Vineland
Linwood
What to Do After an Animal Attack
For any animal lover, when we hear dog bite, we often think of minor nips from a household pet. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and a victim can suffer severe, devastating injuries, which they may have to deal with for the remainder of their life. Radano Orecchia, LLC can help you build your animal attack case and stand before the court. If you have any questions regarding your case or what to do after a dog bite, call our law office in Vineland, NJ, at 856-538-2500.
- Identify the dog or animal and try to get the dog license information.
- Get the name and address of the owner of the animal.
- Seek medical treatment.
- Report the incident to the police.
- Obtain the dog or animals inoculation history from vet if possible.
- Get the contact information of any witnesses.
- Photograph wounds, bruises and clothing.
What Does New Jersey Law Say About Animal Attacks
Most state laws hold any dog owner legally accountable for any and all damages caused by a dog bite or animal attack. It does not matter if the dog has had no bite history or even exhibits signs of aggression to humans. In a dog bite case, the plaintiff must prove the defendant has ownership of the dog, the dog bit the plaintiff, and the plaintiff was lawfully on the owner's property or in a public place. This liability results from New Jersey Statutes, Section 4:19-16, which reads as follows:
4:19-16. Liability of the owner, regardless of the viciousness of the 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.
For the purpose of this section, a person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner when he/she 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/she is on such property upon the invitation, express or implied, of the owner thereof.