How Dog Bite Injury Compensation is Determined

New Jersey is a strict liability dog bite state. This means the dog’s owner is liable for any damages the bite causes, provided you were bitten in public or while lawfully present on private property. Due to the nature of strict liability, our experienced dog bite injury lawyers settle most viable cases with the owner’s property insurer. The insurance company cannot generally battle liability, but it will do everything possible to reduce your settlement significantly.

Do not accept any proposed insurance settlement for a dog bite without first speaking with a qualified New Jersey personal injury attorney from DiBartolo Law. We provide risk-free case evaluations to dog bite victims and might help maximize available insurance compensation.

Types of Compensation in Injury Cases

New Jersey’s dog bite law (N.J. Rev. Stat. § 4:19-16) states that dog owners are strictly liable “for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten.” This gives dog bite victims the right to demand the full array of personal injury damages available in New Jersey, including the following:

Medical Compensation

Due to the fatal nature of certain diseases and bacteria transferred via dog bites, victims should immediately present to the local hospital for preventative treatment. This treatment often involves thorough wound cleaning, antibiotics, and preventative vaccinations. You may recover financial compensation for all medically necessary expenses caused by the bite, such as:

• Hospital bills
• Therapy expenses
• Cosmetic procedures
• Medications and scar creams
• Mental health counseling
• Surgeries
• Medical Transportation
• Nursing care

The nature and extent of these medical losses are the primary factors used to calculate dog bite settlements, but victims often leave money on the table.

Lost Income and Benefits

Dog bites and resulting infections may damage underlying bones and tissues, making work difficult. Some victims even need life-saving amputations. You may also demand direct damages for your lost earnings and workplace benefits, including future anticipated losses.

How a Lawyer Can Help with Your Settlement

Reputable lawyers will first request the applicable insurance declarations page, which sets forth the maximum available compensation based on coverage limits. This sets the boundary for most settlements. Settlements are generally calculated based on your reasonable past and future medical expenses and economic losses.

Because you cannot put a number on pain and suffering (non-economic) damages, these are generally calculated as a multiple of your economic damages. The multiplying factor depends on the case’s severity and resulting injuries.

Maximize Your Dog Bite Injury Settlement with Legal Representation

Our reputable dog bite injury attorneys work with expert witnesses to calculate anticipated economic damages and fight to ensure pain and suffering settlements. We only collect a portion of any eventual settlement and do not require upfront legal fees. Call DiBartolo Law in New Jersey for free today at (215) 874-8553 or connect online to maximize your compensation.