Dog Bite Lawyer in Elizabeth, New Jersey

Elizabeth Dog Bite Attorney Helps Clients Get Financial Compensation for Vicious Dog Attack Injuries

If you have been injured as a result of a dog bite, dog knock-down and/or dog attack in Elizabeth, it is important to contact a lawyer familiar with the laws related to dog bite cases. The attorneys of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC have many years of experience representing victims of dog attacks and other personal injury cases throughout New Jersey. Jon Bramnick and Jonathan Arnold Certified Civil Trial Lawyers. Jon Bramnick has also been recognized as a New Jersey “Super Lawyer” based upon his experience in personal injury law.

Our personal injury lawyers handle dog bite cases in Elizabeth and throughout Union County, New Jersey. In New Jersey, it is important for victims of a dog bite, dog knock-down and/or dog attack to know their rights. A dog owner is liable for any injuries caused by his or her pet. Dog owners are held strictly liable for dog bites. Strict liability means that regardless of whether the owner is at fault, the dog’s owner is still responsible for the injuries caused by their pet.

Dog Bite Law in Elizabeth, New Jersey

Under N.J.S.A. § 4:19-16 (New Jersey’s “Dog Bite” statute), the injured person must show three elements for the owner to be liable:

• The defendant is the owner of the dog;
• The dog bit the injured party; and
• The bite occurred while the injured person was in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the dog owner’s property.

A few situations exist where the dog owner may not be obligated to pay damages to the bite victim. These situations include when:

• The victim is a trespasser on the dog owner’s property
• The victim’s injuries are not caused by a bite
• The person who the victim is suing is not the dog’s owner
• There is a possibility that a victim not covered under the New Jersey strict liability statute can recover under a claim for negligence.

Special treatment is given to situations in which the victim bears some blame for the bite. In these cases, the victim can only recover damages from the owner if his fault was less than the fault of the owner. Damages will then be assigned based on the percentage of fault belonging to both the victim and the dog owner. This type of situation will be evaluated upon the totality of the circumstances surrounding the bite.

Free Consultations Available – Elizabeth NJ Dog Bite Attorney

We offer free initial consultations. If you have been the victim of a dog bite in Elizabeth and would like to schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers, you can reach us at 908-356-6121 for our Union County office. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day.