Florida Dog Bite Lawyer

Dogs cause serious injuries when they clamp onto a person’s body part and refuse to let go. Even small dogs can send someone to the hospital with a serious infection when they break the surface of the skin with their teeth. If you were injured in a dog attack, you should find a dog bite lawyer in Florida to discuss your case. JustCallMoe to schedule a free, no obligation consultation. We have helped countless accident victims seek justice and compensation.

Florida’s Dog Bite Statute

Florida Statutes § 767.04 is the main dog bite law. It creates liability for owners whenever their dog bites someone in public or when the victim is lawfully on private property. There is no requirement that the owner know a dog was vicious or had bitten someone before.

Instead, liability immediately attaches if the animal bites someone.

There are some exceptions to this law:

• Trespassing. A victim who is trespassing is not lawfully on the property, so they cannot take advantage of the dog bite statute.
• Contributory Negligence. The law says an owner’s liability is reduced by the victim’s share of liability. For example, a careless person might have accidentally stepped on a dog, causing it to bite. The victim might be 50% to blame.
• “Beware of dog” sign. An owner who posts a “Beware of dog” sign on their property is not strictly liable for the dog attack. However, they might still have liability for negligence, such as failing to properly restrain their dog, and they will have liability if the dog bites a child under 6 years of age.

Contact a Florida dog bite lawyer who can investigate the incident. Questions often arise over whether you had a lawful right to be on the property or if your actions somehow caused the dog to attack. We might also sue if the dog caused a non-bite injury.

Liability of Non-Owners for a Dog Attack

We might sue someone other than the owner if they had possession of the dog and failed to use reasonable care to prevent a dog bite.

For example, we could sue a landlord if the dog owner is a renter or even sue someone who volunteered to watch a dog. They must use reasonable care to prevent the dog from biting someone. If they don’t, then a victim might sue them.

Other defendants can include a kennel where the owners house a dog. The kennel might let the animals escape because they carelessly leave dog pens unlatched. If you are bitten, we might sue them.

Call a dog bite lawyer in Florida to see about your right to sue a non-owner. We try to hold all possible defendants accountable.

Dog Bite Injuries Are Serious

Any dog can send someone to the hospital after a bite. Some of the most serious injuries include:

• Puncture wounds. The dog’s teeth can break the skin and damage nerves.
• Soft tissue injuries. The teeth might tear or stretch ligaments, tendons, or muscles, leading to inflammation and pain. A soft tissue injury can take weeks to heal.
• Fractures. Larger dogs have powerful jaws which can break bones in the arms or legs.
• Head injuries. A person might fall when a dog attacks them, striking their head on the pavement. They can suffer a concussion or internal brain bleed.
• Infections. Dogs spread germs through saliva. When left untreated, infections can turn into full-blown sepsis and septic shock.
• Rabies. This is a fatal infection and the reason even someone bitten by a small dog should head to the hospital. A doctor can administer a rabies vaccine to save your life.
• Facial disfigurement. Big dogs sometimes maul a victim, leading to devastating facial injuries that require reconstructive surgery. Any laceration can leave a disfiguring scar.

We recommend heading to the hospital for immediate treatment. Hundreds of people around the country die from dog attacks, so please be safe.

What Evidence is Helpful?

A dog bite lawyer in Florida will typically rely on the following evidence when reviewing a case:

• Witness statements. Who observed the dog attack? You are a witness, so please share your memories with a lawyer. However, the other side will probably claim you are telling a self-serving story. For that reason, it’s helpful if there were other witnesses to the incident. We want to know where the attack happened and what, if anything, you did before the incident.
• Medical records. These records help us see the full extent of your injuries, including the likelihood of making a full recovery. Go to the hospital for immediate treatment.
• Pictures of your injuries. X-rays are nice, but nothing brings home the horrifying nature of a dog attack like bright, vivid pictures of wounds on your arms, legs, or face. Make sure to take photographs of your wounds after the accident.
• Video. Some attacks are caught on camera, such as a doorbell camera. A Florida dog bite lawyer will move quickly to preserve any relevant video evidence.
• Photographs of the scene of the attack. If a dog mauls you on the sidewalk, then it’s ideal to get a picture of the location. There might be blood on the ground, which shows conclusively that you were not trespassing on someone’s private property at the time of the bite.
• Pictures of the house. Was a “Beware of Dog” sign posted? The owner might quickly put one up the day after the dog attack. If possible, get a picture of the house to show the absence of a sign.

After a vicious attack, many people cannot move. It’s okay if you cannot document the scene of the incident. JustCallMoe quickly so we can spring into action. A Florida dog bite attorney will investigate the attack.

Compensation for a Florida Dog Bite

A Florida dog bite attorney can meet to go over all your damages suffered because of the dog attack:

• Medical bills. Some victims are hospitalized to deal with sepsis or serious brain injuries. Dog bite victims often need emergency treatment, including a rabies vaccine, splints, sutures, and other treatments. You should request that the owner pay for these expenses.
• Lost wages. A dog attack often requires weeks and months of recovery before a person feels up to returning to work. You will lose income during recovery.
• Damaged property. You can seek compensation for any property damaged in the attack, such as broken glasses or a phone.
• Pain and suffering. Our clients deserve the most compensation possible for non-economic losses, such as pain and mental suffering.

If a dog owner has homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, then a dog bite lawyer in Florida can negotiate with the insurer for a settlement. Otherwise, we will negotiate directly with the dog owner.

Experienced Dog Bite Lawyer in Florida

Were you injured in a dog attack? JustCallMoe! Our firm has helped many victims navigate the insurance claims process or file a lawsuit to protect their rights. Schedule your consultation today!