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NJ dog bite compensation — what you can claim after a dog attack in New Jersey (medical bills, scars, lost income, pain and suffering), how the law works, and what Sammarro & Zalarick will do to protect your rights.

If you or your child was bitten by a dog in New Jersey, you’re dealing with more than a painful wound. There’s the ER visit, rabies questions, follow-up care, potential scarring, time off work, and a lot of uncertainty about who pays and how. The good news: New Jersey has a strict-liability dog-bite statute that’s favorable to victims. In plain English, when a dog bites and you were in public or lawfully on private property, the owner is liable—even if the dog never bit anyone before.

As a Bergen County personal injury firm, Sammarro & Zalarick helps clients across Hackensack, Paramus, Fort Lee, and beyond recover full compensation for dog-bite injuries. Below, we break down exactly what you can claim, how New Jersey’s law and deadlines work, and the first steps to take to strengthen your case.

NJ dog bite compensation (quick answer)

Under New Jersey law, a successful dog-bite claim can include: ER and hospital bills, specialist care (plastic/reconstructive surgery), medications, mental-health treatment (anxiety/PTSD), future medical needs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, household help, out-of-pocket costs (dressings, scar products), property damage (glasses/clothing), and non-economic damages such as pain, suffering, and permanent disfigurement or scarring. Because New Jersey’s statute makes owners liable for bites when you’re lawfully present, you don’t have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.

Two things to keep in mind right away:

1. Deadlines matter. Most NJ injury claims must be filed within two years of the bite (different rules can toll time for minors). Don’t wait.
2. Public health steps help your health and your case. New Jersey’s Department of Health instructs bite victims to notify the local health department where the animal is located and to seek medical care promptly—this is also how rabies risk is assessed.

Why liability is clearer in NJ dog-bite cases

Strict liability for bites

New Jersey’s dog-bite statute, N.J.S.A. 4:19-16, imposes strict liability on the dog’s owner when a bite injures someone in a public place or when that person is lawfully on private property. No prior “viciousness,” and no owner knowledge of danger, is required. If you were trespassing or otherwise unlawfully on the property, the statute does not apply.

A recent NJ Supreme Court reminder

In Goldhagen v. Pasmowitz (2021), the New Jersey Supreme Court reaffirmed the breadth of the dog-bite statute—rejecting attempts to carve out exceptions based on who had custody of the dog at the moment (e.g., an independent contractor). The takeaway: when the statute fits, strict liability means strict liability.

What about non-bite injuries?

If a dog knocks you down without biting (e.g., a leashed lunge), the dog-bite statute may not cover it. You can still pursue a negligence claim against the owner or another responsible party (e.g., a landlord with knowledge/control), but you’ll need to prove fault under ordinary negligence rules. NJ Courts’ Model Charges provide separate guidance for animal-injury negligence claims.

The damages you can claim in a New Jersey dog-bite case

Dog attacks often leave physical and psychological injuries. Here’s what compensation typically includes in NJ—and how we document each category.

1. Medical expenses (past & future)

Emergency care (wound cleaning, tetanus boosters, sutures, imaging).

• Rabies evaluation & prophylaxis when indicated—your local health department coordinates risk assessment and PEP recommendations with your provider.
• Antibiotics for infection risks, especially for puncture wounds to hands/face.
• Specialist care, including plastic/reconstructive surgery and scar revision (sometimes staged over months or years).
• Therapy: hand therapy, physical therapy or occupational therapy for functional loss.

Big picture: dog-bite injuries are a significant public-health burden. U.S. data show hundreds of thousands of ED visits and thousands of hospital stays annually linked to dog bites; children are frequently affected.

2) Mental-health care

Many clients develop anxiety, phobias, nightmares, or PTSD-like symptoms—especially children bitten on the face. Therapy, evaluation by a psychologist/psychiatrist, and sometimes medication are compensable. National safety data underscore that dog bites have a meaningful trauma footprint across age groups.

3) Lost wages & loss of earning capacity

You can claim pay you missed while recovering, as well as diminished earning capacity if lasting impairment or visible scarring affects certain careers (food service, customer-facing work, modeling/acting, etc.). We corroborate this with employer letters, payroll records, and expert evaluations where needed.

4) Household services & childcare

If injuries prevent you from driving, lifting children, cooking, or cleaning, we quantify replacement services—either paid help or the value of tasks family members now perform.

5) Out-of-pocket costs

Dressings, scar-care products (silicone sheets/gels), special sunscreen, transportation to appointments, and property damage (glasses, clothing) are part of a full claim.

6) Pain, suffering, and permanent scarring/disfigurement

New Jersey allows recovery for non-economic harms such as chronic pain, tightness, disfigurement, and the emotional impact of visible scars. There is no specific statutory cap on compensatory damages in NJ dog-bite cases (punitive damages are separately limited by statute in rare cases). Awards are fact-specific and depend on medical proof, photography, and scar-assessment scales.

Who pays? (Insurance 101 for dog bites)

In many cases, homeowners’ or renters’ insurance for the dog owner covers dog-bite liability. Typical policies provide $100,000–$300,000 in liability limits, and insurers track these claims closely. National insurance data show the average dog-related claim cost has risen steeply in recent years—reaching ~$69,000 per claim in 2024, with total payouts around $1.57 billion nationwide.

If the owner’s policy limits are low (or coverage is denied/excluded), we look for umbrella coverage, other household policies, or additional responsible parties (e.g., a landlord with notice and control). If your own medical plan paid bills, it may seek reimbursement from any settlement—something we negotiate to maximize your net recovery.

Deadlines & special rules you can’t afford to miss

Two-year statute of limitations (adults)

New Jersey requires most personal-injury lawsuits to be filed within two years from the date of the bite. There are narrow exceptions, but don’t count on them—early action protects your claim.

Minors (tolling)

For children, New Jersey law generally tolls (pauses) the limitation period until age 18, after which the standard time to sue applies. That said, waiting is rarely wise—evidence fades and insurers push for early statements.

Public health reporting (rabies)

The NJ Department of Health directs bite victims to notify the local health department where the animal is located and to seek prompt care. This protects you medically (rabies decisions) and builds a clean, time-stamped record.

Common defenses (and how we respond)

• “Trespassing”: The strict-liability statute applies only if you were in public or lawfully on private property. We use photos, texts/invites, delivery records, or Witness statements to prove you were lawfully there.
• “Provocation”: Owners sometimes argue the victim provoked the dog. We anchor the timeline with witness accounts, videos, and medical notes focused on bite pattern and location.
• “Not a bite”: If the dog knocked you down without an actual bite, the strict-liability statute may not apply—but a negligence claim still can. NJ Courts provide separate jury instructions for animal-injury negligence claims.
• “Not my dog/Not the owner”: Ownership and control can be proven through licenses, vet records, tags, microchip data, and neighbor testimony. The Goldhagen decision also limits arguments that a temporary custodian arrangement defeats the owner’s statutory liability.

What to do in the first 7–10 days (and why it matters)

1. Get medical care now. Bites can introduce bacteria deep into tissue, especially in hands and face. Follow through on rabies and tetanus guidance from your provider and LHD; bring copies of every visit and bill. Public-health documentation supports both your recovery and your claim.
2. Report the bite. Call the local health department where the animal is located. Ask for the case number and officer/inspector name.
3. Preserve evidence. Photograph injuries immediately and again every few days as swelling/bruising evolves. Keep damaged clothing. Save the dog owner’s name, address, and insurance info if available. Note any prior complaints neighbors mention.
4. Don’t give recorded statements to the insurer before you’ve spoken with counsel. We coordinate with insurers so your words aren’t taken out of context.
5. Follow medical instructions. Gaps in care or missed appointments become defense talking points. If pain or anxiety spikes, tell your doctor and get it charted.

Real-world examples (how compensation is built)

Facial bite to a child at a neighbor’s BBQ. ER closure + plastic consult with planned scar-revision after maturation. Damages include ER and surgical care, future scar revision, therapy for anxiety, parental time off work, and pain/suffering for visible scarring. (We lean on photos, pediatric plastics notes, and school counselor statements.)

Delivery driver bitten at the gate. Victim was lawfully on the property. Claim includes wound care, antibiotics, missed shifts, and permanent sensitivity/nerve pain. Strict liability applies; we also look at gate signage and any prior complaints.

Jogger bitten on a public sidewalk. Simple facts: public place + bite = owner liable. We secure animal-control records, neighbor ring-cam footage, and proof of medical treatment.

Push-down without a bite. The dog lunges, runner falls and fractures a wrist. Not a “bite,” so we pursue negligence with witness proof the owner failed to control the dog; we use NJ Courts’ negligence guidance for animal injuries at trial.

How much are dog-bite cases “worth” in NJ?

There’s no fixed chart. Values depend on scar location/visibility, infections/complications, treatment course, permanency, and impacts on work and daily life. For helpful context—not a promise—industry data show insurers paid $1.57B nationwide for dog-related injury claims in 2024, with an average payout around $69,000 per claim. Serious facial scarring or complex surgery can push values higher; minor wounds with full recovery are lower.

How Sammarro & Zalarick builds your NJ dog-bite case

• We move fast. We get your medical and public-health records, contact the local health department, and preserve photos and any video.
• We identify coverage. We locate homeowners/renters liability insurance and any umbrella policies; we also address any health-plan reimbursement claims so you keep more of your settlement.
• We document scars the right way. Timed photo sets (consistent lighting/angles), expert scar assessments, and, when appropriate, evaluations from plastic surgeons and mental-health providers.
• We handle kids’ cases with care. For minors, NJ generally tolls the filing deadline until age 18, but we work up the case early while memories and evidence are fresh.
• We prepare for trial from Day 1. Clear liability doesn’t mean easy claims. We make insurers understand the human impact—especially when disfigurement or child trauma is involved.

Dog Bite Case in NJ FAQs

Am I still eligible if the dog never bit anyone before?

Yes. New Jersey’s statute does not require prior viciousness or owner knowledge—only that a bite occurred and you were in public or lawfully on private property.

What if I was visiting a friend’s yard?

If you were there by express or implied invitation, you were “lawfully” on the property; strict liability applies if a bite occurred. We use texts/invites and witness statements to show lawful presence.

Do I need to report the bite?

Yes—notify the local health department where the animal is located and get medical care. This is how rabies decisions are made in NJ.

How long do I have to sue?

Generally two years from the date of the bite (different rules can toll the time for minors). Call sooner—evidence and photos are best early.

Does insurance really cover dog bites?

Often yes: homeowners/renters policies typically cover dog-bite liability with limits commonly $100k–$300k; national average payouts have climbed sharply in recent years.

We’re expert lawyers for dog bite cases in New Jersey

Sammarro & Zalarick can help. If you or your child was bitten in Bergen County or anywhere in New Jersey, we’ll clarify your options, protect your medical and legal timeline, and pursue every dollar the law allows—compassionately and aggressively. Call for a free consultation today.

Legal disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines are strict and facts matter—please contact an attorney for advice about your specific situation.