New Jersey Veterinary Malpractice Lawyer

Many families and individuals consider their pet to be another member of their family. When you bring your pet to the vet, whether for a routine check-up or for a specific health condition, you should feel confident that your veterinarian will take care of them. You trust that they will consider the health and comfort of your pet and that they have the training to handle their needs. Although many veterinarians are responsible and caring with animals, there are some who are negligent or even malicious with pet care.

When a pet is harmed during a veterinary visit, it can be stressful and overwhelming. It’s essential to understand what to do if your pet was injured, harmed, or even killed because of negligent veterinarian care. It’s important to understand when you should file a veterinary malpractice claim in New Jersey. These claims can be incredibly complex, and many pet owners are unaware of their options for compensation and recourse.

That’s why you need a legal professional to fight for justice for you and your pet. At The Animal Law Firm, we always fight for the underdog, and that means protecting your rights and the rights and welfare of animals. We have unique experience in this area of law and have represented hundreds of animals successfully.

Veterinary malpractice claims can’t operate on first-person experience, as your pet cannot explain their experience. Instead, you need animal law attorneys well-versed in gathering evidence, such as medical records and internal communications, to provide proof of veterinary negligence. At The Animal Law Firm, we can help you determine the ideal path for you.

What Is Veterinary Malpractice?

The basic definition of veterinary malpractice claims is the same as that of human medical malpractice claims. Just like other healthcare providers have a professional standard of care to provide for human patients, veterinarians are expected to hold a standard of care for the animals they treat. Malpractice occurs when this standard of care is breached and the patient or animal suffers harm because of it. The duty of care may be breached because of negligence, malice, or incompetence by a veterinarian. Veterinary malpractice may include:

• Misdiagnosis: If a veterinarian incorrectly diagnoses a pet’s condition, especially if there is clear evidence against their assertion, this may cause the animal harm. They may receive the wrong care or none at all, leading to illness, injury, and death.
• Failure to Communicate With Pet Owners: This includes explaining treatments, continued care, and the potential risks of recommended treatment.
• Failure to Diagnose: A veterinarian fails to diagnose an animal despite clear symptoms. This lack of treatment can hurt the animal. A vet prematurely stopping treatment may also cause harm and be considered malpractice.
• Prescription Errors: The wrong dose or type of medication may be prescribed.
• Surgical Errors: A surgical error made because of negligence, lack of training and skill, or malice that causes the animal harm or death is considered malpractice.
• Unnecessary Procedures: Certain veterinarians will behave dishonestly and conduct tests, care, procedures, and even surgeries that are unneeded to add to the bill.
• Lack of Training: If a veterinarian performs a procedure that they don’t have the training for, or allows staff to perform procedures when they don’t have the experience or knowledge, this may be malpractice.

Pet owners need to be aware of what to do if they suspect veterinary malpractice. If your pet had an injury or illness, or died in veterinary care, it’s essential to know how to respond.

The Animal Law Firm Can Represent You and Your Pet

At The Animal Law Firm, we know that dealing with veterinary malpractice is incredibly traumatic and devastating. We want to help you understand the legal options available to you and use our experience in your interests. These claims can be very complex, and we want to streamline the process, take away some of your stress, and represent you and your pet’s rights.

In many states, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to secure non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, in a veterinary malpractice case. This is also true of New Jersey, despite attempts to introduce legislation allowing owners to claim non-economic damages when pets are injured. It can be hard to secure the compensation you deserve. There are additional paths to securing justice against a negligent veterinarian and other ways to gain compensation outside of a civil claim. We can help you determine the ideal route.

How Do I File a Complaint Against a Veterinarian in New Jersey?

Our animal law attorneys can help you determine whether to file a civil malpractice claim or a formal complaint with the state veterinarian board. Because veterinary malpractice civil claims are lengthy and very expensive, it’s important to determine whether filing a claim is worth it. Filing a complaint with the veterinarian board, followed by sending a letter of demand to the insurance provider for compensation, is another way to see justice done and also get essential compensation.

Essential Steps to Prove Veterinary Malpractice

Just like human medical malpractice, a veterinarian who makes a mistake while treating your pet is not necessarily liable for negligence or malpractice. There are several things that must be true for a veterinarian to be held responsible for the care and harm done to your pet in a malpractice claim. A pet may have had an injury, illness, or death after veterinary treatment or surgery, but this doesn’t inherently point to veterinary negligence or carelessness. To have a successful malpractice claim, you must prove the following:

1. The veterinarian had a duty of care toward the animal.
2. The veterinarian failed to uphold a professional standard of care.
3. The breach of the veterinarian’s duty of care is what caused harm to the animal.
4. The pet owner suffered economic or non-economic damages because of the animal’s harm.

An The Animal Law Firm Attorney Can Help

Our attorneys at The Animal Law Firm have spent years helping animals and their owners find justice and keeping negligent and malicious veterinarians from harming other animals. We understand animal law and know how to decide what legal option is ideal to pursue for your situation. Contact our team today to see how we can help you earn compensation.