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Bitten by a Dog in New Jersey? The Law Is Already on Your Side.
Most injury cases start with an argument about fault. A New Jersey dog bite case usually doesn’t — because New Jersey holds dog owners strictly liable. It doesn’t matter that the dog “never bit anyone before.” It doesn’t matter how careful the owner says they were. If their dog bit you or your child, the owner is responsible. Goldman Law Firm handles dog bite cases across Ocean County, Monmouth County, and all of New Jersey on contingency: no fee unless we win. Call or text 908-692-7745 — free consultation, 24/7.
New Jersey Statute
N.J.S.A. 4:19-16
The owner of any dog which shall bite a person… 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.
- You were in a public place, or lawfully on private property
- The dog bit you
- That’s the whole case — strict liability, no excuses
When a Child Is Bitten
Children are the most common dog bite victims — and because of their height, the injuries are too often to the face. As a parent you’re managing the emergency room, the rabies questions, the nightmares, and a child who’s now afraid of the dog next door. Take a breath: this is exactly the kind of case New Jersey’s strict liability law was written for. We handle child bite cases with the patience they require — documenting the injury properly over time (scars change as children grow), accounting for future scar revision in the claim rather than settling early, and keeping the process away from your child as much as possible. Provocation defenses are read narrowly when the victim is a young child.
What Your Claim Can Include
- All medical care — ER treatment, surgical repair, infection treatment, follow-up
- Future care — scar revision and reconstructive procedures, counseling for trauma or fear of dogs
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement — weighed heavily in NJ, especially facial scarring and scarring on children
- Lost wages — time out of work now and reduced capacity later
- Pain and suffering — the physical injury and everything it changed
The Situations We See Most
- A friend’s or family member’s dog. The most common case — and the most hesitant callers. Remember: their homeowners insurance is the responsible party. Making the claim is not suing your friend into ruin; it’s using the coverage they already pay for.
- The neighbor’s loose dog — off leash, out of the yard, or through a failed fence.
- Delivery and service workers bitten on the route — USPS, UPS, Amazon, food delivery, utility techs. Lakewood’s dense residential streets produce a steady stream of these cases.
- Bites at parks, sidewalks, and boardwalks — public places are squarely covered by the statute.
- Bites at businesses — kennels, groomers, pet stores, dog daycares; commercial liability policies apply.
The Defenses Owners Try — and Why They Usually Fail
- “You provoked the dog.” Provocation is read narrowly, and young children are rarely held to have provoked a dog as a matter of law.
- “You were trespassing.” The statute protects anyone lawfully present — invited guests, customers, workers with a reason to be there. We establish lawful presence early.
- “It was a scratch, not a bite.” Knockdowns and scratches fall outside the strict liability statute — but they’re still recoverable under ordinary negligence. Different theory, same firm.
- “He’s never done that before.” Legally irrelevant. That is the entire point of N.J.S.A. 4:19-16.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in NJ
- Get medical care now. Dog bites infect fast — and the record starts your case.
- Report the bite to police and the local health department (required for rabies tracking).
- Identify dog & owner — name, address, and the dog’s vaccination records.
- Photograph everything — the wounds now, the healing, the scars over time.
- Save witness names before people scatter.
- Sign nothing from the owner’s insurer before talking to a lawyer — the consult is free.
Ocean & Monmouth County Dog Bite Lawyer
This is a local practice, not a call center. We know the animal control offices, the municipal health departments, and the emergency rooms from Lakewood to Long Branch — and when the insurer’s adjuster calls from three states away, your lawyer is twenty minutes from the street where it happened.
Talk to Us Before You Talk to Their Insurance
The owner’s insurer may reach out fast and friendly — and their job is to close your claim small, before the scar tissue and the counseling bills tell the whole story. Talk to us first. The consultation is free, we explain everything upfront, and you pay nothing unless we win. Call or text 908-692-7745, or start with a free case review. See also: slip & fall injuries and pedestrian accidents.