Clifton Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites can inflict serious physical and emotional damage on victims. In severe cases, it may not be possible to ever fully recover from a dog attack. At The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C., we can help you seek justice for a life-changing dog bite injury in Clifton or the surrounding areas.

Our Clifton personal injury lawyers understand how New Jersey’s dog bite laws work and how much these cases mean to our clients. We will navigate the legal process on your behalf to achieve the best possible results for your case while you focus on healing and moving forward. Contact us to start with a free consultation.

Why Choose Our Clifton Dog Bite Lawyer?

You will receive personalized legal services from highly experienced trial lawyers. Together, our legal team has almost a century of combined experience.
Our success stories showcase a long history of maximizing our clients’ payouts. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients in our dedication to assisting them.
There are no fees for our services unless we win your dog bite case. You will pay us $0 out-of-pocket win or lose, as we take our fees only from a settlement or judgment award won.

How Can Hiring a Clifton Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Benefit You?

Taking on a dog bite injury case unrepresented could make you vulnerable to tactics that insurance companies often use to save money on client payouts, such as undervaluing your losses, offering an inadequate settlement or denying your claim outright. A Clifton dog bite injury attorney will be your advocate to protect your rights during the claims process.

Your dog bite injury lawyer in Clifton will start by investigating the dog attack and gathering evidence of fault, liability and your losses. Then, he or she can take over communications with an insurance company on your behalf to negotiate for fair compensation for your losses. Although most dog bite injury cases reach settlements, your lawyer can take your case to trial in Clifton, if necessary.

An dog bite injury attorney in Clifton will have connections to highly qualified experts who can testify and strengthen your case. Most importantly, hiring a dog bite lawyer to take care of the legal process for you can free up your time and energy to focus on healing. At The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C., we cover all upfront costs so you don’t have to pay us a dime in attorney’s fees unless we win your case.

What Is New Jersey’s Dog Bite Law?

In the State of New Jersey, dog owners are liable, or legally and financially responsible, for all injuries or harm caused by their dogs, regardless of the question of negligence. This means they must pay for a victim’s medical expenses even if they did not contribute to the incident. This is known as a strict liability dog bite law, and it is found in New Jersey Statutes Annotated § 4:19-16:

Section 4:19-16 – Liability of owner regardless of viciousness of dog

The owner of any dog which shall bite a person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.

A strict liability law does not require proof that a pet owner knew or reasonably should have known about a dog’s propensity for viciousness. Even if the dog had never bitten anyone previously, the pet owner would still be held responsible for the attack as long as the victim was not trespassing at the time.

Steps to Take After Being Bitten by a Dog in Clifton

If you get bitten or attacked by a dog in Clifton, try to remain calm and remember to take the following steps to protect yourself physically and legally:

Get to a safe place away from the dog to assess your injuries. Seek medical attention immediately; dog bite injuries can have complications, so it is essential to be seen by a health care professional without delay.
Exchange information with the dog’s owner, if available. This includes contact information and the dog’s vaccination status. Take pictures of the dog and of your injuries. If there are any eyewitnesses, write down their information, as well.
Report the incident to the proper authorities. This includes Clifton Animal Control and the police, in an emergency. Ask for a copy of your incident report. Then, contact the dog owner’s insurance company to file an injury claim.

Before proceeding any further with a dog bite injury claim, contact an attorney to discuss your rights. Your claim may be worth more than what an insurer initially offers you.

Top Injuries Caused by Dog Attacks

Dog attacks can cause a range of injuries, from minor to severe, depending on the size and type of the dog and various other circumstances. Catastrophic dog bite injuries can maim or disfigure a survivor for the rest of his or her life, inflicting great emotional trauma in addition to physical harm.

Common types of injuries associated with dog attacks include:

Broken bones
Bruising and contusions
Eye and ear injuries
Facial injuries
Infections and illnesses
Nerve damage
Organ damage
Permanent scarring and disfigurement
Puncture wounds
Scratches and lacerations
Soft-tissue damage

At The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C., our attorneys are prepared to handle all types of injury claims involving violent dog attacks. We also represent families in wrongful death cases after tragic dog bite cases that turn fatal.

What Types of Compensation Are Available?

Holding a pet owner responsible for dog bite injuries could lead to an insurance settlement or judgment award that provides financial compensation to reimburse you for various losses.

Examples include:

Past and future medical bills
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Counseling from a therapist
Property damage repairs
Lost wages and capacity to earn
Pain and suffering
Wrongful death damages, if applicable

Every case is unique. Discuss the potential value of your specific dog bite injury claim with our Clifton dog bite injury attorneys for personalized information.

Request a Free Consultation With a Clifton Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

Dealing with a dog bite injury claim on your own can be overwhelming. The Clifton dog bite injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C., can help you with each phase of the legal process, protecting your rights along the way. We are committed to successfully resolving cases for our dog bite injury clients. Contact us today by calling (201) 834-7043 for a free consultation.