Alafaya Dog Bite Lawyer
Many of us interact with pets on a daily basis and while for the most part, these interactions are positive, this is not always the case. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. Dog bite injuries also tend to be severe, often requiring expensive treatment and rehabilitative therapy. Unfortunately, even after obtaining treatment, many victims must live with permanent scarring or disfigurement for the rest of their lives, while many others also suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
While it is possible to recover compensation for these injuries, filing a claim can be difficult, as it requires compliance with a host of complicated legal procedures, so if you were bitten by a dog, you should strongly consider retaining an experienced Alafaya dog bite lawyer who can help you.
Strict Liability
In Florida, dog owners can be held strictly liable for bite injuries inflicted by their animals. Unlike negligence, the legal theory of strict liability doesn’t require the plaintiff to prove that the animal was aggressive or had bitten someone on a prior occasion. Instead dog bite victims need only prove that:
- The dog belonged to the defendant or was under that person’s control;
- The dog bit the plaintiff; and
- The victim was in a public place or was lawfully on private property when attacked.
It is important to note, however, that Florida’s strict liability law only applies to dog bites. If, for instance, a person was knocked over by a large dog and broke his or her arm, that individual would still need to demonstrate that the dog’s owner was somehow negligent in restraining the animal, which caused the injury. Proof that a dog’s owner was required by city law to leash his or her animal in public, but did not do so, for example, could be used to prove that the owner’s negligence caused or contributed to the attack.
Important Deadlines
Dog bite victims can only recover compensation for their injuries if they file a claim against the dog’s owner within four years of the attack. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations and is extremely important to the success of a plaintiff’s case. Injured parties who fail to meet this deadline, for instance, will almost always have their case dismissed by the court, meaning that they may miss out on the only opportunity they have to recover compensation for related medical bills and lost wages.
Contact Our Alafaya Dog Bite Legal Team Today
Dog bite injuries tend to be both painful and difficult to treat. For instance, many victims suffer permanent muscle damage and scarring, which can cause limited mobility for years to come. It is, however, possible to recover compensation for these types of losses, as well as for the pain and suffering and emotional distress experienced by the injured party. To learn more about your own recovery options following a dog bite, please call 407-381-4529 to speak with one of the experienced Alafaya dog bite lawyers at Israoui Law today.
