Dogs bite and attack people every day, from delivery people to those that visit the homes of dog owners, to people that 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 head trauma.
Dog bite claims are particularly complex because many homeowners’ insurance policies no longer provide coverage for these incidences. 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.
Our Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Lawyer Explains Strict Liability
In most personal injury cases, you must prove 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 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 any time 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 that 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not only for direct injuries, such as deep cuts and puncture wounds, but also for indirect injuries that result from an outdated rabies vaccine or other vaccinations.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 a number of 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.
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 recover the full damages you deserve. Call us today at 954-787-1500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.