Injured in an Accident
Dog Bite Cases
A dog attack can happen in seconds, but the physical and emotional consequences may last for years. Pelesko Legal represents people injured by dog bites and other animal attacks in New Jersey.
Dog Bites Are a Substantial Public-Health Problem
More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States. Many attacks require medical care, and children are especially vulnerable to severe injuries.
Dog-bite injuries are not always minor puncture wounds. An attack may cause deep lacerations, crushed or torn tissue, nerve or tendon damage, infection, fractures, and permanent scarring. Bites to the face, hands, arms, or legs may require emergency treatment, surgery, reconstructive care, physical therapy, or continuing medical attention.
Scarring and disfigurement can be particularly difficult for children and for anyone bitten on a visible part of the body. Victims may also experience anxiety, sleep disturbance, fear of dogs, embarrassment, or other emotional effects after a frightening attack. These consequences should be documented and evaluated as part of the claim rather than dismissed as secondary concerns.
New Jersey Dog-Bite Law
New Jersey recognizes a statutory dog-bite claim under N.J.S.A. 4:19-16. When the statute applies, a dog owner may be held liable when the dog bites a person who was in a public place or lawfully on private property. The statutory claim does not depend on proving that the dog had bitten someone before or that the owner previously knew the dog was vicious.
The facts still matter. Questions can arise concerning who owned or controlled the dog, where the attack occurred, whether the injured person was lawfully present, available insurance coverage, and whether additional negligence claims may exist against another responsible person or property owner. A careful investigation is necessary before conclusions are reached.
Evidence That May Matter
Important evidence can disappear quickly after an attack. Depending on the circumstances, a dog-bite investigation may include:
- Photographs of the injuries during the healing process
- Emergency-room, surgical, primary-care, and specialist records
- Information identifying the dog and its owner
- Animal-control, police, or municipal reports
- Witness names and statements
- Photographs or video of the location
- Insurance-policy and property-ownership information
- Documentation of lost income, missed work, and future treatment
What Compensation May Be Available?
The damages available depend on the evidence and the individual circumstances. A claim may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, permanent injury, scarring or disfigurement, emotional harm, and reasonably anticipated future care. No website can determine the value of a case without reviewing the facts, the medical evidence, and the available insurance or assets.
The Pelesko Legal Approach
Prepare Thoroughly. Negotiate Intelligently. Fight Hard When Necessary.
Pelesko Legal does not treat unnecessary conflict as a substitute for effective representation. The first objective is to build the claim properly: identify the liability evidence, understand the insurance coverage, document the medical consequences, and explain how the injury has affected the client’s life.
Understand How Insurers Evaluate Claims
Experience representing injured people, insured defendants, insurers, and employers provides insight into the questions carriers ask, the weaknesses they look for, and the proof they expect before making a meaningful offer.
Present the Claim Persuasively
A claim is more than a stack of medical records. It should explain responsibility, causation, treatment, permanency, wage loss, and the human effect of the injury in terms the decision-maker can evaluate.
Resolve What Can Be Resolved
Many claims can be resolved without trial. The goal is a full and fair recovery supported by the facts and law, pursued as efficiently as the circumstances permit without sacrificing value merely to settle quickly.
Escalate When Necessary
When a fair resolution is not available, the matter should already be organized and prepared for litigation. Pelesko Legal will ensure that the matter has appropriate courtroom resources, including associating experienced trial counsel when appropriate and with the client’s approval.
Let Pelesko Legal Handle the Legal Work
Recovering from an animal attack should not require you to manage insurance communications, preserve evidence, obtain records, and evaluate legal responsibility on your own. Pelesko Legal can investigate the circumstances, build the claim, present it in terms the insurer can evaluate, and pursue a full and fair resolution as efficiently as the circumstances permit.
Please submit the confidential consultation form on this page so the matter can be reviewed through the firm’s intake process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the dog need to have bitten someone before?
Not for a qualifying statutory claim against the dog owner. New Jersey’s dog-bite statute does not require proof of a prior bite or proof that the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
What should I do after a dog bite?
Obtain appropriate medical care, identify the dog and owner, photograph the injuries, preserve clothing and other evidence, identify witnesses, and make any appropriate report. Prompt legal evaluation may also be important when the injuries are significant.
Can I bring a claim if the attack happened on private property?
Potentially. The statutory claim may apply when the injured person was lawfully on private property. The precise facts, permissions, location, ownership, and other circumstances must be evaluated.
Who pays a dog-bite claim?
Many claims are presented to homeowners, renters, or other applicable liability insurance. Coverage depends on the policy, the insured parties, exclusions, and the facts of the attack.