We Love Dogs
Dogs are a great addition to one’s life! They provide unconditional love, affection, and companionship. Dogs become a member of the family and brighten lives. There are many benefits to having a dog:
- Dogs make us feel less alone. Dogs can be there for you even when people can’t. They offer unconditional love, emotional support, and constant cuddles that help stave off social isolation. A small Australian study discovered that dog ownership reduces loneliness.
- Dogs are good for your heart. Owning a dog can help you live longer. A comprehensive review of studies published between 1950 and 2019 found that dog owners had a lower risk of death. Studies suggest that dog owners have lower blood pressure levels and improved responses to stress.
- Dogs help you stop stressing and make you happy. Your canine companion can offer comfort and ease your worries. Multiple studies show that dogs and therapy dogs help alleviate stress and anxiety.
- Dogs help us cope with crises. Dogs help us recover psychologically from a crisis. Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine discovered that military veterans with PTSD do better both physiologically and psychologically when they have a service dog. Veterans with a service dog had significantly fewer symptoms of PTSD and showed improved coping skills.
- Dogs encourage you to move. Those long treks along sidewalks, trails, and paths add up. A 2019 British study discovered that dog owners are nearly four times more likely than non-dog owners to meet daily physical activity guidelines. Dog owners spend nearly 300 minutes every week walking with their dogs. That’s 200 more minutes walking than people without a pup of their own.
The benefits of dog ownership are plentiful, but sometimes there can be unexpected liabilities if a dog bites someone. If bitten, medical assistance should be sought. Dog bites can lead to serious medical issues and impact a person’s life in many ways. Dog owners can be held liable and sued in civil court for damages due to their negligence.
Bitten
Dog owners are, for the most part, responsible people. Some dog owners do not train their animals or train their dog to be aggressive leading to dangerous situations. When you are bitten by a dog, and have serious injury, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Dog bites can lead to rabies or tetanus infection. Symptoms of infection include redness, swelling, increased pain, and oozing. A doctor should look at these symptoms right away. Afterward, you should get information about the dog and the owner such as their name, phone, address, dog breed, and the dog’s inoculations.
Dog Owner Negligence
The negligence of an owner to control their dog resulting in a bite is a very serious offense in New Jersey. An injury can complicate your life with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and impact your quality of life.
All dogs must be leashed and the owner must retain control of the dog in a public place. Failure to do so makes an owner liable for damages. New Jersey has strict laws regulating dogs, including registering dogs and keeping up rabies shot information. Like many states in the country, New Jersey’s dog bite statute (New Jersey Statute 4:19-16) provides that if a dog bites someone, the owner is liable. Someone who has been bitten by a dog is able to sue the owner in civil court for damages. The statute reads that 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.
If a dog seriously injures a person, a judge has the discretion to pronounce the animal dangerous and decide on euthanasia, however, some cases might allow the dog to remain alive. Nonetheless, severe conditions need to be imposed in order to guarantee the safety of the public.
Should I Get a Lawyer if Bitten?
The Law Office of Andrew S. Maze, Esq. has over 30 years of experience in New Jersey, and has handled many dog bite cases. If you need quality legal services regarding a dog bite injury, you need an attorney that can effectively represent your interests in and out of court. Our firm is ready to assess your case, guide you through your legal options and skillfully protect your interests and your future.