Ocean City Dog Bite Lawyer
If you or your child are bitten by a dog in Ocean city, New Jersey, you shouldn’t have the added burden of unnecessarily worrying about paying the emergency room bill or missing time from work. Pus, injuries from a dog bite can leave you with many questions that require immediate answers. I, Joseph Monaco, fight for fair monetary compensation to make sure you receive justice after being bitten by a dog in Ocean City, New Jersey. If you have an dog bite lawsuit, call or text me a Ocean City Dog Bite Lawyer to learn your rights against the owner or keeper of the dog. New Jersey law is very favorable toward dog bite victims.
What options are available in an Ocean City dog bite lawsuit?
Understanding the issues after an Ocean City dog bite accident can be difficult. Speaking with the dog owner’s insurance company may seem like the first option you should take but insurance companies are not in business of protecting injury victims. They are in the business of earning a profit. That’s why your best option is to hire a dog bit lawyer as early on in the process as possible.
Determining Liability in an Ocean City Dog Bite Lawsuit
New Jersey Statute 4:19-16 states:
The owner of any dog which shall bite a person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness. For the purpose of this section, a person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner when he is on the property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of this state or the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or when he is on such property upon the invitation, express or implied, of the owner thereof.
Ocean City Dog Ordinances
Ordinance 11-4 – Control of Dogs
Section 4.1: Compliance with Provisions
It shall be unlawful to own, harbor, keep or maintain a dog within the City unless the owner thereof or the person or persons harboring or maintaining the same shall exercise sufficient and proper control and care over such animal at all times so as to prevent the animal from becoming a public nuisance or otherwise violating this Chapter.
Section 4.2: Public Nuisance Defined
Within the meaning of this section, a dog shall be considered a public nuisance if it has no known owner or custodian or if it has no known place of care or shelter, or if it trespasses upon or damages either public or private property, or annoys, bites, scratches or harms lawful users or occupants thereof, or frequently or continually barks, cries, or emits other sounds disturbing to a person of reasonable and ordinary sensitivity.
It shall also be a public nuisance for the owner of any dog(s) to allow the habitual or continual emission of obnoxious or unpleasant odors which would be offensive to a person of reasonable and ordinary sensitivity from any dwelling, structure, or area housing said animal(s).
Section 4.3: Control Off Owner’s Premises; Leash Required
Any dog off the property of either the owner or person exercising custody of such animal, shall be on a leash not exceeding six (6′) feet in length and of sufficient strength to restrain the dog. The leash shall be held by a person of sufficient strength and maturity so as to be capable of controlling the dog. 4.4 Prohibited Areas and Times.
Sub-section a. No dog, whether on a leash or not, shall be permitted on the boardwalk or any public platform, pavilion, ramp, or steps adjacent or leading thereto, nor shall any dog, whether on a leash or not, be permitted to be carried, carted, transferred, or transported by any person or in any object, on or above any portion of the boardwalk, or in any public platform, pavilion, ramp, or steps adjacent or leading thereto. No dog, whether on a leash or not, shall be permitted upon any publicly owned park or playground. These provisions shall not apply to a bona fide seeing-eye dog while under the care of its blind master.
Sub-section b. No dog, other than a bona fide seeing-eye dog while under the care of its master, shall be permitted on the beach from May 1 through September 30 of each year. From October 1 through April 30, dogs shall be permitted on the beach subject to the provisions of subsection 11-4.3 above, with the following exceptions: From March 15th through April 30th, dogs are not permitted: 1. In the area from the Longport Bridge to the terminal groin. 2. In the area between 18th Street and 34th Street.
Section 4.5: Seizure and Custodial Care
The Animal Control Warden or other person authorized by the City to enforce the provisions of this section, shall upon receipt of a complaint that a dog is a public nuisance, as defined herein, seize the dog and keep it within the care and custody of an animal shelter for a period of seven (7) full days from the date of apprehension.
Section 4.11: Responsibility for Animals’ Unlawful Acts
In addition to the enforcement remedies by the seizure of any dog or animal as provided for herein and by the laws of New Jersey, the responsibility for the unlawful act of any dog or other animal as set forth is hereby fixed upon the owner, and upon the person securing the license for any dog, and upon the person who is the keeper or the one in custody, possession and control of any dog or animal. Every such person shall be responsible for the act of any dog which runs at large contrary to the provisions of this Chapter or otherwise violates any section or provision hereof.
Speak with an Ocean City Dog Bite Lawyer Today
New Jersey law makes the owner or keeper of the attacking dog strictly liable for all harm caused. This includes monetary compensation for medical bills, lost wages, disfigurement and pain and suffering. Call or text 609-277-3166 for a Free Consultation. As a New Jersey Dog Bite Trial Lawyer, I take great pride in aggressively representing my clients and their families.
