Personal Injury lawyer - Dog Bites in PA & NJ

                   PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
                                     DOG BITES

Dog Bites

     You need a seasoned Personal Injury Lawyer because nothing may be more devastating than a vicious attack by a dog or other pet, especially if a child is the victim.  Dog attacks can lead to longterm consequences such as permanent scarring and psychological trauma.  Medical bills for treatment including plastic surgery could be substantial and possibly not covered by your personal health insurance.

     A dog owner is often required to keep his or her pet leashed or confined to a specific area for the safety of others.  This applies to all breeds of dogs.  However, there are statistics showing what particular breeds of dog are more or less likely to bite, particulary in fatal attacks.  This may be an issue regarding whether the pet owner's homeowner's insurance will defend and pay the claim.  Moreover, the legal implications of a dog attack vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction where the attack took place.  Do not go forward without an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer on your side.

    Pennsylvania is considered a strict liability jurisdiction for the payment of a victim's medical expenses and, in limited circumstances, for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.  You need a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer because Pennsylvania law may require you to prove that the dog owner was negligent or that the dog had a prior propensity to bite people.  The following are parts of the statutes governing dog ownership in Pennsylvania. 

   Section 502. DOG BITES; DETENTION AND ISOLATION OF DOGS 

            (a) CONFINEMENT - Any dog which bites or attacks a human being shall be confined in quarters
                 approved by a designated employee of the Department of Health, a State dog warden or employee
                 of the Department of Agriculture, an animal control officer or a police officer. Such dog may be
                 detained and isolated in an approved kennel or at the dog owner's property. Where such dog is
                 detained is at the discretion of the investigating officer. All dogs so detained must be isolated for a
                 minimum of ten days. Any costs incurred in the detaining and isolation of such dog shall be paid by the
                 offending dog's owner. When the dog's owner is not known, the Commonwealth is responsible for all
                 reasonable costs for holding and detaining such dog. 

            (b) BITE VICTIMS - The investigating officer shall be responsible for notifying the bite victim of the medical
                 results of the offending dogs confinement. Any cost to the victim for medical treatment resulting from
                 an attacking or biting dog must be paid fully by the owner of such dog. The Commonwealth shall not
                 be liable for medical treatment costs to the victim. 

            (c) EXEMPTION - When a dog that bites or attacks a human being is a service dog or a police work dog
                 in the performance of duties, said dog need not be confined if it is under the active supervision of a
                 licensed doctor of veterinary medicine.

                If the dog bite victim requires compensation over and above the medical costs, the victim must prove
                one of three things: 

                (1) The dog owner was negligent.
                (2) The dog had a dangerous propensity to bite people.
                (3) The attack was a violation of the dangerous dog law because of the seriousness of the injuries.

     To navigate through the legal issues regarding dog bites, you need an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer to protect your rights.  I represent victims of dog attacks.   If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite anywhere in Pennsylvania including the greater Philadelphia area, call me. You need a seasoned Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer to protect your rights.

    New Jersey has one of the most favorable laws in the country for victims of a dog attack.  It is considered a strict liability jurisdiction that benefits victims of dog bites.  The statute, 4:19-16, states:

         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.   For the purpose of this section, a person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner
         when he is on the property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of this state or the
         laws or postal regulations of the United States, or when he is on such property upon the invitation, express or
         implied, of the owner thereof.

    To navigate through the legal issues regarding dog bites, you need an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer to protect your rights.  I represent victims of dog attacks.   If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite anywhere in New Jersey including such areas as New Brunswick, Bridgeton, Millville, Camden, Newark, and Cherry Hill, call me. You need a seasoned New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer to protect your rights.
 
    I may be reached at 215-599-6544 in Pennsylvania and at 609-277-3166 in New Jersey.  Your initial consultation is free and you will not pay me anything unless I win your case.  As a Personal Injury Lawyer, I work strictly on a contingency basis.  Call now for a seasoned Personal Injury Lawyer with dog bite claim experience, so your legal rights do not go unprotected!