Bonita Springs Dog Bite Lawyer
While they may be called ‘man’s best friend,’ dogs bite and attack people quite often in Bonita Springs. Dogs can bite anyone at any time, from people who are making a social visit to a friend’s home to people working for delivery companies. Dog bites may sound minor, but they are not. These are very serious injuries and can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, as well as infections that are sometimes life-threatening. Dogs can also knock people over when they attack, causing broken bones, back injuries, and head trauma.
Filing a dog bite claim can become complex. Not all insurance companies will include coverage for a dog bite in their policies and even when they do, they aggressively defend these claims to shield themselves from liability. After an attack, our Bonita Springs dog bite lawyer can help you receive the settlement you deserve.
Strict Liability in Dog Bite Claims
The majority of personal injury claims rest on the legal theory of negligence. Negligence refers to another person’s careless actions or inactions that cause an accident that results in serious injuries. Many states have laws that require accident victims to prove the dog had a violent history, and that the owner of the animal had knowledge of the dog’s aggressive or violent tendencies. In Bonita Springs and throughout Florida, this is not necessary. You can file a claim based on strict liability, which means you only must prove that you were bitten by a dog and sustained injuries as a result.
Dog owners throughout Florida are liable any time their pet hurts someone while they are on public property, or when they are lawfully on private premises. When a child is not invited onto private property but they are six years old or younger, owners can still be held liable for a dog bite.
Dangerous Dogs in Florida
While you do not have to prove that the dog that bit you was dangerous, all dangerous dogs must be reported to local and state municipalities. There are many reasons a dog may be considered dangerous and they are as follows:
- The dog has bitten or attacked another person, or has placed someone in danger
- The dog has caused another person to suffer a serious injury
- The dog caused serious injury or fatality to another domestic animal at least twice while they were not on the owner’s private property
- The dog chased or approached a person on public property and attacked without provocation
When a dog is considered dangerous, owners have a legal duty to post clearly visible warning signs on their property.
Call Our Dog Bite Lawyer in Bonita Springs for a Free Case Review
Like the injuries they cause, dog bite claims are very complex. At Cardinal Law, our Bonita Springs dog bite lawyer knows how to overcome the challenges these cases present so you obtain the full and fair settlement that is justly yours. Call us now at 239-610-0845 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to get the legal help you need.
