New Jersey Accident and Injury Law Blog : New Jersey Injury Lawyer & Attorney : The Grossman Law Firm : Serving Monmouth County, Bergen County

As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, I have been following the case of a horrific dog bite attack on a little 3-year-old in Alloway in Salem County at the end of last month. The owner of the dog that was involved in the attack has now been charged.

The attack occurred when the little girl walked into a barn on Robert Taffet’s property. The girl fell down, and the Rhodesian Ridgeback allegedly lunged at her, ripping off one of her ears. The girl underwent a surgical procedure for reattachment. According to animal control officers in Alloway Township, Robert Taffet has been charged with owning a vicious dog. Taffet has a number of champion dogs that have won several local dog shows. They also seem to have dragged Taffet to court several times in relation to bite incidents in the past.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback can be a furious hunter, but can also be a gentle and obedient dog. These breeds may also not be at their best behavior with small children, mostly because they tend to knock kids over with their rough play. They can also become extremely unmanageable when they don’t have enough mental and physical exercise. They have a great amount of stamina and need to have long daily walks and lots of place to run.  In the absence of physical exercise, they can display signs of destructive and aggressive behavior.

Any dog bite that involves a little innocent child who has no way of understanding why things happen the way they do, must be taken seriously.. It’s hard to understand how a pack of dogs that had been involved in four different attacks in the past, was still allowed to roam freely among people.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing victims of dog bite attacks in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties and across New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Alliance for Rabies Control and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention marked World Rabies Day on the 28^th of September.

Fortunately, the US has been free of the canine rabies virus since 2007, mainly due to mandatory vaccinations and licensing standards. However, even though dogs may not contract the virus from another dog, they may still be at risk of contracting the virus from skunks, raccoons and other carriers, which is why owners are still required to vaccinate their dogs.

Although rabies may not be a major issue after a dog bite, you will still need basic first aid for the wound.  You may also need antibiotics, and your doctor may also recommend a Tetanus shot. In case of a child dog bite victim, it's best to seek immediate medical attention. This is especially true if the dog bites are located on the face, head or neck. If the dog can be traced to an owner, vaccination records will show whether it was vaccinated or not. However, in case of a dog that attacks and flees the scene with no owner nearby, and no way of tracing the owner, then your doctor may suggest a rabies vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 4.5 million people every year suffer dog bites. One in five of these will be injured severely enough to require medical treatment for their injuries.   Not surprisingly, children are at a higher risk of serious injuries in a dog bite attack.  Adults aren’t completely safe either. In August, an elderly couple in Georgia was mauled to death by a pack of dogs owned by a single owner.

In New Jersey, dog owners are liable for any damages caused by a dog bite involving their pet, even if their dog has never previously showed any signs of being dangerous or vicious.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing dog bite attack victims in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

A dog attack can not only be physically painful but also emotionally scarring. According to a Rush PR News article there are several ways to prevent a dog attack and how to handle your self if involved in one. “Avoid making eye contact with the dog. Dogs perceive eye contact as a challenge and a threat. Look slightly down or aside of the dog, but keep him in your vision. Avoid smiling at the dog. You may be putting on a friendly face, but an aggressive dog sees you baring your teeth for a fight. Look for warning signs. Most dogs are not aggressive but rather just curious or defending what they perceive as their territory. It is important to be able to tell if a dog is just playing or is being truly aggressive. If the dog approaches you with its head held high or low, it is probably not going to attack. A dog whose head is level means business.” There are many more tips on how to prevent a dog attack and what to do after involved in one in the article.

            As a dog bite attorney lawyer covering Freehold, Manalapan, Marlboro, Howell, Jackson, Paterson and all of central and northern New Jersey and know how physically painful and emotionally traumatizing a dog bite can be. The article cited above provides a lot of good information on how to handle dog bite attacks and how to care for the injury afterwards. Some important statistics cited are “In the US alone, nearly 5 million people are attacked by dogs per year, and 1,000 people go to emergency rooms per day as a result of a dog attack; many of them are children, and about half of them have been bitten in the face.” Dog attacks are a serious problem throughout the country and New Jersey is no different. I suggest reading the article several times so you can be well informed on what to do if a situation arises. I hope this information can be useful to your family and friends in helping to prevent dog bite attacks.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks