Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Attorney
Assisting the injured in recovering compensation for animal attacks
Whether you are a delivery person, an invited guest or a child, you may suffer serious injuries from dog bites. Dog bites can cause permanent scarring, disfigurement, muscle damage, infections and other serious or even fatal injuries. If you fall or are knocked to the ground in an animal attack, you may also suffer serious broken bones, back injuries or head traumas.
At Boone & Davis, Attorneys at Law, our Fort Lauderdale dog bite attorneys have more than 40 years of experience helping victims recover compensation for serious injuries caused by animal attacks. Dog bite cases can be difficult, because many homeowners’ insurance policies no longer cover these attacks. With a background in insurance representation, our law firm understands the complications that may arise and how to combat the tactics insurers use to avoid paying the full amount of your claim. We are also skilled and experienced trial lawyers who are dedicated to personally guiding you through each step of your lawsuit.
Are dog owners liable for injuries caused by animal attacks?
In Florida when it comes to dog bites, dog owners are liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owners’ knowledge of such viciousness. This is different than many other premises liability cases in which you must prove that some type of negligence caused the condition that resulted in your injuries.
Dog owners are liable to any person who is injured by their dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including by express or implied permission of the owner or a duty under the law or postal regulations. Our Fort Lauderdale dog bite attorneys may be able to assist delivery people, postal workers, police, meter readers, houseguests and others who lawfully enter the property of a dog owner. In addition, owners are responsible if their dog attacks or bite children under the age of 6 who wander onto their property uninvited. Dog owners are not only liable for direct injuries, but also indirect injuries caused by such problems as an expired rabies vaccination or other out-of-date vaccinations.
What if the dog that bit me is dangerous?
Dangerous dogs are those that are recorded as dangerous for a variety of reasons, including:
- Aggressively bitten, attacked or endangered a person
- Inflicted severe injury on a person
- Severely injured or killed a domestic animal more than once while off the owner’s property
- Chased or approached a person in a public place with the appearance of attacking and without provocation
Dangerous dogs must be registered as such by the owner, properly confined, or muzzled and restrained. In addition, the dog owner must post clearly visible warnings signs on their property. If a dangerous dog has bitten you, the owner may be liable for additional damages.
Are there any exceptions to the strict liability of dog owners?
Although our injury attorneys help many victims recover compensation from dog owners under strict liability laws, there are exceptions. For example, if an owner posts an easily readable sign on their property that includes the words “Bad Dog,” the owner is not liable for injuries except to children under age 6, or unless the owner was negligent. Dog owners may also assert additional defenses in many situations, including:
- You were a trespasser.
- You were unlawfully on the property and about to commit a crime.
- You were tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog, the owner or a family member.
- The dog was defending a nearby person from an unjustified attack or assault.
In addition, if your negligence contributed to the dog bite or attack, your monetary recovery may be reduced by the percentage that an insurer, judge, jury or other fact finder finds you negligent.
Contact dependable Fort Lauderdale dog bite attorney for prompt assistance in your injury case
At Boone & Davis, Attorneys at Law, we take dog bite cases seriously. If you need help recovering compensation for your animal attack injuries, contact us anytime online or by calling 954-566-9919 for a free, no-obligation consultation. As part of our commitment to helping the injured, we never charge fees — not even for our expenses — until we win an award or settlement for you.
