Nj State Dog Bite Laws

If a dog injures a person in another way the injured person must prove that the dog s owner was negligent in failing to.

Nj state dog bite laws. Dog bites in new jersey are covered by new jersey statutes section 4 19 16. Dog bite laws in new jersey. A strict liability dog bite state. New jersey like most states in the u s has a strict liability law that makes a dog s owner liable in a civil lawsuit when the animal bites someone as long as the victim was on public property or was legally on private property when the incident happened.

Dog owner held strictly liable when victim is lawfully on private property or on public property when the dog bite occurs. The statute makes the dog s owner liable for any dog bite injuries that occur. Dog owner may be held strictly liable if they had prior knowledge of the dog s vicious propensities or liable if they were negligent. Under the strict liability rule a dog s owner is responsible when the dog bites someone regardless of whether the dog has ever bitten anyone or acted aggressively before.

Not trespassing at the time of the incident. Since new jersey law recognizes strict liability for dog bites or other injuries caused by a dog attack you don t have to prove the dog was known to be vicious to file a claim. This liability for a first bite results from new jersey statutes section 4 19 16 which reads as follows. It doesn t matter whether the owner knew the dog had ever been vicious before.

New jersey is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites. When the person bitten is in a private place or lawfully in a public place regardless of any prior indications of viciousness of the dog or the owners knowledge of any former viciousness.