Dog Bite Lawyers in New Jersey

Dog Bite Injury Attorneys in Clifton, NJ, Advocating for Victims’ Rights in Essex County, Hudson County, Passaic County, Bergen County, Union County, and Throughout North Jersey

Dog bites can lead to life-changing physical damage and the risk of serious infections. If the attack left you with significant injuries of any kind, our dog bite lawyers in New Jersey can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Corradino & Papa, LLC handles personal injury matters exclusively, standing up for victims throughout NJ. We’re ready to help you understand your options and prepare a strong claim for the insurance payout you deserve. To get started with a complimentary initial consultation, contact us today.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

After a dog bite, you need to get both medical and legal help.

Seek immediate medical assistance for your injuries. The force of a dog bite can slice through the skin, damage tissues and nerves, and even fracture bones. If the attack knocks you to the ground, you might sustain a traumatic brain injury from hitting your head or spinal cord damage from hitting your neck or back. Even if the bodily injury itself is relatively minor, a dog bite can lead to severe infections. Waiting to see a doctor could allow your dog bite injuries to worsen.

You also need to document the bite by reporting it to police or animal control. If possible, take photos or videos of the scene of the bite, your injuries, and the dog that bit you.

Retaining our seasoned dog bite injury attorneys in Clifton, NJ, to manage the claim for you removes the stress from the legal process. You can focus on your recovery while we handle everything else.

Dog Bite Injury Claims in Clifton, NJ

The dog bite laws in New Jersey protect the injured and establish victims’ right to pursue compensation for their injuries.

New Jersey’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law

State law establishes a pet owner’s liability for dog bite injuries. In New Jersey, dog owners are subject to a “strict liability” rule under N.J.S.A.4:19-16.

Under strict liability, a defendant’s legal responsibility does not depend on their having committed any gross negligence or acted with any intent to harm. In the context of dog bite injury claims, this means that victims can seek compensation even if there is no evidence that the owner of the dog in question was negligent or had malicious intentions. The dog doesn’t need to have a prior history of bites or other aggressive behavior for victims in New Jersey to seek compensation for a dog bite.

You can seek compensation for a dog bite as long as:

• It can be established that the defendant owned the dog that bit you, and
• The attack took place either on public property or on any private property where your presence was lawful, including the dog owner’s home.

A dog owner or their insurer can’t defend the claim by arguing that the dog has never acted viciously before or that the owner had no prior knowledge of the dog’s vicious conduct. Under strict liability, the dog owner is legally and financially responsible for the injuries and other damages that result from the bite, regardless of whether the dog had a history of aggression and whether the owner took reasonable measures, such as keeping the dog on a leash.

This strict liability rule applies when you have been invited onto private property by its owner through either express or implied invitation, as well as when you are lawfully performing a duty imposed by state or federal law or by postal regulations. If the dog bite occurred while you were attending a party or cookout, delivering packages, or performing work on the dog owner’s private property as agreed, for example, you would be considered lawfully on the premises, and the dog owner would face strict liability for your injuries.

For dog bite victims, the state’s strict liability law paves the way for recovering the compensation you deserve. In states that only allow victims to seek compensation when a dog has a prior history of aggression, the first bite victim may suffer irreversible injuries and have no way to get compensated for their medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. That’s not the case in New Jersey, where you can file an insurance claim and pursue compensation without having to establish that the dog was aggressive or its owner was careless, negligent, or malicious.

What Happens in a Dog Bite Lawsuit?

There are a lot of misconceptions about how a dog bite lawsuit is handled in New Jersey, and these misunderstandings can keep injured victims from recovering the compensation they deserve.

A dog bite injury claim is a civil legal matter rather than a criminal one, in which the outcome you’re seeking is financial compensation.

Generally, this compensation is paid out by insurance companies, not individuals. You filing a claim for compensation doesn’t directly impact the dog owner’s finances or get the owner or their dog in legal trouble.

Under the state’s strict liability rule, you don’t even have to argue that the dog is generally aggressive or that its owner is irresponsible. You’re simply filing an insurance claim through the coverage the dog owner has already purchased in order to receive compensation for your injuries and other damages.

How to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in New Jersey

Although the state’s strict liability law is on your side, you shouldn’t attempt to handle a dog bite injury claim on your own. Having Corradino & Papa, LLC’s dog bite injury attorneys in Clifton, NJ, handling your claim for you both reduces the hassle of the legal process and puts you on the path to recover the full amount of damages you’re entitled to.

Our knowledge of dog bite cases equips us with the skills to fully document all of your damages, including losses that you may not realize are compensable under the law. If the insurance company disputes your claim or refuses to offer the settlement amount you deserve, we’re prepared to begin the litigation process and, if needed, take your case all the way to trial.

Filing your dog bite insurance claim begins with an initial evaluation of the facts of your case, followed by a more in-depth investigation that allows us to gather evidence and documentation of your damages. Our dog bite lawyers in New Jersey handle all aspects of the claims process and represent our clients in all proceedings.

How Corradino & Papa, LLC Can Help

Getting the compensation you need for a dog bite injury is essential to recovering from the physical, emotional, and financial difficulties these attacks can pose. Throughout the state, injured victims turn to Corradino & Papa, LLC, for legal assistance.

How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Help in a Dog Bite Claim

Our dog bite lawyers in New Jersey secure results for our clients through diligent case preparation, starting with a thorough investigation that allows us to gather evidence. We work with a network of medical experts and other expert witnesses, as well as support staff and investigators, to maximize your compensation. Our dog bite lawyers in New Jersey have the skills to evaluate your medical records, analyze the dog’s medical history, investigate and establish the dog’s ownership, and thoroughly assess the facts surrounding the attack.

As skilled negotiators and Certified Civil Trial Attorneys, we’re prepared to pursue all possible paths to resolving your claim.

Why Choose Corradino & Papa, LLC?

Our team of dog bite injury attorneys in Clifton, NJ, has a reputation for serving the injured and securing results. Find out why clients choose us:

• Experience: Our firm has represented injured victims in New Jersey for more than 25 years, and our team possesses more than 130 years of combined experience.
• Results: Corradino & Papa, LLC has recovered more than $100 million in compensation and continues to secure millions of dollars for our clients each year.
• Legal help at no upfront cost: Between our free consultation offer and our contingency-based representation, our team ensures that every dog bite victim can afford the legal help they need.

The work we put into every client’s injury claim and the results we achieve empower the injured to move forward with life after a serious dog bite injury.

Contact Corradino & Papa, LLC’s Dog Bite Lawyers in New Jersey Today for a Free Case Review

Dog bite victims shouldn’t have to shoulder the physical, emotional, and financial burdens of an injury alone. With dedicated, compassionate legal support, you can receive the compensation you need to take your life back.

For help from dog bite injury attorneys in Clifton, NJ, contact Corradino & Papa, LLC online or call 973-381-1706 today.