Dogs bite and attack people every day, from delivery people to those who visit the homes of dog owners, to people who simply take a walk in the park and come upon an unrestrained animal. Dog bites can cause very serious injuries, including permanent scarring and disfigurement, and life-threatening infections. People are also often knocked over during a dog attack, which can cause back injuries, broken bones, and brain injuries.
Dog bite claims are particularly complex because many homeowners’ insurance policies no longer provide coverage for these incidents. Even when they do, they will use a number of tactics to deny accident victims the compensation they deserve. A Fort Lauderdale dog bite lawyer can help after an attack and ensure you receive the fair settlement you deserve.
Why Choose Your Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Lawyer From Rosen Injury Law?
- Our Fort Lauderdale dog bite injury lawyers help protect the rights of dog attack victims and have helped recover maximum compensation for our dog bite injury clients.
- We have a proven record of success handling Florida dog bite injury claims.
- We will meet with you free of charge to discuss your dog bite injury claim. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your rights.
- We will pay all upfront costs of pursuing your damages, and you pay nothing until we recover compensation for you.
- Our attorneys are dedicated to helping you move forward after a dog attack by securing the justice and compensation you need.
Our Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Lawyer Understands Strict Liability
In most personal injury cases, you must prove that another person was negligent or careless and that their action or inaction caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. In many states, this means proving that a dog had a violent history or that the dog owner knew of the dog’s violent or aggressive tendencies. Fortunately, Florida is a strict liability state, which means you must only prove the dog bit you and caused injury.
In the Sunshine State, dog owners are liable anytime their animal injures someone while they are in a public area, or while they are legally on private premises. Owners can also be held liable if their dog bites or attacks any child under the age of six who enters their property uninvited. Accident victims can hold dog owners liable not only for direct injuries, such as deep cuts and puncture wounds, but also for indirect injuries that result from an outdated rabies vaccine or other vaccinations.
Our Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Lawyer Explains Dangerous Dogs
Certain dogs in Florida are considered dangerous, which means they must be recorded as dangerous with the state and local municipalities. Dogs are considered dangerous for a number of reasons, which may include:
- The dog has attacked, bitten, or endangered another person
- The dog has inflicted serious injury on another person
- The dog seriously injured or killed another domestic animal more than one time while they were not on the owner’s property
- The dog approached or chased a person in a public place and appeared to attack without being provoked
Owners of dangerous dogs must follow several rules. They must register the dog as dangerous and ensure the animal is properly confined, restrained, or muzzled. Owners of dangerous dogs must post warning signs that are clearly visible on their property. When property owners fail to take these precautions, they can be held liable for paying additional damages. Speak to a Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer for more information.
Common Injuries Caused by Dog Bites
Even smaller dogs can cause significant injuries. Larger breeds can quickly maul a large adult person. Some common injuries caused by dogs in Fort Lauderdale include:
- Skin punctures where the dog’s teeth break through the skin.
- Tears and lacerations that can even reach the bones, muscles, tendons, and nerves. This type of injury can result in muscle and nerve damage that may be permanent and lead to disability and chronic pain.
- Severely mangled limbs that may require amputation.
- Infections of the bite wounds and even rabies.
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement.
- Broken bones.
- Brain injuries are caused by the victim hitting their head on the ground or some other object.
- Spinal cord injuries caused by a fall from the attack.
- Back and neck injuries.
- Emotional trauma.
These are only some injuries a Fort Lauderdale dog attack can cause. You should seek immediate medical attention after any dog bite, even if you don’t think it is that severe. Then, follow your medical provider’s treatment plan and attend all follow-up visits.
Recoverable Damages for Your Dog Bite Injuries
At Rosen Injury Law, we help ensure that all your current and future damages are considered and accurately valued. When necessary, we consult medical and economic experts to help prove your injuries and establish the current and future value. Only after all damages are accurately valued can we know what a fair settlement of your claim would be.
In a successful Fort Lauderdale dog bite claim, you may be able to recover:
- Current and future medical expenses.
- Current and future lost wages.
- All necessary expenses incurred because of your dog bite injuries.
- Pain and suffering.
- Mental and emotional distress.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
- Loss of consortium.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Permanent disability.
- Other intangible losses.
Only in rare cases can you recover punitive damages for dog bite injuries. Our Fort Lauderdale dog bite injury lawyers work hard to recover every available type of damages to maximize your recovery.
How a Fort Lauderdale Dog Bites Lawyer Can Help You Recover Compensation for Your Damages
You deserve to have an experienced Fort Lauderdale dog bite lawyer pursue your claim for damages while you focus on recovering from your injuries. A dog bite injury lawyer can investigate your accident to help establish who is responsible for your injuries.
They can uncover evidence to support your claim, including speaking to witnesses and taking depositions when necessary. They can help determine the full extent of your damages and ensure all current and future damages are accurately valued to help decide what would be a fair settlement of your claim.
They can help negotiate a fair settlement and collect your compensation as quickly as possible. When a fair settlement is not possible, they can take your case to trial and help recover the compensation you deserve. An experienced Fort Lauderdale dog bite attorney representing you dramatically increases your chances of recovering maximum compensation.
Our Dog Bite Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Can Help with Your Injury Case
At Rosen Injury Law, P.A., our Fort Lauderdale dog bite lawyer takes dog bite cases very seriously. We know the damage dog bites and attacks can cause, and we also know how to hold owners liable so you can recover the full damages you deserve. Call us today at 954-787-1500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.