Dogs may be “man’s best friend,” but even well-tempered dogs can unexpectedly and bite unprovoked. Dog bite injuries can be painful, disfiguring and emotionally traumatizing. The following is a brief overview of New Jersey dog bite laws.
New Jersey law on dog bites
Under New Jersey law, if a dog bites a person who is in a public place or lawfully on a person’s private property, whether or not it is the property of the dog owner, the dog owner is liable for damages suffered by the dog bite victim. This is regardless of whether the dog showed dangerous propensities in the past or whether the dog owner knew their dog had dangerous propensities. A person is lawfully on another’s private property if they are there to perform a legal duty, deliver mail or if they were expressly or implicitly invited onto the property by the property owner.
How does New Jersey law differ from other states?
New Jersey applies strict liability in dog bite cases. Some states have a “one-bite” rule, meaning the dog owner is only strictly liable if they knew their dog behaved viciously in the past. However, New Jersey is not one of these states. Sometimes provocation is an issue. However, young children — who are the most common victims of dog bites — generally will not be considered to have provoked the dog.
Learn more about dog bites in New Jersey
Ultimately, this post is for informational purposes only and does not contain legal advice. To learn more about dog bites in New Jersey, we invite you to explore our firm’s webpage on this topic.