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. [otm_company-name]'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.