When a dog attacks, the results can be brutal. You will likely end up in the hospital, miss days or weeks of work, and may suffer lasting injuries from the attack. If you’ve been attacked by a dog or suffered a serious dog bite, the dedicated Newark dog bite lawyers at Console & Associates are here to help.
At Console & Associates, we handle all types of Newark dog bite lawsuits. Many Newark residents keep dogs for companionship and protection, and while dogs are generally even-tempered, sometimes they snap. When they do, the results are often devastating.
We can help you pursue a claim for compensation to get you the money you need to move on with your life after a serious dog bite. With more than 25 years of experience helping Newark accident victims, you can rest assured that you are in good hands with Console & Associates. Since our firm’s inception, we’ve helped more than 6,000 clients, recovering more than $100 million on their behalf.
Yes, Newark dog bite injuries can be incredibly serious. While the immediate concern relates to skin, bone, muscle, and tendon injuries, some of the most serious Newark dog bite injuries involve infections that develop as a result of the bacteria in the dog’s mouth. Some studies have shown that three out of ten dog bite victims that develop an infection die from their injuries.
While you undoubtedly have a lot on your plate in the wake of the attack, be sure to take your health seriously and visit a doctor as soon as possible. Read below to learn more about the varying degrees of dog bite injuries.
Absolutely. New Jersey has a strict liability dog bite law, meaning that if a dog bit you, you won’t need to prove that the animal’s owner was negligent or knew that the dog was dangerous. However, if your injuries were not due to a bite—say if a dog lunged at you or you hurt yourself running from an aggressive dog—you’ll need to prove the owner was negligent.
In either situation, the recovery process is likely to have a few roadblocks along the way. The compassionate Newark personal injury attorneys at Console & Associates can help you maximize your recovery amount by gathering all medical documentation and thoroughly explaining to the insurance company, judge, or jury how your injuries impacted your life. Read below to see how the experienced Newark dog bite lawyers at Console & Associates can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Being bitten by a dog doesn’t only affect your physical health but is also an incredibly traumatizing experience that can change how you see all dogs for the rest of your life. Of course, every case is different, and the exact amount of compensation that may be available will depend on the seriousness of your injuries and how the attack impacted your life.
At Console & Associates, we’ve been handling Newark dog bite lawsuits for more than 25 years and have a deep understanding of how an attack can impact your life. We spare no expense in developing your claim so that you can recover everything you deserve, enabling you to move on with your life after a serious attack. Read below to learn more about the specific types of compensation that could be available.
People keep dogs as pets for a few reasons. For some, it’s the companionship dogs offer. However, for many others, especially in a large city like Newark, people keep dogs for protection. While the majority of dog breeds are generally friendly to humans, that is not necessarily the case for those breeds people keep around for protection.
According to a leading non-profit dog-bite advocacy group, the following are the most dangerous breeds of dogs, ranked by the number of fatalities caused by breed:
It is important to keep in mind, when it comes to dogs, there is no such thing as a “safe” breed. While certain breeds of dogs are more likely to attack a human, any dog can snap and attack a human at any moment. Dogs were, at one point, wild animals. And while humans have domesticated dogs over the past few centuries, all dogs have animalistic instincts lying beneath the surface.
At Console & Associates, we work closely with Newark dog bite victims to help them recover financial compensation from the owners of the dangerous animals that attacked them. We can help you understand what you need to prove to successfully bring your case and, if you choose to work with us, we will diligently prepare your case to help you get the money you deserve after suffering a serious injury.
While dogs are known as “man’s best friend,” the numbers tell a different story. Each day, more than 1,000 people are attacked by dogs, and nearly 5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. Of these, nearly one in five bites become infected, leading to serious, and potentially fatal, injuries. According to recent data, overall, more than 850,000 people need to seek medical attention related to dog bite injuries each year, and more than 1,000 people need to go to the emergency room after getting bitten by a dog.
In New Jersey, specifically, dog bites are a real problem. According to a report by New Jersey 101.5, the state ranks tenth overall in terms of the number of dog bites per year. On one hand, this makes sense, because New Jersey is the eleventh most populous state. However, when considering that New Jersey has one of the lowest rates of dog ownership in the country, the problem becomes more apparent. The only logical conclusion is that New Jersey residents, on average, keep more dangerous breeds of dogs, and New Jersey dog owners do not take the appropriate steps to protect others from their animals. According to a State Farm report, almost 700 New Jersey dog bite claims were filed in 2019, with a total payout of nearly $33.5 million. This means, on average, a dog bite victim was paid slightly under $50,000.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) keeps track of fatal dog bite attacks. A study conducted by the CDC looked at the period between 1978 and 1996, finding the following:
Suffering from a dog bite will seriously interrupt your life, often due to no fault of your own. You do not need to bear these expenses on your own. At Console & Associates, our Newark dog bite lawyers can help you recover money damages for what you’ve been through, so you can focus on moving forward with your life after the attack.
Dogs can attack anywhere, for any reason, and when they do, they often cause severe injuries. If you have endured a Newark dog bite, you understand how serious the situation is. Almost always, a dog bite will result in serious skin injuries, such as cuts, lacerations, bruises, and welts. However, skin-related injuries are only the beginning. Due to their genetics, some breeds of dogs will latch on once they bite, locking their jaws on their victim. This can cause broken bones and torn ligaments.
Dog bites also pose other very serious risks, including infection. The two most common types of infection are rabies and Capnocytophaga. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about one in every five dog bites become infected. The signs of infection generally appear within three to five days but may take up to 14 days to show up in some cases. The symptoms of an infection include:
According to the CDC, about 30 percent of dog bite victims who develop an infection die. Those who have suffered a dog bite must seek immediate medical attention to reduce the risk of infection. Even if you did not develop an infection and recovered from your injuries, you may still be entitled to compensation. Reach out to the Newark dog bite attorneys at Console & Associates for help with your case.
If you’ve been attacked by a dog, you probably have a lot of questions. One place to start when looking for answers is the New Jersey dog bite law. New Jersey, like most states, has a strict liability dog bite statute.
Under New Jersey Revised Statutes section 4:19-16, when a dog owner’s animal bites another person, the owner is strictly liable for their injuries, provided the victim was either in a public place or another place they were legally permitted to be. Thus, the law does not require you to prove that the animal’s owner was negligent or knew their dog was dangerous or that it attacked someone in the past. Additionally, if a dog bites you and you suffer other injuries, such as if the dog jumped on you or chased you, you can recover compensation for these injuries as well.
However, if you were injured in a Newark dog attack that did not involve a bite, the state’s strict liability law does not apply. In this situation, you would need to prove that the owner of the dog was negligent. In short, this requires you to prove that the owner violated a duty of care they owed to you and that their breach of that duty resulted in your injuries.
When assessing this type of claim, courts consider the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s dangerousness, as well as whether it previously acted aggressively towards others. The court will look to the owner’s knowledge in determining whether the steps they took to prevent an attack. For example, if an owner’s dog had never bitten anyone before, it may be appropriate to take the dog out with a leash only. However, if the owner knew that their animal had attacked someone in the past, the owner may be expected to place a muzzle on the dog.
When it comes to defenses in a Newark dog bite claim, there is really only one: If a dog bite victim was trespassing at the time of the accident, the owner might not be liable for their injuries. However, unlike other states, New Jersey does not allow an exception to the general rule of strict liability for cases in which the victim provoked or enticed the animal.
While New Jersey has a strict liability dog bite law, which favors dog bite victims, you still must present certain evidence to prove a Newark dog bite case. For example, to the extent possible, you would want to obtain the following:
Even if the owner’s liability appears clear, it is crucial that you obtain all of the above information to maximize the amount of damages you can recover. The Newark dog bite lawyers at Console & Associates are available to answer any questions you have about the process and can help you prepare a compelling case for maximum compensation.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Newark, you can bring a claim against the owner of the animal that bit you. There may also be other potentially liable parties, such as the owner of the property where you were bitten. If you are successful in bringing a claim, you can recover money damages for your injuries.
The amount of compensation awarded to Newark dog bite victims depends on several factors. Generally, the more serious the injury and the greater its impact on your life, the more compensation you could receive. Other factors include:
According to a recent report by State Farm, the average payout for a dog bite claim was roughly $50,000. However, you could be entitled to more or less, depending on the seriousness of your injuries and how the attack affected your life. At Console & Associates, we have assembled a team of dedicated Newark dog bite lawyers who work closely with victims and their families to pursue maximum compensation on their behalf.
Newark dog bite injury attorney, Richard P. Console Jr.
If you or someone you love recently suffered serious injuries after being bitten by a dog, reach out to the dedicated Newark dog bite attorneys at Console & Associates. We understand that recovering from dog bite injuries is a long—and challenging—road, and we want to help. When you bring us on board, we will do everything we can to make the process as straightforward as possible, so you can focus on your recovery.
We will handle everything, including gathering all necessary evidence, locating medical records, working with your healthcare team, and negotiating with the insurance company. If the insurance company doesn’t offer you a fair settlement, we will confidently take your case to trial to get you what you deserve. We offer all dog bite victims a no-win, no-fee promise, meaning you won’t pay for anything unless we can help you recover compensation for your injuries. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with a Newark dog bite attorney, call 862-229-1137 or contact us online today.
Our Newark, NJ Law office is located at:
Console and Associates, P.C.
494 Broad Street, #208B
Newark, NJ 07102
“I whole-heartedly recommend him to anyone searching for results and compassion throughout the process. There are so many attorneys out there who don’t care about their clients or don’t really understand personal injury matters. Choosing one of them can really be a huge life-changing mistake. Do yourself a favor and just call and talk to him, and you will see what I am talking about.” D. Brown / Client
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
D. Brown
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Dog Bite Stats and Info:
https://www.iii.org/article/spotlight-on-dog-bite-liability
https://nj1015.com/dog-bite-claims-nj-ranks-10th-in-nation/
https://quotewizard.com/news/posts/dog-bite-claims-by-state
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2018/04/06/485542.htm
https://www.chp.edu/injury-prevention/safety/home-and-yard/dog-bites/facts-and-figures
https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2019-06/new-study-identifies-most-damaging-dog-bites-by-breed/ (most dangerous dogs)
https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics.php
https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2019.php (fatal accidents)
Dog Bite Insurance:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/homeowners-insurance-cover-dog-bites
https://www.valuepenguin.com/does-renters-insurance-cover-dog-bites (excluded breeds)
