Were you or a family member recently bitten by a dog in Monmouth County, New Jersey? If so, call Noonan Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC for immediate assistance. The dog’s owner and other parties may be liable for your resulting medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. Our experienced Monmouth County dog bite lawyers can help you leverage a life-changing monetary award.
Since 2007, Noonan Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC has been a source of strength and support for dog bite victims in Central New Jersey. Collectively, our top-rated trial attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience. Our tenacity and legal strategies have helped us win millions for deserving clients like you.
Don’t settle for less than you deserve after you’ve been attacked by a dog in Monmouth County, NJ. Enlist the help of our award-winning legal team. Contact our law office, centrally located in Freehold, at (732) 303 7857 to get started. Your first consultation is free.
How Noonan Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC Can Help After a Dog Attack in Monmouth County, NJ
Dog attacks can be vicious. You or your child may be struggling to recover from debilitating, painful injuries. The trauma of the dog attack may haunt you for years to come. The dog’s owner (and, in some cases, other parties) must be held accountable for what’s happened to you.
That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to our Monmouth County personal injury lawyers for help right away.
At Noonan Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC, we’re respected New Jersey trial attorneys with an unrivaled ability to make a difference in the lives of accident and injury victims across the state. Filing a dog bite injury claim will most likely have you facing off against a powerful insurance company. Our law firm has the resources, skills, and experience needed to help you level the playing field and come out on top.
When you trust us to litigate your dog bite claim, we will:
- Coordinate a thorough investigation into your dog attack
- Determine if the dog that attacked you has a history of aggression or violence
- Gather evidence, including medical records, the police report, photographs of your injuries, witness statements, and more that can be used to build a compelling legal claim
- Identify all potentially liable parties, especially if the attack occurred in public or at a Monmouth County business
- Bring in expert witnesses to consult throughout the claims process
- Represent you during settlement conferences with the dog’s owner, the insurance company, and other parties
- Aggressively seek a meaningful settlement offer that covers the full extent of your damages
- Litigate your dog bite lawsuit at trial, if necessary
We appreciate that you have a single opportunity to seek justice for your dog bite injuries. Our personal injury law firm is prepared to help you make the most of it.
Contact our Monmouth County personal injury law firm to learn more about how we can help. We offer a free consultation and represent dog bite victims on contingency. So, you’ll pay nothing until we win compensation on your behalf.
Does New Jersey Have a One Bite Rule?
Some states have a “one bite” rule that applies to dog bite cases, providing that a dog’s owner is not strictly liable the first time a dog attacks someone. Essentially, the dog’s first bite is free.
New Jersey is not a one-bite state. Instead, dog owners can be strictly liable anytime their animal attacks another animal or person. The dog’s former viciousness or lack thereof is irrelevant.
Strict liability means that you don’t have to show that the dog’s owner was negligent. Instead, liability attaches despite any measures that the owner may have taken to prevent you (and others) from being attacked.
What Do I Have To Prove To Win My Monmouth County Dog Bite Case?
First, it’s important to acknowledge that the dog’s owner isn’t the only one who might be liable for your dog bite injuries.
Liability can also extend to other parties – particularly businesses and property owners – whose negligence contributes to an animal attack.
So, there are essentially two legal grounds on which you can file a dog bite injury claim: strict liability and negligence.
Strict Liability
When you sue a dog’s owner, your claim will likely be based on strict liability.
In these situations, you’ll need to prove:
- You were bitten or attacked by a dog
- You did not provoke the animal
- You were lawfully on the premises at the time of the attack, and
- The defendant was responsible for controlling the animal.
You must also demonstrate that you’ve suffered damages because of the dog bite – such as medical expenses, a loss of income, or emotional distress.
Negligence
You may also have a valid dog bite claim based on premises liability. That’s because property owners and businesses in Monmouth County have a responsibility to protect you from known hazards on the premises. If an owner knew or should have known that a vicious dog was on the premises and did nothing to protect you or warn you, they could potentially be liable if you get hurt.
When you file a negligence action against a business, employer, or property owner in Monmouth County, you’ll need to prove:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- The defendant breached this duty of care
- The defendant’s conduct was a direct and proximate cause of the dog attack, and
- You’ve suffered damages.
Building a successful dog bite claim can be challenging, especially when you’re taking on a powerful insurer or business. Our Monmouth County dog bite attorneys have over 40 years of experience helping victims exercise their legal rights and recovering life-changing monetary awards. Put our experience to work for your benefit today.
Are Dog Bites Common in New Jersey?
New Jersey ranks ninth in the nation for dog bites. In 2020, 467 dog bite claims were filed across the Garden State. It’s estimated that dog attacks cost New Jersey residents more than $23 million every year.
Nationally, there are an estimated 4.5 million dog bites reported every year. About 20 percent of these dog bite victims require medical treatment. Most of these victims are children. In fact, 68 percent of dog bite victims are age 5 or younger.
What Types of Damages Can I Get if I’ve Been Bitten by a Dog in Monmouth County?
Filing a dog bite insurance claim or lawsuit gives you the opportunity to collect compensatory damages.
Compensatory damages include money for your verified monetary losses (economic damages) and harder-to-value trauma (non-economic damages), such as:
- Current medical bills related to hospitalization, surgery, medication, and medical devices
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages and income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Disability
- Funeral expenses if a dog bite is fatal
- Nursing assistance
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distress
If you can demonstrate that a defendant’s conduct was intentional or grossly negligent, you may also be able to recover punitive damages at trial.
Our experienced dog bite lawyers in Monmouth County will carefully construct a claim that highlights your damages and helps you recover every cent you need and deserve. We’ll use the help of experts along the way to ensure that your claim is as strong as possible.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Dogs can inflict catastrophic, potentially life-threatening injuries when they bite or attack.
At Noonan Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC, our team is here to help you advocate for compensation for all of the injuries you’ve sustained in a Monmouth County dog attack:
- Lacerations and cuts
- Broken bones
- Eye injury
- Soft tissue injury
- Infection
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Crush injury
- Amputation
- Puncture wounds
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Wrongful death of a family member
Report the dog attack to the local police immediately. Then, seek medical treatment at the closest hospital to you as soon as you can. These steps can help you document the incident and support a future legal claim for damages. Without proof of the link between the bite and your injuries, it can be tough to win and get the compensation you deserve.
How Long Do I Have To Sue After I’ve Been Bitten by a Dog in Monmouth County, New Jersey?
If you’re an adult who’s been bitten by a dog in Monmouth County, New Jersey, you’ll have two years from the date of your injury to take legal action.
Children have until their 20th birthday to sue for a dog bite.
You must file your claim before the statute of limitations expires. You lose the right to seek damages once the deadline expires. There are exceptions to this time limit, but only in rare circumstances; contact our law firm as soon as possible to confirm the deadline for your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Monmouth County Dog Bite Lawyer
You deserve justice if you’ve been bitten by a dog in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Call Noonan Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC to help you make things right.
Our Monmouth County dog bite lawyers have 40+ years of experience advocating for injury victims like yourself. Our record of success speaks volumes, with millions in settlements and jury awards recovered.
Reach out to our team in Freehold, NJ, at (732) 303 7857 to discuss your dog bite injury case. Your first consultation is free.