When you were running through your neighborhood, you felt safe. It was the middle of the day, and no one seemed to be around. It wasn’t until you heard someone shouting that you realized a dog was approaching. As you turned, you saw the dog leaping. Moments later, you found yourself on the ground fighting off a dog intent on biting and maiming you.
Owners are liable for the actions of their pets. In this case, you hadn’t done anything to provoke the dog, yet it attacked and injured you. It’s traumatic and shocking. Owners who have pets that chase, attack or hurt others should be held liable for failing to restrain them, train them or have them under stricter supervision.
New Jersey has a strict liability statute, which means that the owner can be held liable even if they weren’t aware of their pet’s viciousness. After your injury, you can seek medical help and seek to have the owner of the pet cover the expenses you accrue. They may also be liable for losses due to missing work or other expenses related to the dog bite incident.
A personal injury can change your life. It might be temporary, taking only a few months to heal, or you may have injuries that impact you for life. Whether you have psychological issues to deal with after a serious trauma or are living with chronic pain, you deserve to get the medical care you need. Our site has more on dog bites and what to do if you’ve been victimized by a vicious animal.
