Estero Dog Bite Lawyer
In 2022, insurance companies paid over $1 billion to settle animal attack injury claims. Dog bites often cause catastrophic injuries, especially if the victim is a small child. Furthermore, many dog owners refuse to accept responsibility for these incidents. Instead, they point fingers, usually at the victim or at the animal’s previous owner. Finger pointing does not change the fact that these owners have a legal responsibility to control their animals and ensure their guests are reasonably safe.
The hard-working Estero dog bite lawyer at Cardinal Law quickly evaluates your claim and determine your legal options. Then, we collect evidence that supports your claim and refutes insurance company defenses. Finally, when the case goes to court, we do not relent until we secure the best possible results under the circumstances. Throughout this entire process, we proactively communicate with our clients, so they are never in the dark. This simple and straightforward approach usually produces results that exceed your expectations.
Dog Bite Injuries
When animals attack, injuries begin with the knockdown. At this point, injuries include broken bones, head injuries, and other wounds that are usually fatal or permanent.
Then, when dogs bite, their teeth often cause multiple kinds of wounds, mostly severe tearing lacerations and deep puncture wounds. Normally, doctors must use skin grafts and other painful, expensive interventions to treat such wounds. Additionally, when dogs sink their teeth into victims, the teeth usually pierce internal organs, causing massive internal bleeding.
Additionally, dog bites often cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, especially if the victim is a small child. PTSD symptoms, like anger and flashbacks, make it almost impossible for these victims to function at home, school, or anywhere else. Although several PTSD medicines are available, very few are appropriate for children.
Legal Options for an Estero Dog Bite Lawyer
Millions of people own pets, and dogs bite millions of people. Pet owners demand freedom of choice, and dog bite victims need special protection. Most states, including Florida, have a complex web of dog bite laws to balance these two interests.
- Strict Liability: Owners are strictly liable for bite injuries in the Sunshine State. This law is so broad that it’s often counterproductive. Pet owner jurors often see the strict liability law as a law that punishes owners who care for dogs with checkered pasts.
- Scienter: If available, scienter (knowledge) might be the best legal approach in these cases. Owners are liable for damages if they knew the animal was potentially dangerous. Evidence on this point includes aggressive barking, vicious growling, and other such pre-bite behavior.
- Negligence: Ordinary negligence is a lack of care. Daycare teachers are negligent if they allow a child to bring a dog to class. Negligence per se is a violation of a safety law. Many area municipalities have very strict animal restraint laws, such as leash laws.
Vicarious liability theories often apply in these cases. For example, employers, like daycare owners, are often financially responsible for damages if their employees, like daycare workers, are negligent during the course and scope of their employment.
Work With a Detail-Oriented Lee County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Estero dog bite injury lawyer, contact Cardinal Law, P.A. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.
