New Jersey Dog Attack Attorneys
Dog Bite FAQs
What constitutes a dog bite?
The term "dog bite" is generally used in any dog attack. Generally any dog who grabs a person with their mouth in some manner has committed a bite. In cases where the skin is unbroken or some external object (like thick clothing) prevents skin rupture the dog can still be liable for biting. In New Jersey the dog bite victim must be able to prove that the dog bit them for a case to move forward.
What sort of evidence can I use to prove the dog bit me?
The most compelling and widely used bits of evidence are photographs and witness testimony. Pictures of the extent of the wounds as soon after they occur can provide the victim with a clear case of dog bite. Pictures of any affected clothing and of the area where the attack took place (even after the attack) can also be extremely useful.
Medical records, including paramedic and hospital reports regarding the dog bite can also help in proving that a person was injured.
How serious are dog bites?
Throughout the US the number of dog bite and attack victims each year is estimated to be as high as 5 million people. Some 800,000 people need medical attention for their injuries and 1,000 people each day are sent to the emergency room for their dog bite related problems. Many people die from their dog bite injuries.
More than half of the victims of dog bites are children, most of who suffer from some sort of facial disfigurement.
What kinds of dogs are most involved in dog attacks?
The recent trend in dog bite cases has seen a rise in the number of attacks by pit bulls and Rottweilers. While these dogs by themselves can also be very docile and kind, if they are provoked in certain ways they can be extremely deadly due to their muscular strength.
In many cases of dog bites in New Jersey the dog owner played a significant role in creating a dangerous dog. Dog abuse, forcing the dog to fight other dogs and training the dog to be aggressive can all lead to a dangerous dog.
Why should I hire a lawyer to help me?
Even if you have been approached by the dog owner's insurance provider to settle your case without a lawyer you should contact us. In many cases insurance providers will try and settle the case for far less than you are owed, deny responsibility, threaten the victim or their family with further legal action and more.
You should never sign any paperwork related to the attack, agree to any settlement, or admit to any role in the attack without consulting a New Jersey animal attack lawyer for advice. The office of Lependorf & Silverstein provides free legal advice to anyone suffering from a dog bite. Please contact us with any of your questions and learn how you can protect yourself from any legal problems.
What if the dog owner was a relative or friend?
Even if you know the dog owner they are still liable for the actions of their dog, especially when the dog attacks someone else. Having legal assistance will protect you, not from the dog owner, but from their insurance provider.
Every dog-owning homeowner in New Jersey is required to be covered under their insurance provider. It is not the dog owner who is required to pay for your damages but their insurance company. Insurance companies can be notoriously unreliable in providing legally owed money, especially in dog bite cases.
How do I hire a lawyer?
Contact Lependorf & Silverstein at our office in Princeton for a free consultation. Our New Jersey dog bite lawyers have been handling personal injury and dog bite related cases throughout New Jersey for years. We give free, no-obligation legal advice to anyone who contacts us.
If we are going to be your legal representation we do not ask for any payment upfront. Most every dog bite case we handle is paid to us via a contingent fee. The contingent fee is a preset amount of your settlement only and is only paid to us if we win your case. There is no obligation on your part other than to let us protect you.
We never charge hidden legal fees and always factor your part of the contingent fee into any amount we agree to settle on. Please contact us today for any New Jersey dog bite related problem. We look forward to helping you.
Contact our team at Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation and let our smart, aggressive legal representation go to work for you today.
