New Jersey Dog Bite Attorney - Lawyer for Dog Attack Victims

New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer - New Jersey is a Strict Liability State when it comes to Dog Bite Injuries.  If you have been injured by a dog call now to discuss your case with an experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer.  Call today for a free initial consultation with a NJ Dog bite attorney.  These can be the most serious types of injuries in that not only can serious scarring occur even from the smallest dogs,  the most vicious dogs, such as Pit Bulls, can cause life threatening injuries and even bone fractures.  In New Jersey, unlike most other States, a dog does not get one free bite to be considered vicious and for liability to incur.  Dog Bite cases are governed by the New Jersey Dog Bite Statute, N.J.S.A. 4:19-16, which provides.

 

4:19-16.  Liability of owner regardless of viciousness of dog
 

The owner of any dog which shall bite a person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness. Call today for a free initial consultation with a NJ Dog bite attorney.
   

For the purpose of this section, a person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner when he is on the property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of this state or the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or when he is on such property upon the invitation, express or implied, of the owner thereof.

 

Call A New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer today

 

Steven P. Lombardi, Esq 

 

973-921-2860


 

Therefore all that is required to prove liability on the Dog's Owner is that the injured victim was bitten in a public place or lawfully on private property.  This provision protects all delivery men, such as Fed Ex and UPS Delivery Drivers, as well as all Postsl Workersl Postmen and Post-women when bitten.   If you are bitten by a dog contact a New Jersey Dog Bite Attorney today. 

 

Furthermore, all injuries are compensable under the Statute even if the injuries are not a direct result of the Dog Bite.  Therefore, if the injured victim falls to the ground fending off a dog attack and suffers fall type injuries, these injuries are also compensable.   Moreover, emotional distress damages are also available under the Statute, therefore if any fear of dogs develops these damages are also available. In a recent Appellate Division decision the court  found that even Dog Sitters and Care Givers can, in most cases, recover under the Statute.  The court in Aiges v Fuccillo found that the care giver was not an independent contractor without protection of the Statutory Provisions.  Call today for a free initial consultation with a NJ Dog bite Lawyer.

 

There are two basic types of wounds that can result from a dog bite. Puncture wounds result when teeth penetrate the skin. Puncture wounds are very prone to infection because the teeth essentially inject bacteria into the skin. Puncture wounds are also a perfect place for bacteria to multiply -- it's warm, dark, and with little air flow -- and to compound the risk for infection, swelling can cause the wound to swell shut, making it difficult to clean and disinfect the site.

 

The second type of bite wound is a laceration, which occurs when the dog's teeth penetrate and tear the skin. It is this type of bite that most often requires stitches. Scarring is usually a problem with this type of injury, whereas punctures leave small, round scars in most cases.

 

TREATMENT OF DOG BITE WOUNDS

 

Dog-bite wounds are often left open because of their reputation for infection if primarily closed. A randomized trial comparing closure with leaving the wound open was performed to assess infection. Ninety-six patients with 169 lacerations had thorough surgical debridement and irrigation of their wounds. Ninety-two wounds were sutured and 77 left open. No prophylactic antibiotics were given. A total of 13 wounds developed infection: seven sutured and six unsutured wounds (not statistically significant), giving an overall infection rate of 7.7%. Significantly, more wound infections occurred in the hand in both groups compared to the rest of the body, indicating that particular attention should be paid to management of such wounds. It was concluded that dog-bite wounds should receive thorough surgical treatment and should be safely sutured at presentation. Special care should be given to hand wounds. Call today for a free initial consultation with a NJ Dog bite attorney.

 

Contact Us

MAIN OFFICE

 

Law Office of

Steven P. Lombardi

318 Main Street

Suite 101 B

Millburn, NJ 07041

 

Phone:

973-921-2860

 

Fax:

(862)206-8021

 

Email:

steven@

lombardilawfirm.com

 

Use our Contact Form

 

MONMOUTH COUNTY OFFICE

 

 

Atlantic Highlands NJ 07716

 

Appointments on scheduling