The law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff handles dog bite cases in Metuchen and throughout Middlesex 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. 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.
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.
If you have been injured as a result of a dog bite, dog knock-down and/or dog attack in Metuchen, it is important to contact a lawyer familiar with the laws related to dog bite cases. The attorneys of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff have many years experience representing victims of dog attacks and other personal injury cases throughout New Jersey. Jon Bramnick, Jonathan Arnold and Stephanie Mitterhoff are Certified Civil Trial Lawyers. Bramnick has also been recognized as a New Jersey "Super Lawyer" based upon his experience in personal injury law.
Free Consultations Available – Metuchen Dog Bite Lawyer
(732) 651-9999
We offer free initial consultations. If you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers, you can reach us at (732) 651-9999 for our Middlesex County office or (908) 322-7000 for our Union County office. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day.
