Tending a neighbor’s animal while he or she is out of town or unable to for whatever the reason is something that many New Jersey residents are more than willing to do. What happens, though, if that animal attacks and injures its temporary care giver? Injuries from animal bites or aggressive behavior can be extremely damaging to the victim.
It was recently reported that a woman in Morris County won quite the jury verdict in a dog bite case against her neighbor. According to the story, this individual was taking care of her next door neighbor’s German Shepherd/ Chow-Chow mix when the dog bit her on the face and knocked her to the ground. As a result of this incident, the woman had to undergo reconstructive surgery on her face and has had several back surgeries as well.
This is a case that the victim has actually taken to court twice. The first time she was awarded $100,000 in damages. Since then she has and continues to need medical care to address her back issues, so she went to court again and was awarded another $750,000. To date she has yet to receive any of the money she was awarded, but she plans to keep fighting until her judgment is paid.
This particular case was successful because the dog in question had a history of violence which the neighbor was aware of yet failed to warn the victim. In cases involving animal bites, owners can be held responsible even if there is no known history of violence, however. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the details of one’s particular claim. New Jersey residents who have suffered injuries in animal attacks may, like this woman, seek compensation for any damages sustained. An experienced personal injury attorney can review one’s case and pursue any applicable legal actions, if appropriate.
Source: nj1015.com, “Why you should not keep a dog that bites“, Jeff Deminski, April 27, 2017