Dogs are viewed as our best friends and companions, but an aggressive or dangerous dog presents a serious risk of harm. Dog bites can cause permanent injuries and leave lasting psychological trauma, impacting virtually every facet of your life. If you have sustained injuries from a dog bite, you need to contact a New Brunswick dog bite attorney. A lawyer can help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve after an animal attack.

In New Jersey, dog owners are financially liable for injuries when their dogs bite someone. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers can help victims file an insurance claim to recover the costs of their medical treatment and other injury-related expenses. We have decades of experience working with injury victims in New Brunswick and will work tirelessly to secure a favorable resolution in your dog bite case.

Contact us today or call (973) 364-8300 to speak to a personal injury attorney in New Brunswick.

Levels of Dog Bite Injuries

A typical medium-sized dog has a bite force of over 200 pounds per square inch – strong enough to break skin and bone. Moreover, dogs’ irregular and sharp teeth can create jagged cuts and gouges, resulting in heavy scarring. Dog bites can also cause nerve damage, decreasing sensitivity and dexterity in the extremities. Dogs’ mouths are full of harmful bacteria, so infection is a common complication with bite wounds.

Medical experts often turn to the Dunbar Bite Scale to classify the severity of dog bite injuries. The scale defines six levels of dog bites based on wound characteristics and severity.

• Level 1 – Aggressive behavior but no contact or bite marks
• Level 2 – Skin-to-teeth contact but no punctures, and may cause slight bruising and bleeding
• Level 3 – Puncture wounds less than half the depth of the dog’s teeth, with bruising and bleeding likely
• Level 4 – Puncture wounds with a depth of more than half the length of the dog’s teeth, with severe bruising, lacerations, and broken bones possible
• Level 5 – Multiple Level 4 wounds sustained in a single attacking event
• Level 6 – Fatal bite wounds

Bite classification systems are useful for dog bite injury claims as they can provide an objective assessment of the victim’s wounds. This formal classification makes it easier to communicate and prove the extent of one’s injuries.

Strict Liability and New Jersey’s Dog Bite Laws

Like many other states, New Jersey has strict liability rules for dog bites. According to the New Jersey dog bite statute, dog owners are responsible for paying for the cost of injuries after a dog bite. Because owners are strictly liable, victims do not have to prove the owner was negligent to recover their losses. As long as the owner’s dog injured the victim, they are responsible for paying for injuries. It does not matter if the owner did not know about a dog’s aggressive temperament – they are still liable. This liability extends to other injuries the dog might cause while biting, such as scratch marks.

Owner Liability for Non-Bite Injuries

Bites are not the only way a dog can hurt someone. They can also scratch people or knock them over after jumping on them. New Jersey’s strict liability standard only applies to dog bites, but non-bite victims still have options for recovering compensation.

There are two main scenarios where owners can be liable for non-bite injuries.

Owner Was Negligent

A dog owner is negligent insofar as they have a reasonable duty to control their dog and violate that duty. For example, imagine an owner lets their dog off leash at a public park. The dog jumps up on a small child and knocks them over onto the ground. In this case, the owner would likely be negligent in controlling their animal and liable for injuries. There is a reasonable expectation that owners control their pets in public spaces like parks. The owner violated that reasonable standard of care and so is liable for injuries.

The Owners Knew About the Dog’s Dangerous Habits

The other instance is if the owner had previous knowledge about a dog’s dangerous habits. If an owner knows their dog poses a danger and it causes harm, the knowledge is enough to impute liability. Like the bite rule, this is a strict liability case, so the victim does not have to prove the owner behaved negligently in controlling the animal. Note that dangerous habits don’t only refer to aggressive or malicious behavior. It also refers to any behavior that can cause injury, even non-aggressive ones (e.g., jumping).

Compensation You Can Recover in a Dog Bite Injury Claim

Dog bite claims are typically filed with the owner’s homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies. Unlike some states that limit dog bite compensation to certain losses, New Jersey has no general restrictions. An attorney from Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers can pursue your case and seek a wide range of compensation for your losses, such as:

• Emergency medical costs and continuing medical expenses (e.g., hospital bills, surgery costs, prescriptions, rehab, etc.)
• Lost employment compensation (e.g., hourly pay/salary, bonuses, tips, commissions, etc.)
• Loss of lifetime earning potential due to disability/permanent injury
• Out-of-pocket injury expenses
• Pain and suffering from your injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional anguish
• Quality of life reductions
• Wrongful death

Dog bites can leave you physically and emotionally scarred, but there are options for relief. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers can assess your total losses and calculate a figure to account for your economic and intangible losses.

Defenses Against Dog Bite Injury Claims

There are two main situations where a dog owner can avoid liability for bite injuries:

• Trespassing – Strict liability in dog bite cases only applies when the victim is legally on private property. If the bite victim was trespassing, New Jersey’s strict liability laws do not apply. Owners might try to argue that the victim was not lawfully on their property when the bite injury occurred.
• Provocation – The other defense is provocation. If the victim intentionally harmed the dog or provoked it into attacking, it could shield the owner from liability. In cases of provocation, the owner might argue the victim was negligent and thus entitled to a lower amount of compensation.

New Jersey’s Statute of Limitations on Dog Bite Lawsuits

New Jersey’s statute of limitations on dog bite claims is the same as other personal injury claims – two years from the injury date. Once two years elapse, you will lose your legal claim to damages. If you try to file a lawsuit after two years, the courts will reject your petition. This strict time limit exists to preserve efficiency and fairness in the civil restitution system.

Even though you have two years, you should not delay starting the remuneration process. Evidence fades over time, meaning the sooner you start, the easier it will be to prove your version of events. A New Brunswick personal injury attorney can guide you through the dog bit claim process and expedite proceedings.

Dog Bite FAQ

Below are some common questions from our clients about dog bite injury claims and settlements.

How can a New Brunswick dog bite lawyer help me get compensation for my injuries?

The main way a dog bite lawyer can help recover compensation is by gathering evidence proving the owner’s liability. They can also handle all the administrative aspects of filing a claim, like submitting documents and meeting deadlines. Lastly, an attorney can negotiate with insurers and initiate formal litigation if they unreasonably delay or deny payments.

What can I do if a dog bites me in New Brunswick and the owner won’t take responsibility?

If a dog owner won’t take responsibility, one option is to contact animal control. Animal control can investigate the incident and designate the owner’s pet as a dangerous dog. Owners of dangerous dogs are legally required to register the dog and take specific steps to control it. The owner may also be required to obtain liability coverage specifically for the dog. Your attorney can also file a formal lawsuit if the owner refuses to accept responsibility.

How do New Jersey’s laws about dog bites affect my claim in New Brunswick?

New Jersey’s strict liability dog bite laws favor the injury victim. There is no negligence requirement, so victims only have to show that the owner’s dog caused them injuries. They do not have to prove the owner knew about the danger or that the dog had past violent interactions. The lower bar of strict liability can make recovering damages in these types of cases more straightforward.

Contact a New Brunswick Dog Bite Attorney at Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers Today

Many people dismiss dog bite injuries as not serious, but they can have far-reaching consequences on physical and emotional health. Victims might be at a loss of what to do and under enormous financial pressure from their injuries. Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers understands these difficulties and will work tirelessly to make things right. We cannot undo the pain and suffering you have experienced, but we can fight to balance the scales of justice and bring closure.

Feel free to reach out online or call (973) 364-8300 today to speak to a dog bite attorney in New Brunswick.