If you have an injury because of a dog bite or an animal attack, then you should not be responsible for the financial burden it can cause. Animal-related injuries can keep you from work, require medical attention and possibly cause damage to your property. You will want to seek compensation from the at-fault party or owner with one of our certified trial lawyers.

Our attorneys at the Law Office of Cuneo & Leonetti offer professional legal counsel to clients in Cherry Hill and Collingswood, New Jersey. When you consult us, you will have 24-hour access to a firm’s partner for any of your questions or concerns. Allow us to protect your interest as we aggressively seek the compensation and benefits you deserve.

Collingswood dogs barking at fence.

How Can a Cherry Hill Dog Bite Lawyer Help?

You may be wondering how an attorney can help after the damage is already done, but did you know that your medical insurance coverage may not be enough to cover the expenses associated with dog attacks in New Jersey? Not only that, but New Jersey’s liability laws hold dog owners accountable for their dog’s behavior from the moment they take ownership, regardless of whether or not the dog has a history of biting or aggression. A dog bite lawyer in Cherry Hill can help navigate the legal requirements of your dog bite claim to maximize your compensation, including for consequences of the injury such as lost wages and pain and suffering—known as your “damages” in a personal injury claim for dog bites in New Jersey. We will provide the following advantages in your case:

A free case consultation and no upfront fees—instead, we only take a fee after we secure ample compensation for your damages
Experienced guidance and legal counsel from attorneys with combined decades of experience in recovering compensation for dog bite victims in New Jersey
A thorough investigation to document evidence and present a compelling case to the dog owner’s property liability insurance company
Careful calculation of your damages so you miss no compensation you deserve
Skilled negotiators to maximize your chances of a large settlement so you don’t have to go to court
Experience litigators who are more than ready to argue your case in court should it become necessary to recover your damages

By reaching out to the Cherry Hill dog bite lawyers at Cuneo & Leonetti, you can take the time to recover from the trauma and pain of a dog attack while we handle the legal aspects of your case.

Seek The Full Compensation For Your Dog Bite

Whether the dog or animal was off its leash or comfortable in its own home, if an animal attacked you it is the owner’s responsibility to pay for damages. Those damages include:

Medical bills and any future medical care costs for corrective surgery, rehabilitation, or infection treatment
Pain and suffering
Lost wages and future income loss related to the bite injuries
Property damage
Emotional trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression
Any other non-economic damages that apply in your unique dog bite injury claim in New Jersey such as disfigurement, loss of digits or limb, or diminished earning capacity due to disability

Dog bites and animal attack injuries require medication such as antibiotics and pain relief. Depending on the severity of the bite, you may also need stitches, recovery, surgery or extended medical care. It is in your best interest to seek full compensation as soon as possible. Consult one of our knowledgeable and experienced Collingswood personal injury lawyers for your personal injury claim today.

What to do After a Dog Bite?

Dog attacks are one of the most terrifying experiences you can endure. Survivors may suffer shock and emotional trauma as well as visible physical injuries. After a dog bite, it’s important to protect yourself physically and financially by doing the following:

First, apply emergency first-aid measures and call 911 to request emergency services, police, and animal control
Use your cell phone to document evidence by taking photos of the dog, the dog owner, the scene of the attack, and your visible injuries
Take photos of anything relevant such as an open gate or broken leash
Add the contact information of the dog owner if they are present and that of any eyewitnesses to the attack
Go to a hospital and have a thorough evaluation
Carefully follow all of your doctor’s recommendations for treatment and followups
Save all documents, including the police and animal control reports, your medical report, medical bills, and receipts for related expenses
Call the dog bite attorneys at Cuneo & Leonetti in Cherry Hill for a free confidential consultation before speaking to the dog owner or their insurance company

Serious dog bite injuries can have lasting repercussions on the victim’s life. If you’ve suffered a dog attack, we understand the pain and trauma you’ve experienced. The compassionate advocates at Cuneo & Leonetti are ready to help you recover, both physically and financially from this traumatic experience.

New Jersey’s Dog Bite Statute, N.J.S.A. 4:19-16

New Jersey has strict liability laws in place for dog bites. Unlike the handful of “one-bite rule” states which only hold pet owners liable if a dog has a history of biting or has bitten or been aggressive at least one time before, New Jersey holds a dog owner liable for their dog’s actions under all circumstances regardless of the dog’s history. Even if an owner has no way of knowing that their dog might bite, they are responsible for taking all reasonable measures to prevent injury to anyone lawfully on their property or when others are exposed to their dog in public places. According to New Jersey Dog Bite Statute N.J.S.A4:19-16, those lawfully on a property include the following:

Those performing the delivery of mail or packages
Anyone invited by the property owner either expressly or implied
Anyone approaching the front door of a home for legitimate purposes
Children

Children are never considered trespassers in dog bite liability claims since property owners should have reasonable expectations that children could enter their property at any time and take proper precautions.

Owners are not liable for damages if a dog bites a person in the process of committing a crime on the property.

It isn’t necessary to cite owner negligence in dog bite liability claims in New Jersey due to the state’s strict pet owner liability laws. However, in some cases, dog owners may attempt to assign blame to the victim by arguing that the bite victim committed negligence by exposing themselves to a known risk if they purposely approached a dog after an owner’s warning or if they tormented or teased the dog and provoked an attack.

Other exceptions sometimes include dog attack cases in which an injury victim isn’t bitten but suffers an injury while running away from a dog, or when third parties are involved such as a paid dog walker, dog-sitter, or trainer.

Dog bite laws in New Jersey can become complex. It’s important to hire an experienced dog bite lawyer in Cherry Hill to protect your rights throughout the process of claiming compensation.

Dog Bite Settlements and Compensation

A dog attack with dog bite injuries in New Jersey comes with serious consequences to the victim’s life, including physical, financial, and emotional damages. An average settlement for a serious dog bite injury in New Jersey is around $50,000. However, this average comes from a wide range of settlements depending on the severity of the injury. Your compensation could be significantly more or less than the average amount depending on the unique circumstances of your case. Common damages claimed for compensation for dog bites include more than just medical expenses but often emotional damages as well. Emotional trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances are common after serious dog bites.

Due to a dog’s sharp, jagged teeth, dog bites can cause significant scarring. Compensation for disfigurement along with medical expenses for corrective surgeries and plastic surgery is also common in dog bite claims, as are amounts for physical therapy to restore range of motion. In some cases, compensation could include amounts for the loss of fingers, toes, or limbs.

Dogs are responsible for over 30 deaths in the U.S. each year. If your loved one was fatally injured due to dog bites, the wrongful death attorneys at Cuneo & Leonetti can help close family members gain compensation through a wrongful death claim.

The Most Common Dog Bite Injuries

A dog may be man’s best friend, but it’s still an animal, with an animal’s instincts and motives as well as sharp, jagged teeth meant for tearing meat. Dog bites cause serious injuries categorized as follows by the medical community:

Level 1 bites do not puncture the victim’s skin but may leave bruises or red marks
Level 2 bites break the skin’s surface but do not puncture through all skin levels
Level 3 bites have one to four tooth punctures with a depth of about half the length of the dog’s teeth resulting from a single bite
Level 4 bites are those reaching the full depth of the dog’s teeth in one place on the victim’s body. Often, these include serious bruising and/or tearing from a dog shaking its head while biting
Level 5 bites are deep punctures and tears in multiple locations on the victim’s body
Level 6 bites are those that result in the loss of body parts, facial disfigurement, and/or the victim’s death

Fortunately, the most common dog bite injuries in Cherry Hill and throughout New Jersey are those between level one and level four, but some New Jersey dog bite cases involve permanent injury, disfigurement, and death.

Any dog bite injury that breaks the skin is prone to serious infections and requires medical care and monitoring. In rare cases, dog bite victims require preventative treatment for rabies.

What Happens to the Dog After it Bites a Victim?

When a dog bites or scratches an individual in New Jersey, the state mandates that the dog spend at least ten days in quarantine at the expense of its owner. During this time, health officers and animal control officers evaluate the dog’s health and perform tests to determine if the dog has rabies or other infectious diseases.

Our Fees Are Contingent Upon Our Success

When you consult our attorneys at the Law Office of Cuneo & Leonetti, you will not have to pay attorney’s fees unless we recover benefits or compensation for you. We provide our clients with 24-hour accessible professional legal counsel. You will work with and have the guidance from one of our partners not a paralegal or an associate.

Find out about our commitment to seeking the full compensation you deserve. Call our Collingswood office at 856-869-9066 . You can also reach us by completing this online contact form.