PERSONAL INJURY

New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer

If you have been bitten or attacked by somebody else’s dog, you may be entitled to compensation for losses related to your injuries, including your medical bills, lost income from missed work, and pain and suffering. However, insurance companies will fight hard to minimize their liability to you, jeopardizing your health and your future. Turn to a New Jersey dog bite lawyer from Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman for the legal advocacy you need to demand accountability for your injuries.

Since 1929, our firm has represented injured people throughout New Jersey, and we have secured hundreds of millions of dollars on their behalf over nearly a century of service. Our considerable success has earned us not only the respect of judges and fellow attorneys, but also the trust and gratitude of our clients. Four of every five new clients come to us through referrals from past clients or other attorneys.

If someone else’s dog attacked you, you likely deserve financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and personal suffering you have endured. Get the legal representation you need to demand maximum recovery from the insurance company. Reach out to Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman today for a free, no-obligation case review with a New Jersey dog bite lawyer.

Why You Need Our Law Firm for Your Dog Bite Injury Claim

After you have suffered a dog bite injury, you may be unsure about where to turn for help seeking compensation for your medical bills and other losses. A New Jersey dog bite injury lawyer from Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman can analyze your situation, set out your claim options, and demand the money you deserve. Our firm will work tirelessly towards a full financial recovery for the harm and loss you have suffered. Injured people throughout New Jersey turn to our firm for legal help because:

We have a proven reputation for success in clients’ cases. Over nearly a century of legal service, our attorneys have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation through settlements and verdicts in injury cases.
We stand ready to take on the insurance companies. Our attorneys and team of talented support staff can tackle even the most complex and challenging cases. Insurance companies often try to intimidate and overwhelm accident victims with their significant legal resources, but our team can go toe-to-toe with any attorneys.
We combine the resources of a large firm with the client service of a boutique law office. We consider ourselves a “mid-sized” firm that is big enough to have the resources to take on the most complex cases and fight large law firms, yet small enough to offer our clients a close, personal relationship.

From our clients

I would recommend Richard Isolde to my family and friends, and he was accommodating in handling our case. He was always available by text, phone calls, and email. Most significantly, he helped us get what we deserved. Richard Isolde is always there for his clients and does whatever he can to get the job done.

Richard Isolde worked very hard on my case, making the impossible possible.
He was able to get the full amount up to the policy limit and then get punitive damages in addition. I understand that is a rare accomplishment. I am grateful for that and I congratulate him. Your firm was recommended to me by a friend and I will pay it forward by recommending him as well as PRA.

I used Mr. (SQ) Lee for a personal injury matter and could not have been any more pleased with his services. He understood my injury and helped me every step of the way. He was courteous and kind and I always felt better after speaking with him. His assistant, Sherrill, was also wonderful and together they made a great team! I would absolutely recommend them, and the firm, to anyone.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

At Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, we do not charge you any fees upfront to start work on your personal injury case. We will review your case for free, with no obligation to you. If we believe you have a claim for compensation, we will do all the legal legwork with no out-of-pocket cost to you. When we recover compensation for you, our fee then comes as a percentage of that. If we don’t win, you don’t pay us. It’s that simple.

Common Types of Injuries from Dog Bites and Other Animal Attacks

Victims of dog bites and animal attacks often suffer injuries and medical complications like:

Lacerations and avulsions
Puncture wounds
Broken bones
Crush injuries
Ligament, tendon, and muscle damage
Nerve damage
Facial injuries, including eye or ear damage
Bacterial or viral infections, including rabies, tetanus, MRSA, or capnocytophaga infections
Mental or emotional injuries, such as PTSD or newly developed cynophobia (fear of dogs)

In many cases, dog bite injuries can lead to permanent scars, while more extensive injuries can also cause disfigurement and disability after the injuries heal. In extreme cases, dog bite injuries can prove fatal.

New Jersey Dog Bite Laws

Under many circumstances, New Jersey law imposes strict liability on dog owners for injuries caused when their dog bites or attacks someone. N.J.S.A. §4:19-16 states that a dog owner will be liable for damages suffered by a person bitten by a dog while the person is in a public place or lawfully in a private place. A dog owner is liable for injuries inflicted by their dog regardless of any negligence on their part, such as their failure to contain their dog on their property or to restrain the dog while out in public. A dog bite injury victim also does not need to prove that the dog owner knew about their dog’s aggressive or vicious tendencies or that their dog had previously attacked or bitten another person or animal.

However, New Jersey law does recognize comparative fault for a dog bite. A dog owner can argue that an injured victim’s negligence or recklessness contributed to the attack. For example, if a person torments or provokes a dog and the dog bites or attacks in self-defense, that person may be held partly or entirely responsible for the injuries they suffer. In addition, a dog owner is typically not liable if their dog bites someone who has trespassed onto the owner’s property.

Who Could Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite?

New Jersey law makes dog owners liable for any injuries their animals inflict. However, some dog bite victims may feel uncomfortable pursuing a compensation claim after being bitten by a dog owned by someone they know, such as a family member, friend, or neighbor. However, you do not need to worry about taking money from someone you know. Dog bite claims are typically handled by the homeowners’ or renters’ liability insurance policy of the dog owner. Therefore, you can expect to pursue your claim with the insurance company, which will pay you compensation for your expenses and losses.

Our Victories

Nursing Home Settlements

Settlements from nursing home neglect cases involving contraction of pressure ulcers, falls with fractures or other injuries and infections have resulted in the following outcomes.

$2M

$2 Million Settlement in SUV Accident Case

A passenger in a SUV suffered a broken neck and other injuries when the vehicle rolled over because of the negligence of the driver and the failure of a tire.

$750K

$750,000 for Defective Product in “Scalding Water Leak” Injury

A delivery driver brought his car in to the dealer for a water leak repair. A week later he returned because the leak continued. He was told to continue driving the car and return a few days later.

$425K

$425,000 for Neck & Spinal Injuries in Missile Silo Clean-up “Missing Floor Fall”

While cleaning up an abandoned US Air Force missile silo, our client fell through an unmarked missing floor in a dark room. He suffered serious neck and spinal injuries, requiring two surgeries.

$4.47M

$4.47 Million in Paralyzing Injury from Swimming Pool Diving Accident

When a 19-year-old woman dove into an above ground swimming pool, she fractured her neck and became a quadriplegic for life. There were no warning signs at the pool, although the law requires diving warnings.

$700K

$700,000 to Diabetic Plumber Injured at Construction Site

Climbing down a ladder, a union plumber stepped on a nail protruding from wood left at a construction site in Jersey City by the general contractor or sub-contractors that had performed framing on the construction site.

$1.1M

$1.1 Million Pre-Trial Settlement for Bus Accident Victim

A construction foreman, driving his pick-up truck south on the NJ Turnpike, was struck from behind by a commercial bus and forced across two lanes of traffic.

$1.4M

$1.4 Million Dollar Settlement in Truck Accident

We obtained a $1.4 million dollar settlement on behalf of a driver whose vehicle was struck by a tractor trailer’s blown-out tire. Our client was driving his company vehicle when the Defendant’s tractor trailer had a tire blowout.

$95K

$95,000 for Man Injured in Auto Accident

A 47-year-old man received $95,000 in a settlement to compensate him for a serious fracture to his right wrist suffered in an auto accident. Although the fracture required surgery, the man made a good recovery from his injury.

$250K

Car accident victim suffering severe injuries awarded $250,000

A New Jersey driver swerved into an improperly installed guardrail/partition which, upon impact, impaled the vehicle and severed our client’s left leg. Despite a series of complex circumstances impacting liability, and our client passing away due to an unrelated medical condition, we settled the case for $250,000.

$200+ Million

Recovered for Clients

Personal Injury Practice Areas

Attorney Average Years in Practice

Our personal injury attorneys know that behind each accident victim is a personal tragedy, a story to be told, responsibility to be taken, wrongs to be righted, and closure needed.

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Potential Compensation for Victims of Dog Attacks in New Jersey

If you were injured by a dog attack, you may be entitled to recover compensation for expenses and losses such as:

Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency care, surgery, prescription medications to treat pain or infection, physical and occupational therapy, medical and mobility equipment purchases, and mental health care to treat mental injuries such as PTSD
Long-term care expenses to help treat permanent disability caused by dog bite injuries
Loss of wages or income for taking time off work to recover from injuries
Loss of earning capacity and employment benefits if permanent impairments or disabilities prevent you from returning to work
Physical pain and emotional distress and trauma
Loss of quality of life due to visible scarring and disfigurement that causes embarrassment or due to physical disability interfering with daily activities

What Happens When a Child Is a Dog Bite Victim?

Unfortunately, young children make up a disproportionate share of dog bite victims. One study found children have an approximately 50 percent chance of being bitten by a dog at some point in their life. The same study also found that 80 percent of children severely injured by dog bites suffer injuries to the head and neck. Younger children tend to be more severely injured in dog attacks because they

lack the strength to fend off an attacking dog, and their shorter stature means that dogs can more easily reach their vulnerable necks and heads.

Dog bite injury claims involving injuries to young children also have unique characteristics. For example, young children are presumed not to have any partial responsibility for the dog’s attack. Claims arising from injuries to young children may also involve different kinds of compensation, such as special care or services that a young child may need for debilitating injuries or compensation for permanent scarring or disfigurement.

Deadline for Filing a Dog Bite Claim in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the statute of limitations imposes a deadline for filing your dog bite claim in court to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. In most cases, you have only two years from the date a dog bite or attack injured you to file suit against the dog’s owner and their insurance provider.

If you file suit after the limitations period expires on your claim, your case will likely be dismissed from court, and you will lose your opportunity to obtain financial recovery for your injuries. That makes it essential to talk to a New Jersey dog bite injury lawyer with Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman as soon as possible to timely pursue your claims.

How Our Attorneys Help People Hurt in Dog Attacks

If you have been hurt in a dog attack, let a New Jersey dog bite attorney from Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman help you recover the financial compensation you need by:

Gathering evidence and documents needed to build your case

including photos and video, eyewitness statements, and your medical records

Documenting your expenses and losses from your injuries

including calculating future losses that you may continue to incur after the resolution of your claim so that we pursue full financial recovery for you

Communicating with the insurance company on your behalf

so you can focus on treating and recovering from your injuries

Negotiating with the insurer to try to reach a fair and full settlement

so you can get the financial recovery you need as soon as possible

Taking your case to court and trial

if litigation becomes necessary to pursue a favorable result for you

What You Should Do If Attacked by a Dog or Other Domestic Animal

If you have been bitten or attacked by someone else’s dog or other domestic animal, you need to act to protect your rights to compensation for your losses. Take as many of these steps as possible:

Locate and notify the animal’s owner

of the attack and your injuries, and get the owner’s contact and insurance information, as well as the animal’s vaccination history.

Collect the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses

to the attack.

Seek medical attention

as soon as possible to have a doctor diagnose the injuries you suffered in the attack and begin treatment, which may include prophylaxis to prevent infection by diseases commonly carried by dogs.

Take photos of your injuries and the area where the attack occurred

You want to document potentially relevant details, such as a broken gate or hole in a fence that the animal escaped from.

Keep copies of your medical records from your treatment

and keep records of your expenses and losses, including bills, invoices, and receipts, as well as pay stubs or income statements if you miss time from work.

Take frequent notes about the pain and difficulties you experience

due to your injuries.

Speak to a dog bite attorney as soon as possible

to learn more about your legal options and the next steps you can take to recover compensation for your injuries.

person appearing to be bitten by trained dog

Contact Our Law Firm Today to Talk with a New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer

If you’ve been bitten by someone else’s dog, you likely deserve compensation for your expenses and losses you suffered as a result. However, getting the compensation you deserve can be difficult without experienced legal advocates in your corner. That’s where Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman comes in.

Contact us today for an initial consultation to talk to a New Jersey dog bite lawyer about how we can help you pursue financial recovery and justice for your injuries. Consultations are free, and we work on contingency, which means you won’t pay us unless we recover compensation for you first.