Who Is At Fault For A Dog Bite In Florida?
Brian O Sutter
Personal Injury
If you are bitten by a dog in Florida, you probably have cause to open a lawsuit. Dog bites can come with medical bills and other costs, and it shouldn’t be your responsibility to pay for something that wasn’t your fault. Florida dog bite laws are fairly cut and dry, requiring little arguing about who is at fault. Having a pet means that you need to be a responsible pet owner and not let your animal run around biting people. Strict Liability
The portion of the law in Florida that covers dog bites is known as Strict Liability. Strict Liability means that the god owner is responsible for the dog bite and any injuries that come from the bite. This is different from some other states where the dog has to bite people more than once in order to have the owner held accountable. In Florida, if you are attacked by a dog, the owner will automatically be held accountable for your injuries and made to pay for any damages. This makes dog bite cases fairly straightforward and easy. But there is still a chance that things could get messy.
Negligence Suit
On top of a Strict Liability suit, you could also file a Negligence Suit against the dog’s owner. Negligence and Personal Liability fall under the same categories. A dog usually only bites you if it is not properly leashed or contained.Part of owning a dog is making sure that it does not harm other people and that you are responsible for making sure that everyone is safe. You could have a case on your hands by telling the court that the owner failed to properly restrain or contain the dog. That would be considered pet owner negligence. If the dog got loose from a backyard enclosure, you could claim negligence that they owners failed to make sure that the enclosure was properly maintained in order to secure the dog.
What To Do
First up, you should get the help of an experienced lawyer. They will be able to help you file the right paperwork and determine which type of claim you will need to file. Figuring it out on your own can be a nightmare. Be sure to record any evidence like taking photos of the bite, getting the name of the owner and their contact information, a description of the dog, and the contact information of any witnesses who saw the incident happen. These pieces will help you out later with your case. With all this in hand, you can be sure that your lawyer will be ready to help you take on your case.
If you have been injured by a dog bite, it is time to take action. Give All Injuries Law Firm a call. We specialize in personal injury cases and can help you with your dog bite. We offer a free case review right on the homepage of our website and we would be happy to meet with you to get the ball rolling. Contact us as soon as possible so you can receive payment for your injuries as quickly as possible.