A 6-year old boy was bitten in the face and neck area recently by his grandmother’s dog. The lab-mix was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination, thankfully, but was not licensed. The child’s injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, but the family is taking him for additional evaluation of the wounds.
Dog bites can be very serious and New Jersey has seen far worse outcomes resulting from similar incidents. This report did not state whether or not the alleged victim’s parents will pursue damages or file charges against the dog owner and it may be unlikely since the owner was family.
However, if you have suffered from an animal bite or have a loved one who was seriously wounded by an animal, you may not know where to turn. Animal owners are held to certain responsibilities in their endeavors to domesticate an animal in their home. If the animal owner is negligent or reckless in protecting the general public or visitors from potential harm, you may have recourse.
Finding a personal injury attorney in New Jersey may be a useful first step in obtaining compensation that will cover medical expenses, possible counseling, lost wages and even emotional damages. Always exercise caution around animals, particularly those you aren’t familiar with, but if you are attacked, it helps to know that you may be compensated for your injuries.
Source: Patch.com, “Nutley Dog Attack: ‘Lab Mix’ Bites Boy, 6, Police Say,” Eric Kiefer, May 20, 2016