Dog bites send some 368,000 victims to hospitals nationwide every year. Fortunately, most dog bites don’t cause fatal injuries, but they can result in serious damage to nerves and tissues. Some dog bites cause permanent disfigurement as well as emotional and psychological trauma.

Two male pit mixes recently attacked a 49-year-old Plainfield man as he rode his bicycle down a residential street. The dogs ran from a porch through an unlatched gate and bit several parts of the man’s body, including his calf, ankle, forearm and buttocks. Paramedics treated his wounds at the scene and then transported him to the hospital. The humane society took the dogs until the court issues an order. If the court deems the dogs vicious based on their history of attacking people, the humane society could be ordered to euthanize the dogs.

Criminal assault by animal?

Some owners train their dogs to attack other people. New Jersey lawmakers introduced a bill to criminalize assault by animal. Under Bill A1717, you are guilty of fourth-degree assault if you purposely use an animal to intimidate a person. If the dog injures a person, it is a third-degree crime. If the dog injures a police officer, it’s a second-degree crime.

Take legal action and get compensation for injuries

Criminal charges against dog owners are separate from civil penalties the owners face for injuries caused by their dog. New Jersey laws hold a dog owner legally liable even if the dog has not previously exhibited a propensity to bite people.

Dog bite survivors can seek financial compensation for:

Medical expenses
Physical therapy
Lost wages
Mental anguish
Physical pain
If you or a loved suffered a dog bite injury, contact a New Jersey dog bite attorney before agreeing to any settlement of your claim.

Don’t go to court expecting a “Mulligan”
Because New Jersey categorizes driving while intoxicated (DWI) as a traffic offense, too many accused motorists take their cases lightly. They think they can represent themselves, show a little contrition in court and leave with a slap on the wrist. It’s a rude awakening when they are hit with mandatory minimum penalties and learn that they have no option for traffic school. Retaining an experienced DWI defense lawyer can prevent you from making another mistake you could regret for a very long time. The Law Offices of Richard S. Greenberg fights aggressively to minimize the effect of your DWI arrest. With us at your side, there will be no surprises. We come fully prepared to challenge the state’s case against you and seek the best results possible.

Penalties for first-offense DWI in New Jersey
If you are convicted of a first-time DWI in New Jersey, your penalty depends on your blood alcohol content level:

Standard DWI (BAC between 0.08 percent and 0.10 percent) — Your license is suspended for three months, and fines and fees will total about $3,900. You could go to county jail for up to 30 days and be forced to attend the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center for 12 to 48 hours.
Enhanced DWI (BAC 0.10 percent or greater) — The court suspends your license for seven months to one year, and fines and fees can total as much as $4,000. You could go to county jail for up to 30 days and be forced to attend the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center for 12 to 48 hours.
Additional enhancement (BAC of 0.15 percent or greater) — The court orders an ignition interlock device installed during your license suspension and for six months to a year following your license restoration.
Additionally, you should know that a first-time DWI conviction stays on your record and is used to enhance any subsequent DWI offenses.

Facing these kinds of consequences, you definitely don’t want to fight alone. Our attorneys diligently prepare your defense and come to court ready to challenge the evidence against you, including the constitutionality of your traffic stop, probable cause for your arrest and the administration of any BAC testing. In many cases, we can get a reduction in charges to reckless driving or driving with an open container or persuade the prosecution to drop the charges altogether. While no law firm can guarantee results, we make every effort to secure a positive outcome.

Individual assistance to help you obtain compensation for serious, permanent injuries
When you are injured, you need to find a New Jersey accident attorney who has the experience, skills and determination to help you obtain a just result. At the Law Offices of Richard S. Greenberg, we provide the support you need through skilled legal representation backed by years of experience in courtrooms and negotiations. Our Bergen County lawyers offer hands-on representation to guide you through your serious injury claim, making complex matters easier to understand and overcome.

Personal injury in Bergen County and northern New Jersey
Clients throughout northern New Jersey rely on our law firm to obtain the compensation they need in all types of serious, permanent personal injury cases. We handle a broad range of claims, including:

Auto accidents — With insurance companies paying out less money on claims than ever before, it can seem impossible to obtain a just settlement after an auto accident. Our lawyers use our professional reputation, skills and determination to help you negotiate with auto insurers to get a fair result. When necessary, we provide strong representation in lawsuits against insurers and negligent parties.
Truck accidents — Because of the enormous size and weight of large commercial trucks, such as semi-trucks, big rigs and 18-wheelers, accidents involving trucks frequently result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Our compassionate attorneys guide you through a serious truck accident claim to obtain compensation for life-changing injuries or the loss of a loved one.
Motorcycle accidents — When a driver is negligent or reckless and hits a motorcycle, it can cause life-threatening injuries to the relatively unprotected rider. Our lawyer’s help victims recover for motorcycle accidents, even when you are partly at fault — as long as you are less at fault than the other party.
Dog bites — Dog bites and animal attacks often cause permanent, disfiguring injuries and severe emotional distress. We help you recover for these traumatic injuries by holding dog owners strictly liable for injuries their animals cause.
Workers’ compensation — From construction sites to offices, employers must provide a safe workplace, but workplace accidents and injuries occur even when an employer is not negligent. We help you file workers’ comp claims to recover benefits for the harm you’ve endured.
Products liability — Manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are free from design and manufacturing defects and have proper labels, instructions and warnings. If a defective product causes you serious injuries, our products liability lawyers have the skills and experience to hold the manufacturer responsible.
Back and spinal injuries — Back and spinal injuries can leave you with long-term harm, ranging from a painful herniated disc to paralysis. With decades of legal experience dealing with all types of catastrophic injuries, we help you obtain compensation for both the immediate and long-term effects of your injuries.
Head injuries — Head injuries may result in serious traumatic brain injury and are often caused by slip and fall accidents and motor vehicle crashes. We have a network of doctors to help you obtain the treatment you need and are dedicated to obtaining the fair compensation you deserve.

What should you do when you are injured and it is someone else’s fault?
When you have been injured by someone else’s carelessness, you should take some initial steps toward making sure your injury claim can be settled fairly and as quickly as possible, such as:

Write down everything you can remember about how the injury occurred, including the names, addresses and phone numbers of potential witnesses, police officers and insurance company representatives. For work injuries, write down the names of company or workers’ compensation representatives.
Call a dependable, experienced lawyer before making any statements — written or verbal — to insurance company adjusters or representatives.
Take steps to protect any evidence you may need to prove your injury, such as your totaled car, photographs of an accident or injury scene, clothing you were wearing and damaged personal belongings.