If you were bitten by a dog in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, a dog bite lawyer may be able to help you hold the owner accountable and pursue compensation for your injuries. In many cases, dog owners are legally responsible when their animal bites someone, and the rules can be more favorable to injured people than many victims realize. A dog attack can be frightening and leave lasting physical and emotional scars, and you should not have to face the aftermath alone.
Ethen Ostroff Law is an injury firm serving dog bite victims across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This guide explains how owner liability works in each state, what to do after a bite, and how a claim generally proceeds.
In most dog bite cases, the dog’s owner is the party responsible for the harm, though a landlord, property owner, or person caring for the dog may share responsibility in some situations. Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey have laws that address when and how an owner can be held liable, and the two states take somewhat different approaches.
Understanding which rules apply to your situation can make a real difference in your claim, which is why speaking with a dog bite attorney early is often helpful.
Pennsylvania uses a layered approach. For medical costs, Pennsylvania law generally makes a dog’s owner responsible for the victim’s medical expenses regardless of whether the dog had shown any prior signs of aggression. In that sense, medical bills can often be recovered without proving the owner was careless.
To recover for additional damages, such as pain and suffering or lost wages, an injured person in Pennsylvania usually needs to show more, such as that the dog had dangerous tendencies the owner knew about, or that the owner was negligent. Whether a dog is classified as dangerous under Pennsylvania law can also affect the claim. Because these distinctions shape what you may recover, a lawyer can help you understand how they apply to a dog bite lawsuit in PA.
New Jersey applies a stricter rule that tends to favor bite victims. Under New Jersey’s dog bite statute, an owner is generally strictly liable when their dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, even if the dog had never bitten anyone before and even if the owner had no reason to think the dog was dangerous.
Strict liability means the injured person usually does not have to prove the owner was careless. They generally need to show that they were bitten, that the owner owned the dog, and that they were lawfully present. This is a meaningful advantage for injured people, though defenses such as provocation or trespassing can still come into play. A dog bite lawyer can help you navigate the specifics of NJ dog bite law.
The steps you take after a bite can protect both your health and any future claim. When you are able to:
Because every case is different, no lawyer can promise a specific dog bite settlement in PA or NJ. That said, injured people who bring a successful claim may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, including reconstructive treatment and scarring, lost wages, physical pain, and emotional distress, which can be significant after a frightening attack, especially for children. A lawyer can help you document the full extent of your injuries so they are properly accounted for.
Children are among the most common and most seriously affected dog bite victims, often suffering facial injuries and lasting emotional trauma. The law provides important protections for injured minors, including how deadlines are calculated. If your child was bitten, a lawyer can explain the special considerations that may apply and help protect your child’s rights.
Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey generally apply a two-year statute of limitations to personal injury claims, including dog bites, though exceptions can apply, particularly for children. Evidence can fade quickly after a bite, so it is wise to speak with a dog bite lawyer sooner rather than later to preserve your options.
Often, yes. In New Jersey, owners are generally strictly liable even for a first bite. In Pennsylvania, an owner is generally responsible for your medical bills regardless of the dog’s history, and additional damages may be available depending on the facts. A lawyer can explain what applies.
Defenses such as provocation or trespassing can affect a claim, and comparative negligence rules may reduce recovery. Whether these apply depends on the facts, so it is worth having a lawyer review what happened before assuming you have no case.
Both states generally apply a two-year deadline from the date of the bite, with exceptions, especially for injured children. Because evidence can fade quickly, it is best to speak with a lawyer promptly.
Children often suffer serious dog bite injuries, and the law provides special protections, including how filing deadlines are calculated. A lawyer can explain those protections and help safeguard your child’s rights.
Your initial consultation with Ethen Ostroff Law is free and confidential. We will explain your options and how the process works before you make any decisions.
A dog attack can leave you shaken, in pain, and worried about scarring or your child’s recovery. You deserve answers and a team that treats you with care. Ethen Ostroff Law serves dog bite victims across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and we are ready to listen.
Call us today at 610-510-8883 for a free, confidential consultation. Justice For All is our promise to everyone we serve.
His career began in public service as a Surveillance Officer in Maricopa County, where he gained firsthand experience in high-stakes decision-making and developed a deep sense of discipline and accountability. He later served as Chief Operating Officer of a fast-growing law firm, driving efficiency, revenue growth, and team development. Today, Ryan focuses on helping law firms reach their full potential by aligning people, processes, and long-term vision. A strategic thinker and empowering leader, Ryan is passionate about developing others and guiding organizations through meaningful, lasting growth.
Passionate about securing legal rights, Joseph actively participates in pro bono work through various organizations, including Christian Legal Aid of Pittsburgh and the ABA Military Pro Bono Project. Licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, he is a member of the Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. Outside of work, Joseph enjoys sports, reading, and creative writing, and has been involved in rowing and curling. He resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, with his parents.
Nicholas began his post-graduate career clerking for the Honorable Linda Rovder Fleming in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas. From there, he quickly found his calling in workers’ compensation, personal injury, and Social Security disability law—areas where he could directly impact people’s lives in moments of crisis. He’s helped clients navigate complex legal claims, including securing a settlement exceeding $300,000.
Nicholas brings clear communication, genuine empathy, and an unrelenting drive to achieve the best outcomes for his clients. Whether he’s navigating a complex workers’ comp claim or pushing for a major settlement, he brings focus, dedication, and deep legal knowledge to every case.
He’s also a proud member of Pennsylvania Advocates for Justice and remains active in various professional legal organizations. Nicholas is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.
When he’s not fighting for the injured, Nicholas is enjoying time with his family, kicking a soccer ball around, hitting the golf course, or cheering on Pittsburgh’s local teams.
Joe Ring heads the workers’ compensation department at Ethen Ostroff Law, where he takes pride in fighting for injured workers.
Joe is a Philadelphia native and maintains deep roots in the area. As the grandson of a Philadelphia Firefighter, son of a Philadelphia public school teacher, and veteran of the United State Marine Corps, he was taught to value service, dedication, and hard work. He applies these values to every case and takes great satisfaction in representing hard-working clients with those same traits.
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in history from St. Vincent College in Western Pennsylvania, he graduated from Villanova Law School in 2012 and, since then, has litigated hundreds of workers’ compensation hearings and trial depositions on behalf of both employers and injured workers. During this time, Mr. Ring has written articles and presented Continuing Legal Education courses on developments in Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law. He is active in local professional organizations, and, in 2022, he served a Co-chairperson of the Philadelphia Bar Associations Workers’ Compensation Section.
Since coming to EOL in 2024, he has dedicated his practice entirely to helping injured workers navigate the system and obtain their rightful benefits.
Joe is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.
Brandon Zanan heads the personal injury claim department with Ethen Ostroff Law.
Brandon’s education in both law and medicine assist him in expertly representing badly injured victims. Brandon has a Master’s Degree in Forensic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, with a concentration in anatomy and pathology. With this knowledge, Brandon is skilled at analyzing medical records and understanding injuries that are common in personal injury claims. He uses this expertise in conjunction with listening carefully to each client’s needs, in order to fiercely advocate for clients and tell their stories when they would not otherwise have a voice.
Brandon’s background includes a variety of experience and skills in various areas of civil practice. He is the author and editor of numerous books for the George T. Bisel Publishing Company, including “Pennsylvania Damages” and the “Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Annotated,” two texts that are frequently relied on by lawyers and judges across Pennsylvania as authoritative resources on personal injury law.
Brandon is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. He is also a member of Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and has served as an executive board member of the Montgomery American Inn of Court.
He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Brandon has represented many clients in motor vehicle, premises liability, animal bite, and products liability cases across Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has obtained outstanding results with millions of dollars recovered for his clients.
He has been named a Pennsylvania Rising Star from 2021 onward. The “Super Lawyers-Rising Star®”, list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state
Brandon currently lives in Malvern with his wife Rachel and their son Max.
Effective Date: July 10, 2024
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