After suffering injuries as a result of a neighbor’s dog attacking you, being able to afford the cost related to the incident can be overwhelming. Because there is no predetermined timeframe for a settlement to be reached, it can take a significant amount of time to negotiate a fair offer.
But don’t lose hope. Hiring an attorney that has extensive experience handling NJ dog bite settlements can help ensure this process moves as quickly as possible for your circumstances.
Your Health Impacts Your Settlement
Predicting how long it takes to settle a dog bite claim is impossible because of all the factors involved. Even if your case is straightforward, how long it takes to understand the severity of your injuries and the treatment necessary can take a significant amount of time.
Experienced personal injury attorneys will advise you not to consider any NJ dog bite settlement offers until you receive an accurate prognosis from your doctors. Knowing the costs involved to get you back to health and how your ability to return to work is affected are crucial compensation issues that shouldn’t be rushed. You may even be advised to wait until you’ve made a full recovery and can better assess your monetary damages.
Don’t Delay Acting on a Dog Bite Claim in NJ
One way to minimize delays is to immediately take steps to pursue a claim after being bitten, which include:
- Reach out to law enforcement and/or animal control after being attacked
- Seek medical treatment right away
- Document, photograph, and preserve any evidence
- Speak with an NJ dog bite attorney right away
NJ dog bite settlements are easier to achieve when you have an attorney immediately begin the process of pursuing compensation on your behalf. This prevents delays in evidence gathering and establishes the dog owner’s liability under state statute faster. In situations where your claim can’t be settled out of court, then a lawsuit might be necessary. This action could also encourage responsible parties to pay sooner.
A Free Confidential Consultation
Our firm provides our clients with years of experience successfully representing dog attack cases in New Jersey. Contact us right away for a free, confidential consultation available 24/7 to learn more about NJ dog bite settlements.