Dog bites can happen in a flash, and can cause life-changing injuries, scarring or death. New Jersey emergency rooms treat thousands of victims every year, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more people receive treatment for dog bites from local clinics and primary care physicians. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that between 2001 and 2003, some 4.5 million people suffered a dog bite each year, but that figure is thought to be higher these days. Not all victims survive. During the past few years, thirty to thirty-five people have died every year from injuries caused by vicious dog attacks.

The New Jersey Dog Bite Law is primarily governed by N.J.S.A. 4:19-16, which holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs biting someone. Here are the key points:

Strict Liability:

Conditions for Liability:

Defenses:

Comparative Negligence:

Legal Actions:

This law aims to protect the public by ensuring that dog owners are responsible for the actions of their pets, promoting safer interactions between people and dogs. However, if you or your child was bit by a dog, contact a New Jersey dog bite lawyer near you to discuss your case.

Due to the alarming frequency of dog bites, many communities have breed-specific legislation limiting ownership of certain breeds of dogs that attack more often. These include dangerous Pit Bulls, Rottweiler, and Chows. Dogs that were used in illegal dog-fighting rings have usually been abused to encourage extra-aggressive behavior. Any breed of dog can and will bite, so breed specific dog laws really protect the public from dog attacks. The best solution to dog attacks is responsible breeding and ownership combined with public education and enforcement of existing laws.

Children are attracted to dogs and that attraction can lead to a situation where a dog bites a child. Children under the age of twelve are involved in fifty percent of dog attacks, and eighty-two percent of dog bites treated in emergency rooms involved children under the age of fifteen. Children below the age of ten suffer seventy percent of dog-bite fatalities. Unattended children are 370 times more likely than an adult to die from a dog attack. Bites to the head occur in sixty-five percent of attacks that happen to children. Boys who are less than fifteen years old are attacked more often than girls of the same age. Quite often children are bitten or attacked after attempting to pet a strange dog.

Since children are most often the victims of dog attacks, teach your children to avoid all strange dogs. Also, teach your children not to tease, chase or throw things at dogs behind fences or gates. In the event of an attack, teach your children to protect their face and neck and to roll into a ball, be very still and as soon as it is safe, find an adult to help them. If you have been a victim of a dog bite or animal attack please contact our NJ dog bite lawyers here at Mazie Slater.

The value of your dog bite case is influenced by the severity of the injury and the extent of the losses you have suffered. Our experienced dog bite attorneys at Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman can assist you in accurately assessing all your damages, which may include:

A significant dog bite injury, especially a dog bite that causes scarring,  may require extensive rehabilitation and could result in long-term effects that impact your ability to engage in your normal life activities. You may be entitled to compensation for these losses, and our New Jersey dog bite lawyers are committed to maximizing your claim to secure the compensation you deserve.

Our dog bite lawyers have had incredible success in dog bite lawsuits. For example, we recovered a $1.4 million dollar jury verdict for a New Jersey man scarred in a vicious dog attack. This personal injury case involved claims of negligence and fraud against Lancaster County Prison relating to their donation of a vicious Rottweiler to our client. Lancaster County Prison neglected to advise our client that the dog had “irreversible medical problems” and had attacked on numerous previous occasions. Shortly after taking possession of the dog, our client was viciously attacked and sustained severe injuries to his arm and leg. After a three-week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $1.4 million in our client’s favor. Our team of lawyers for dog bites has extensive experience handling these kinds of lawsuits. And we can collect the damages you deserve if you were attacked by a dog.

At Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman, our dog bite attack attorneys specialize in protecting the rights of dog bite victims and fighting to recover damages for personal injuries and other losses caused by the animal attack. Our team of New Jersey dog bite lawyers will assess the situation, visit the site, take photos, document your injuries, and provide the most aggressive and effective legal representation during your lawsuit. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a dog attack, please contact Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman and one of our dog bite lawyers in New Jersey will contact you within twenty-four hours to discuss your case.