Dog Bite Accidents

Dog bites can be one of the most traumatizing injuries a person can suffer. Many dog bites occur as a result of the dog owner’s negligence—allowing the dog to run around outdoors without a fence, intentionally letting the dog off of the leash, or failing to put up a “Beware of Dog” sign in their yard. In Florida, there is a specific statute that imposes liability on the owner for dog bite injuries. The statute reads: “The owner of any dog that bites any person while person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”

Many dog bite cases are governed by the negligence standard. Negligence is defined as the failure to exercise a reasonable degree of care in light of the surrounding circumstances. Basically, if a dog owner fails to do what another dog owner would reasonably do in the same or similar circumstances, he or she can be liable for any injuries their dog has caused the victim.

The Florida statute does impose some liability on the bitten victim if their negligence was a factor in the bite. For example, if the owner prominently displayed a sign that indicated there was a dog on the premises, the owner is not liable for injuries caused by the dog’s bite, unless the owner actively did something to cause the dog to bite the injured person. Notably, Florida has a special exception for children under the age of 6 years old. The law concludes that children under the age of 6 are unable to understand the consequences of their actions; therefore, the child is unable to avoid the danger and thus, is not negligent. For children over the age of 6, a jury is asked to determine whether the child was able to understand and avoid the danger in determining whether the child was negligent. Additionally, when determining negligence the jury is also asked to consider whether the child’s parents adequately supervised the child.

If you have been injured by a dog bite you deserve to be compensated for all of the injuries the attack has caused including medical expenses, pain and suffering and any scarring or disfigurement caused by the attack. Dog bite cases are heavily dependent on the circumstances of the attack, so it is important you call the Miami dog bite lawyers at Friedland | Carmona today! The Kendall accident attorneys can review the facts of your case, look over the medical records and help you recover the compensation you deserve!

Jonathan Friedland has been practicing these types of cases in the state of Florida for over twenty years and has a track record of success. He has worked diligently to recover millions of dollars for his clients. Let him fight to recover the money you deserve!

Call the Miami injury lawyers at Friedland | Carmona at 305-661-2008 or fill out the contact information to your left to receive your FREE consultation; Mr. Friedland or Miami personal injury lawyer, Michael Carmona will meet with you and your family to discuss your options and advise you as to what actions need to be taken. Many victims never get the settlement they deserve because they are unsure if they have a claim. Don’t hesitate—Contact the Miami injury lawyers at Friedland | Carmona today! Let our family take care of your family!