The majority of personal injury claims in New Jersey require proving that another party acted negligently or recklessly. However, there are exceptions to this rule as some claims are governed by a legal concept known as strict liability. The two major types of claims which may be filed under strict liability statutes are dog bite injury claims and product liability claims. New Jersey strict liability laws for dog bites are meant to protect citizens from injurious accidents caused by dogs, but do not necessarily extend to other accidents caused by dogs or other pets.
Today, our dog bite personal injury attorneys will discuss New Jersey dog bite liability laws, when injured victims have the right to sue, and what compensation may be available through a successful personal injury claim.
Mercer County, NJ Dog Bite Personal Injury Attorneys: N.J.S.A. 4:19-16 – Liability of Dog Owner
Pursuant to New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 4:19-16 – liability of owner regardless of viciousness of dog, dog owners “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.” It is important to understand that in order to recover financial compensation, your Mercer Count dog bite personal injury attorney must prove that you were either in a public space or on private property legally. The legal right to be present on private property may extend to workers such as United States Postal Service employees.
However, injuries caused by dogs which were not the result of a bite are not covered by the aforementioned law. Other types of injuries are therefore not eligible for strict liability consideration. In cases where a dog injures a victims without a bite, your Mercer County personal injury will need to prove negligence or recklessness led to your injurious accident.
Lawrence Dog Bite Strict Liability Lawyers Recover Compensation for Clients
Dog bites or other injuries caused by dogs are generally filed as premises liability personal injury claims. Your Lawrence dog bite strict liability lawyer will seek to prove that you were injured by a dog bite and that the dog owner and/or or property owner is liable for incurred damages. As a result of a successful personal injury claim against a dog owner, you may be entitled go financial compensation to cover:
- Lost wages due to missed work
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional or mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Incidental expenses
- Much more
After you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of a dog attack, it is paramount that you see a doctor as soon as possible. The reasons for seeking immediate medical attention are twofold: you will be receiving the medical care which you require, and you will also be receiving an official, legally valid diagnosis of your injuries. Clients sometimes “self-diagnose” injuries and use secondhand evidence for their injuries. This may not hold up in a personal injury claim. Additionally, the longer you wait to seek medical attention, the weaker the connection between your injury and your accident becomes.
Contact our Hamilton Dog Bite Injury Strict Liability Attorneys Today
The dog bite injury strict liability attorneys of Cohen & Riechelson have been protecting the legal rights of dog bite victims since 1972. Our experienced legal team provides high quality and ethical legal services for our Mercer County clients across towns like Trenton, Princeton, Lawrence, Hamilton, New Brunswick, and all of Central New Jersey. Through decades of dedicated service, our firm has garnered the well earned reputation for success and honesty amongst our clients, colleagues, and industry professionals from the legal and insurance communities.
To discuss your dog bite accident and your potential for financial compensation through a personal injury claim, please contact us online or call our Hamilton, NJ offices by dialing (609) 528-2596 today for a free and confidential consultation.
