Dog Bites
When thinking about dogs, most people conjure up an image of a cute and cuddly creature. While this is true, it’s also important to consider the real dangers that these pets can pose to other people when they are unrestrained.
A dog’s bite is much worse than its bark, and people can be severely injured or even disabled as a result of a dog attack. Read on to learn more about the common types of injuries that a dog bite can cause and who is responsible for paying for the financial losses caused by the attack.
Common Injuries Resulting from Dog Attacks
Though K-9s have evolved into cute household pets, they retain their sharp carnivorous teeth from their wild past. These sharp teeth can cause severe injuries, especially when the animal is attacking in defense of its territory, out of aggression or due to a medical condition.
Never underestimate the ability of these animals to cause serious injuries. The CDC reports that nearly 885,000 dog bite victims seek medical care each year.
The most common types of injuries that can result from a dog attack are:
- Puncture Wounds
- Facial Scarring
- Head and neck wounds
- Broken bones
- Eye injuries
- Rabies
- Nerve damage
- Infections
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
Who is Liable for Dog Attacks?
Dog bite injuries and dog attacks have been decreasing over the years because of strict liability laws. Most states hold dog owners fully responsible for any type of injuries resulting from a bite.
When a dog bite victim is legally on either private or public property in New Jersey, the dog’s owner will be held strictly liable. New Jersey also has additional dangerous dog laws that help prevent overly aggressive or threatening dogs from harming other people.
What Damages Can be Collected After an Animal Attack?
When pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the dog owner, you’ll need to know what type of damages you are seeking to collect.
These damages must have been directly caused by the dog bite. Dog bite victims seek out compensation for the following items in court:
- Medical bills associated with the bite
- Bills for any prescription medication
- Lost income from missed work
- Loss of earning capacity if the injury causes disability
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages when the dog owner’s negligence has been extreme
Contact a Haddonfield Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Dog Bite Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to dog bites in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Andres, Berger & Tran represent clients injured because of dog bites in Haddonfield, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Marlton, and throughout New Jersey. Call 856-317-6558 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 264 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
