZao & DeZao, P.C. Today

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of Dog Bites, call DeZao & DeZao, P.C. at (973) 358-6134. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations.

Therefore, please call or fill out our contact form right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.

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