Jersey City Dog Bite Lawyer

Common Dog Attack Injuries

Dog bites and other types of attacks can lead to serious injuries, including:

• Puncture wounds
• Lacerations
• Nerve damage
• Permanent scarring
• Disfigurement
• Broken bones
• Infections
• Emotional trauma

Dog bites and attack injuries that break the skin should always be treated by a physician as soon as possible. Even seemingly small puncture wounds or lacerations from a single bite need to be properly cleaned and stitched. Without proper treatment, dog bites are likely to become infected. Dog’s mouths can carry any number of bacteria and viruses. It is also important to see a physician to receive proper instructions on taking care of the wound, which probably requires antibacterial soap and sterile bandages.

Liability for Other Dog Attack Injuries

New Jersey’s strict liability statute specifically addresses recovering compensation for dog bite injuries. However, dog attacks can lead to additional injuries outside of bite-related lacerations and puncture wounds. For example, a 100-pound dog that runs and jumps at you could knock you down, causing broken bones or even traumatic brain injuries. Large dogs are capable of doing a great deal of damage without biting you.

When you are involved in a situation outside of a straightforward dog bite, you can try to recover compensation under the strict liability theory. However, the specificity of the law may make it difficult for you to obtain compensation for your non-bite wounds. Instead, you are more likely to gain compensation for animal attack injuries by proving the owner was negligent in controlling or restraining the dog. Common ways of proving a dog owner was negligent is by submitting evidence that they did not keep the animal restrained by a fence or chain or did not keep it on a leash while in public.

A negligence claim may include proving the owner understood the dog had been vicious before. If you have evidence that the owner knew the dog had previously behaved aggressively toward others or had been deemed a dangerous dog by authorities, then this can help you in proving how the owner should have controlled the dog compared to how the dog was allowed to behave.

Dog Handlers and Property Owners May be Liable

There are a number of circumstances during which you could be injured by a dog that is under the control of someone other than its owner. If you were bitten or attacked and you believe it was because the dog’s handler or the private property owner was negligent in controlling the dog, you may have the right to bring a negligence-based claim against that individual. However, this depends on a number of factors. You should speak with an experienced Jersey City dog bite lawyer before determining you want to file a claim or lawsuit against someone other than the dog’s owner.