Monmouth County, NJ and Ocean County, NJ Dog Bites to Children
Compassionate Howell Personal Injury Lawyers Help Your Family Secure Compensation and Justice When Your Child Is Attacked by a Dog
Although dogs are considered “man’s best friend”, they are still animals that can bite or attack without provocation or warning. Children are particularly vulnerable to dog bites and attacks. Young children may not yet know how to approach or pet dogs, leading to situations where a dog is startled or annoyed and lashes out in response. Small children are also easier for dogs, especially larger breeds, to attack since the dog’s mouth can reach a child’s head or neck area.
As parents, we try to do everything we can to protect and take care of our children. If your child has been the victim of a dog bite, you will want to seek compensation to help cover the cost of your child’s medical care from the injuries he or she has suffered. But more importantly, you will want to obtain justice for your child when he or she has been the victim of a dog bite or attack.
At Drazin & Warshaw, our personal injury attorneys have worked for over 70 years to help injured victims secure the financial recovery they need and deserve for their injuries. Let our lawyers get to work fighting on behalf of your child and your family so that you can focus on helping your child recover from his or her dog bite or attack. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Injuries and Complications Suffered in Dog Bites
Even a single dog bite can result in serious injuries and medical complications. Small children are especially at risk for significant injuries from dog bites since a child’s small stature makes it easier for dogs to overpower a child and reach vulnerable areas like the face, head, and neck. Injuries and medical complications that can arise from a dog bite include:
- Serious lacerations, which can lead to profuse bleeding or serious scarring after the injury has healed
- Head injuries, including serious or permanent injuries to the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth
- Broken bones — some dog breeds, like rottweilers, have a bite pressure that can break bones
- Soft-tissue injuries, including damage to tendons, ligaments, and muscles
- Nerve damage
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Infection, including from bacteria that commonly live in dogs’ mouths such as staphylococcus, pasteurella, and capnocytophaga
A dog bite, especially for children, requires immediate medical attention, especially if the attacking dog is unfamiliar to you or you are unsure of the dog’s vaccination history.
Drazin & Warshaw Fights to Hold Negligent Dog Owners Accountable for Dog Bites to Children in Toms River, NJ
Many dog bites and attacks occur from a pet of a neighbor, friend, or extended family member. If you are bitten by a dog owned by someone you know, you may be reluctant to seek compensation from that neighbor, friend, or family member. But when it is your child who is the victim of a dog bite or attack, your concerns about your personal relationship are outweighed by your desire to protect and defend your child.
At Drazin & Warshaw, our dog bite injury attorneys will work to recover the compensation your child needs and deserves from the owner of the attacking dog. In many cases, a dog owner will have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance that will actually pay the compensation for your claim — that way, you won’t have to worry about jeopardizing your relationship with your neighbor or friend or family member. Our attorneys will work diligently to negotiate a full and fair settlement with the insurance company or to otherwise secure compensation for your child’s injuries and pain and suffering. We have the experience and legal knowledge necessary to successfully pursue dog bite claims — our track record of results in securing millions in compensation for our client speaks for itself. Let our attorneys get to work to fight for your child’s and your family’s rights and interests.
Contact Drazin & Warshaw Today for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with Our Dedicated Red Bank Dog Bite Attorneys
If your child has been the victim of a dog bite or dog attack due to the dog’s owner’s negligence, you and your family deserve to seek compensation and justice for your child’s injuries. Schedule a no-cost case evaluation with the dog bite attorneys at Drazin & Warshaw today. Let us fight to get the justice and fair result that your child deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dog Bites to Children in Monmouth County, NJ and Ocean County, NJ
FAQ: The dog’s owner claims that my child was teasing the dog prior to the attack. Can I still make a claim for compensation?Likely yes. Although many states’ laws provide a defense of provocation for a dog owner (meaning the owner is not liable if his or her dog bites someone who was annoying, harassing, or attacking the dog prior to the attack), New Jersey’s dog bite law does not provide for such a defense. Even if the dog’s owner argues that your child got bit because he or she was teasing the dog, you can still assert a claim for damages for dog bite injuries. However, the dog bite statute only applies when the bite victim is either on public property or lawfully on private property. If your child trespasses onto the dog owner’s property to tease the dog, you and your family may not be able to claim the benefits of the dog bite statute.
FAQ: Does it make a difference if the dog that bit my child has bitten other people in the past?New Jersey has a “strict liability” dog bite statute. This means that a dog owner is liable for any injuries caused when his or her dog bites someone. It is not necessary to show that the dog owner was negligent in some manner or that the dog had some prior indications of viciousness. Even if the dog owner used reasonable care to prevent the dog from biting someone, the owner is still liable for a bite. However, the dog bite statute does not apply to other injuries caused by dogs, such as if a dog knocks a victim over.
