With a majority of United States households owning at least one dog, it is difficult to go anywhere in Florida without seeing or coming in contact with a dog. Unfortunately, dog bites and dog attacks are far too common. Florida has laws in place which are designed to assist dog bite victims to recover compensation for their serious injuries. Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyers's Broward County dog bite lawyers have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process of presenting a dog bite claim. Dog bites can leave victims with serious dog bite injuries. Recent statistics show:
- In 2014, there were 42 dog bite-related fatalities.
- Forty-eight percent of fatality victims were children under the age of 13.
- Nearly two-thirds of dog bite fatalities involved more than one dog.
Common Dog Bite Injuries Caused By Dog Bites
When most people think of dog bite-related injuries, they focus on a dog’s sharp teeth and think of the puncture type injuries that can result from a bite. While these types of injuries can and do result from dog attacks, they are by no means the only type of injury a dog can cause. To be sure, in such dog bite cases, these dog bite injuries may also include:- Cuts and lacerations from a dog’s teeth
- Injuries caused by the dog’s jaws
- Broken bones
- Illnesses like rabies or bacterial infections
- Disfigurement
- Spinal problems should you be knocked over by the dog
How Does Florida’s Dog Bite Law Help Me?
Florida law imposes strict liability on a dog owner for the injuries his or her dog causes to others. What this means is that, with few exceptions, a dog owner will be automatically held responsible for the injuries and losses you suffered in your dog bite attack. This is so even if:- The dog had never previously attacked anyone.
- The owner had taken reasonable steps to contain the dog.
- The owner had no reason to know or believe the dog would attack you.