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Knowledge, experience, and dedication have brought the lawyers of The Epstein Law Firm to the forefront of their profession. From personal injury to civil litigation, they have built a strong record of success in achieving justice for their clients.
Our practice is diverse and well-established. Recognizing that every case is unique, we always begin by listening to you.
The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. has been successfully representing clients throughout New Jersey since 1973
A dog bite claim involves more than identifying the animal. You need to establish who owned the dog, what happened, and how the injury has affected your life. A wound may close while questions about scarring, hand function, additional treatment, or returning to work remain unresolved.
The Epstein Law Firm represents people injured by dog bites in New Jersey. Our lawyers can review the circumstances, explain the applicable liability rules, and help connect the claim to evidence of your losses. You do not need to know whether the dog had bitten someone before to ask about your options.
Medical care comes first. Once immediate needs are addressed, preserving the details of the incident gives a lawyer a stronger starting point for evaluating responsibility and available insurance.
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New Jersey Dog Bite
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Under the New Jersey dog-bite statute described in the courts’ jury instructions, an owner can be liable when the dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property. A previous bite or the owner’s knowledge of dangerous behavior is not required. That is an important difference from a claim that depends on proving the owner ignored an earlier warning.
The rule does not eliminate the need for evidence. Ownership, lawful presence, whether a bite occurred, and the resulting harm still matter. Disputed accounts and potential defenses require review; the fact that an animal was involved does not resolve every legal question.
Nor does every dog-related injury fit the statute. Someone knocked down without being bitten may need to establish a different basis for liability. The Epstein Law Firm can assess which claim fits the event rather than treating every encounter as the same case.
The setting helps identify what needs investigation. A bite during a neighborhood visit may involve different records and witnesses from one during a delivery or at a business.
If a friend or relative owns the dog, that relationship may make the conversation uncomfortable. Tell counsel about it. Understanding any relevant insurance and the steps a claim would involve can help you make an informed decision without an immediate confrontation.
Write down the date, location, owner’s name, and the names of witnesses. Save messages about the dog or the event, photographs of the scene, and any report number. Keep original image files and later photographs showing the course of recovery; a single picture rarely explains the entire injury.
If a business or nearby property may have recorded the event, identify it promptly. A lawyer can consider a preservation request. Do not enter private property or access an account without permission to obtain evidence.
Ask for the dog’s vaccination information when it is safe to do so and share it with your healthcare provider. The CDC’s dog safety guidance explains that bites can cause injury and infection and identifies circumstances requiring medical attention. Decisions about treatment and rabies prevention belong with healthcare and public-health professionals.
An incident report helps establish a record, but it does not replace medical evidence or determine the outcome of a civil claim. Keep both types of information, even if an insurer has already contacted you.
A settlement evaluation should account for supported losses, not just the first emergency bill. Treatment records may explain why additional care is recommended, whether movement or sensation is affected, and how a scar is developing. Avoid assuming either that the injury is permanent or that it has resolved before the medical picture is clear.
New Jersey’s damages instructions address disability, impairment, pain, and loss of enjoyment of life. Practical examples can help explain those effects: difficulty using a hand at work, discomfort during ordinary activities, or changes to routines. Describe what actually happens and how often, without exaggerating.
Keep wage records and information about missed work. Save receipts and bills, including records of payments by health insurance or another benefit program. Those payments may create separate questions that need to be addressed before a claim is resolved.
The Epstein Law Firm’s role is to connect the facts of the event with evidence of the harm. An insurer’s early offer or a result in another person’s case does not establish what your claim is worth.
An insurance investigation is not the same as filing a lawsuit. Preserve letters, claim numbers, requests for statements, and proposed releases. Before signing a release, understand which claims it ends and whether your future treatment needs have been considered.
New Jersey generally has a two-year filing period for personal-injury claims. Exceptions and accrual questions can change the analysis, including cases involving children. Have the actual circumstances reviewed rather than calculating a deadline from a general webpage.
A claim involving a public entity or employee can also require a tort claim notice within 90 days, subject to the applicable rules. Tell the lawyer if a government employee or government-owned dog was involved. Waiting for an adjuster to finish a review does not necessarily preserve either requirement.
The firm’s personal-injury practice provides a foundation for examining both liability and the lasting consequences of a bite. Michael J. Epstein is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney. That credential concerns civil trial practice; it is not a prediction about an individual claim.
An initial conversation can focus on what happened, treatment so far, available records, and your immediate concerns. If you are uncertain who owns the dog or do not yet have every medical record, explain what you know and what remains missing. Those are issues to investigate, not reasons to postpone contact indefinitely.
Contact The Epstein Law Firm for a free initial consultation. Bring the records you have, identify any deadlines or insurer requests, and ask what representation would involve before deciding how to proceed.
Selected results reported by The Epstein Law Firm.
These examples concern the firm’s broader premises-injury litigation, not identified dog-bite cases.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case depends on its own facts, evidence, and applicable law.
These excerpts describe experiences with the firm. They are not identified as cases in this practice area and do not predict another outcome.
“They took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure I understood my options and felt comfortable with each step of the process.”
— R. S. · Read the full Google review
“Michael and his team were incredibly responsive, always keeping us informed and addressing any questions or concerns promptly.”
— s. v. · Read the full Google review
After a bite, public-health follow-up and a civil injury claim address different concerns. The first helps assess exposure and reporting needs; the second examines responsibility and losses.
Find the appropriate local health department — Use New Jersey’s local-health-department locator to identify the office serving your residence. Tell your healthcare provider about the animal, owner, vaccination information, and whether the animal can be identified. Local health officials and medical professionals can coordinate the public-health response; do not wait for the owner’s insurer to assess medical needs.
Understand New Jersey’s bite-reporting guidance — State guidance directs animal-bite reporting to the appropriate local health department rather than directly to the state health department. Ask the treating provider how the report was made and keep any reference information. Decisions about rabies prevention belong with healthcare and public-health professionals, not an online legal checklist.
Ask about hospital-bill assistance — If treatment creates unaffordable hospital charges, ask that hospital’s business office about Charity Care and screening for other coverage. Bring the documentation the hospital requests about income and assets. Eligibility is assessed individually, and separate professional charges may remain outside the program.
Keep the owner’s contact information, incident photographs, report details, and medical correspondence together. Reporting the bite does not establish a settlement amount or pause a lawsuit deadline. Avoid approaching or trying to capture the animal to obtain evidence.
These answers provide general information. The facts and applicable rules should be reviewed with a lawyer before making decisions about a particular matter.
No. New Jersey’s dog-bite statute does not require proof of an earlier bite or that the owner knew the dog was vicious. It applies when a dog bites a person in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner’s property. The claimant still must establish the statutory elements and resulting damages.
Identify the owner, location, circumstances of entry, witnesses, and injury. The statute is specifically about bites; a knockdown or another animal-related injury may require a different negligence analysis. Questions about provocation, lawful presence, and defenses should be reviewed on the actual evidence rather than resolved by assuming that every injury involving a dog creates the same claim.
Sources: New Jersey Model Civil Jury Charge 5.60A — Dog Bite Statute ; New Jersey Courts — Dog Bite Statute Analysis .
Address medical needs promptly and follow a healthcare professional’s guidance. Dog bites can cause injuries and infection, and a clinician can assess wound care and whether additional measures are appropriate. If possible, obtain the owner’s contact information and the dog’s vaccination information without putting yourself or anyone else at risk.
Keep photographs, treatment records, witness details, and information about the location and circumstances. Report the incident to the appropriate local authorities when needed and retain any report number. Medical treatment and legal liability are separate questions: health information helps guide care, while the dog-bite statute identifies elements of a potential civil claim. Do not wait for an insurance discussion before obtaining necessary treatment.
Sources: CDC — Dogs and Human Health ; New Jersey Model Civil Jury Charge 5.60A — Dog Bite Statute .
New Jersey generally allows two years after a personal-injury claim accrues, but an individual deadline requires a review of the facts. The date of the incident, when the injury was discovered, the injured person’s age, and the identity of each defendant can affect the analysis. Do not assume that an insurance claim or negotiations extend the time to sue.
Claims involving public entities or public employees may require a formal notice much earlier than the lawsuit deadline. Bring the incident date, relevant correspondence, and names of the parties to an initial consultation. A lawyer can distinguish a filing deadline from notice requirements and identify whether a recognized exception needs consideration.
Sources: New Jersey Legislature — N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 ; New Jersey Treasury — Tort Claim Notice .
Preserve records identifying the dog, its owner, where the bite occurred, and why you were there. Photographs, witness details, messages arranging a visit or delivery, and an animal-control report may help resolve disputed facts. Keep original files and dates rather than edited copies, and identify any nearby camera that may have recorded the incident.
Also retain treatment records, photographs taken during recovery, and information about missed work. The owner’s responsibility and the injury’s consequences are separate parts of the claim. Tell counsel what evidence is held by others so appropriate preservation requests can be considered. Do not enter private property or access someone else’s records without permission, and do not postpone medical care or deadline review while gathering a file.
Sources: New Jersey Model Civil Jury Charge 5.60A — Statutory Owner Dog Bite Liability ; New Jersey Legislature — N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 .
Yes. HIPAA generally gives an individual access to medical information in a covered provider’s designated record set, subject to exceptions. You may begin requesting records while arranging a legal consultation. Discharge instructions, test results, treatment notes, and records from follow-up providers can help explain the sequence of care and the effects of an injury.
An online patient portal may not include everything relevant to a claim. Tell the lawyer which records you have requested and what remains outstanding. A records request does not itself file a lawsuit or stop a deadline. If you are acting for another adult or an estate, the provider may need documentation showing your legal authority to obtain the records.
Sources: U.S. HHS — Access to Medical Records ; New Jersey Legislature — N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 .
A supported injury claim may address medical expenses, the effects of disability, pain, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the defendant’s conduct. The available recovery depends on proof of liability, causation, and the particular losses. A past verdict, a diagnosis, or the amount of insurance alone does not establish the value of another person’s case.
Keep treatment bills, receipts, and a record of how the injury affects ordinary activities. Future care needs require medical support rather than an estimate based only on current expenses. Tell counsel about insurance payments and benefits as well, because coverage, reimbursement obligations, and applicable statutory limits can affect the eventual recovery.
Sources: New Jersey Model Civil Jury Charge 8.11A — Medical Expenses ; New Jersey Model Civil Jury Charge 8.11E — Disability and Pain and Suffering .
No. A published result describes a different dispute with its own evidence, losses, parties, and legal issues. It may help you understand the firm’s experience, but it is not a valuation formula or a promise of a similar recovery. Even cases involving similar injuries can differ substantially in liability evidence and available compensation.
A case assessment should connect each claimed loss to supporting records and the applicable law. Medical expenses, the lasting effects of disability, and the reliability of future-care evidence can require separate analysis. Discuss disputed facts and limitations as well as potential strengths, and ask what additional information would materially change the evaluation before deciding whether to accept a proposal.
Bring the bite date and location, the dog owner’s contact information if known, witness names, and any incident report. Include photographs, treatment records you already have, vaccination information, insurer correspondence, and details of missed work. If the injured person is a child, explain who witnessed the incident and who is arranging medical care.
You do not need to assemble a perfect file before making contact. Explain what is missing and where it may be located. The initial discussion can identify conflicts, deadlines, and the information needed for further review. Agree on a secure way to provide sensitive records, and confirm whether the firm has undertaken representation before relying on it to meet a deadline.
Sources: The Epstein Law Firm — Contact and Consultation ; New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct — Fees and Client Duties .
Not necessarily. A civil dispute may resolve through negotiation or mediation, but settlement requires an agreement and cannot be promised at the outset. The parties may need to exchange documents, obtain expert opinions, or resolve important factual disputes before they can evaluate a proposal. Some cases require a court decision on liability or damages.
A useful settlement discussion considers the evidence, risks, available relief, costs, and the terms of any release. Ask which claims would end and whether any obligations would remain. Mediation can provide a structured opportunity to negotiate; it is not the same as a judge deciding the merits. Continue meeting court and filing deadlines while discussions are ongoing.
Sources: New Jersey Courts — Civil Mediation Questions ; New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct — Fees and Client Duties .
The Epstein Law Firm offers a free initial consultation. The fee arrangement for any representation should be discussed separately and confirmed in writing. Ask whether the matter would use a contingency fee, an hourly arrangement, or another structure, and how litigation expenses would be handled. A free consultation does not mean that every potential matter will be accepted.
Before signing, ask what services are included, how costs are advanced or reimbursed, and what happens if the matter ends without a recovery. The answer can depend on the practice area and the proposed agreement. Bring the documents you already have and identify any approaching deadlines so the initial conversation can focus on the next necessary steps.
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The Epstein Law Firm
The Epstein Law Firm