Lehigh Acres Dog Bite Lawyer
A dog’s jaws can cause serious lacerations, break bone, and cause dangerous infection. Other injuries dog attack victims often suffer include whiplash and injuries caused when they fall to the ground, either being dragged to the ground by the dog or falling while attempting to flee from the dog. If you were harmed in a dog attack, the Lehigh Acres dog bite lawyer at Cardinal Law, P.A. can help you recover your damages by filing a personal injury claim with the dog owner’s home insurance company.
Damages in a Dog Bite Claim
- Medical costs
- Future medical care
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Loss of joy of life
- Property damage
Frequently Asked Questions Surrounding Dog Bite Claims
- Will My Friend/Family Member/Neighbor Lose Their Home?—No. If you file a personal injury claim after being bitten by their dog, their homeowner’s insurance will end up paying your damages, not the dog owner themselves. They may face a higher premium, but not to the degree that they would lose their home or go bankrupt. The financial consequences you face, if you end up paying out of your own pocket, are significantly higher than the financial consequences the dog’s owner is facing.
- Will the Dog be Put Down?—A civil claim has no bearing on whether or not the dog will be put down. That is a police matter, or in some cases the owner’s decision (particularly if the dog has a history of attacking others).
- What if I Was Responsible For Someone Else’s Dog When it Bit Me?—If the dog was not yours and you were bitten by it, you probably still have a case worth pursuing, assuming you are not the spouse of the owner. Examples of when this scenario might play out include: walking the dog, dog sitting, bathing or grooming the dog, transporting the dog in your car, etc. Even if you accepted responsibility for the dog, either verbally or implied, at the time of the attack, the owner is still liable in the event that it injures you or another party.
- I Was Teasing the Dog. Do I Still Have a Case?—If you were teasing, roughhousing, intimidating, or harming the dog before it bit you, your claim can be devalued to the degree of your own negligence under Florida’s comparative negligence doctrine. A court may fully side with the dog/dog’s owner if a plaintiff was being excessively cruel or violent towards the dog or the dog’s puppies.
Call a Lehigh Acres Dog Bite Lawyer Today
We encourage you to talk to an attorney before you make up your mind about seeking compensation. It may be tempting to “let it slide” if you know the dog owner well or if they are a neighbor. However, this exposes you to serious financial harm, on top of the physical and emotional trauma that you have been subjected to. Call the Lehigh Acres dog bite lawyers at Cardinal Law, P.A. today at 239-610-0845 to schedule a free consultation.
