If you have suffered an injury because of a dog bite in New Jersey, you do not have to act by yourself. Instead, you may find it useful to work with a New Jersey dog bite lawyer. We at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will fight to recover compensation for your injuries. Call our firm at (800) 816-0755 to learn how an attorney can assist you with your case. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you won’t owe anything unless or until you receive compensation.
Navigating Dog Bite Injuries in New Jersey
During a dog attack, a dog bite refers to when the dog grabs you with its mouth. A dog bite does not have to break the skin for you to be able to take action. There are several types of injuries which can stem from a dog bite. Some examples of these injuries include:
Puncture Wounds and Infection
Dog bites can cause puncture wounds due to how sharp a dog’s teeth can be. These wounds can result in severe bleeding across the bitten area and may require stitching in order to heal properly. Puncture wounds also come with a risk of infection, as a dog’s mouth can be full of dangerous bacteria.
Broken Bones
Dogs are animals with very strong jaw muscles. This means that dog bites can easily break bones, especially in areas like the hands or legs. You may also suffer from broken bones if you fall due to the dog biting you. Broken bones can require surgery and casts to heal properly and can prevent you from performing tasks you are accustomed to.
Muscle Damage
The combined strength of a dog’s jaw and the sharpness of their teeth means that their bites can puncture more than just your skin. It’s possible for them to reach muscles and nerves below the skin. These injuries can cause you to limit your ability to use or feel the affected area and could potentially cause paralysis.
Determining Liability in a New Jersey Dog Bite Case
In New Jersey, dog bites are covered by New Jersey Statutes §4:19-16. This statute states that a dog owner is liable for dog bite injuries which occur:
- In a public space or a private space that the victim is legally permitted to be in.
- Regardless of any previous signs of the dog’s potential viciousness, and if the owner was aware of these signs.
The New Jersey statute regarding dog bites is a “strict liability” statute. This means that a dog owner is still liable for injuries caused by their dog’s bite, even if they had tried to use reasonable care to restrain their dog or to alert or protect others. New Jersey also does not consider provocation, meaning it does not matter if the person who was bit may have provoked the dog beforehand. Due to this, a dog bite victim does not have to prove that a dog owner was negligent or careless. What is important is only that the bite occurred.
For a free legal consultation with a Dog Bite Lawyer serving New Jersey, call (800) 816-0755
How Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Assist You
It may not be easy to pursue a dog bite injury case on your own. This can be especially true if your injuries are severe and limit your ability to regularly function. However, you can have a New Jersey dog bite lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm help. Our team can help you in many ways, including:
Constructing Your Case
New Jersey’s “strict liability” statute applies only to dog bite situations that occur on public property or those in which a person is “lawfully” on private property. For example, a mail carrier delivering mail is “lawfully” on someone’s private property, as they’re carrying out an official duty as part of their job. This means that this statute does not apply to people trespassing on private property.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, it’s possible that the dog’s owner will try to claim you were trespassing. Our team can help to show that you were instead legally on the property at which the dog bite occurred. We can do this by gathering key testimony from any eyewitnesses, accessing surveillance footage if available, and otherwise providing evidence that shows you were not trespassing.
Fighting for Fair Compensation
It is possible that the dog’s owner and their own attorney will attempt to offer you a settlement package regarding your case. However, many times these offers are not of a fair amount, and you may not be sure how to negotiate for fair compensation. Our team will fight for you to ensure your damages are covered. We are ready to handle communications with the dog’s owner and their attorney and to negotiate for any sort of settlement to contain the compensation you deserve.
New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (800) 816-0755
Have a Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Dog Bite Lawyer Help You
A dog bite can be a serious event that can cause you to suffer severe injuries. As such, you may find it difficult to handle the intricacies of your case while also trying to focus on recovering from your injuries. That’s why a New Jersey dog bite lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be of use to you.
Our team can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries so you can focus your efforts on healing. We work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you won’t have to pay anything upfront or out of pocket, and we don’t shy away from tough cases. Call our team today at (800) 816-0755 to learn more as to how we can help you with your case.
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