Florida Dog Bites Attorneys

Research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from 2015 found that annually in the United States, over 4.7 million people will be bitten by a dog. About 386,000 require emergency medical services while 800,000 can be treated by their primary physician. While you’re certainly not alone if you’ve been bitten by someone else’s dog recently, you shouldn’t just sit idly by and recover. Get the justice you deserve.

Why Did the Dog Attack?

First, it helps to understand why some dogs can be so violent. If you are around their young, they could act out of character. Some dogs may feel stressed out at your presence and bite. If you have your own dog, the other dog may not play nicely with other animals. Regardless, if it was a friend or neighbor’s dog, it can be startling if it bites you. If it’s a stranger’s dog, this is even more disturbing.

Does It Matter Whose Dog Bit You?

As long as the dog has an owner, you may be eligible for compensation. You should call our law firm today or fill out our free case evaluation form to learn more. Of course, if a friend or neighbor’s dog bit you, you may feel more reluctant to file a lawsuit for potential compensation. Only you can decide what the best recourse is.

Is Suing the Best Move?

Suing may not always be necessary if you were bitten by a dog. If it’s a friend or neighbor’s dog who attacked you, you may be able to come to a personal agreement between the two of you where they pay for your hospital’s bills or doctor’s bills, medications, physical therapy, and other forms of treatment.

When deciding whether to sue, you must also consider the extent of your injury. Did the dog just barely connect with the skin when they bit you? Are your injuries only minor scratches or cuts? In this situation, it may not be worth it to go through the effort and money to sue. However, if your injury is more severe, you may have a case. If you can’t work or your quality of life has decreased because you’re in constant pain, you should get the compensation you deserve.

How to Start Filing a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit?

If you believe you want to file a lawsuit against the dog owner, first contact our attorneys for a free legal review. You can discuss the incident to the lawyer as well as the extent of your injuries. There are many types of dog bite injury lawsuits, and your attorney will determine which one best fits your situation:

  • Dog-on-dog aggression — If you were walking your dog when you and your pet were attacked by another dog, you may have experienced dog-on-dog aggression. However, in most instances, you may not have a case and you may have to pay for your injuries out-of-pocket.
  • Non-aggressive dog attacks — If your friend or neighbor’s dog, who is normally quite friendly and docile, behaves in a different way and causes you damage through an injury, the owner may be responsible and may owe you compensation. Of course, it’s important that you didn’t rile up or stress out the dog in any way.
  • Dog bites child — If you have a child who was attacked by a dog, your chances of getting justice and receiving compensation can be much higher.
  • Dangerous dog breeds — It’s common knowledge that pit bulls are generally more feared than poodles. Depending on the breed of dog that bit you, your case can go further. Some town or city laws may have rules regulating bites from dangerous dog breeds. In some cases, your lawsuit could even go to the state level.

What Should You Expect During a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit?

While your attorney will fight on your behalf, you will probably have to be present during the case to discuss your injuries. In some states, the owner may have the negligence rule on their side. As long as the owner leashed up their dog and hasn’t had any incidents with their pet before, they may not have to pay. Depending on where you live, you may automatically win the case if you sue. Dog owners are automatically liable in certain states. If the dog bit you, despite the circumstances, the owner will typically have to pay you for the extent of your injuries. Our firm has a successful track record handling dog bite cases. Call today to get justice.

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