Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
A bite is frightening, and it gets more complicated when the dog belongs to someone you know. Here's the part that helps: these claims are usually paid by insurance, not out of anyone's pocket. Tell us what happened and a real lawyer at Peretz Law Firm will walk you through it. We handle dog bite cases in PA, NY, and NJ.
Whether the owner has to pay depends on your state's rule, and the three you'd file in are not the same. New Jersey uses a strict liability rule: the owner is generally responsible for a bite in a public place or where you were lawfully present, even if the dog never bit anyone before. Pennsylvania holds owners responsible for medical costs regardless of fault, and for fuller damages when the owner was negligent or the dog had shown dangerous behavior. New York generally requires showing the owner knew the dog had dangerous tendencies, while also allowing recovery of veterinary and medical costs in certain cases. Peretz Law Firm applies the right rule for where you were bitten.
Get medical care right away. Dog bites carry serious infection risk even when they look minor.
Photograph your injuries before and after treatment, and again as they heal.
Get the dog owner's name, address, and insurance information if you can.
Identify the dog and whether it had bitten anyone before.
Report the bite to animal control or local authorities to create a record.
Get names and numbers of any witnesses.
Tell us what happened and we'll handle the insurance company so you can focus on getting better.
Start a free reviewIt's free to ask. A real lawyer will look at your situation and tell you honestly where you stand.
Start a free reviewIn most cases, a dog bite injury is paid by the dog owner's homeowner or renter insurance, not by the owner personally. That's why you can pursue a fair claim even when the owner is someone you know, the money comes from their policy. Peretz Law Firm identifies the right policy and handles the claim against the insurer.
Yes, you can pursue a claim even if the dog belonged to a friend or family member, because the payment almost always comes from their homeowner or renter insurance rather than their own savings. Many people don't file simply because they don't want to hurt someone they know; understanding that insurance pays usually changes that.
You may still recover money even if the dog never bit anyone before, depending on the state. New Jersey applies strict liability, so a clean history often doesn't protect the owner. Pennsylvania allows recovery of medical costs regardless of the dog's history. New York's rules give more weight to whether the owner knew of dangerous tendencies. Peretz Law Firm applies the rule for where you were bitten.
You generally have two years to file a dog bite lawsuit in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and three years in New York, measured from the date of the bite. Claims involving a child or a government entity can follow different timelines, so it's best to call as soon as you can.
We'll explain how it works and who pays. No pressure, no obligation. You pay nothing unless we win.
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