How to Recover Compensation Following a Dog Bite in Florida

While dogs are considered “man’s best friend” for a reason, there are times where dogs can become vicious, especially if they were improperly trained, or worse, abused by their owner. Dog attacks are often gruesome, and if you are someone who was attacked by a dog, you are most likely now seeking financial compensation to help cover the cost of your medical bills, lost wages, and more. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, here are some of the questions you may have regarding your legal options going forward:

What are the most common dog attack-related injuries?

Dogs can be vicious and cause serious damage, no matter their size or breed. Some of the most common injuries sustained in dog attacks are as follows:

• Permanent scarring
• Lacerations
• Deep cuts that require stitches
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Soft tissue injuries

How do I sue a dog owner if I was bitten by their dog?

To sue a negligent dog owner, your attorney will have to first prove several things. First, your attorney must prove that you were attacked either in a public place, or while you were lawfully in a private place. That being said, those who were bitten while trespassing or otherwise provoking a dog to attack, you may not be able to successfully sue the dog owner. Additionally, if you were bitten despite the dog’s owner providing sufficient warning, such as a “Bad Dog” sign in front of their house, you may lose out on compensation. It is worth noting, however, that in Florida, if a child under the age of six years old unknowingly stepped onto a property with a vicious dog and was the victim of an attack, you may be able to hold the owner liable.

What should I do after I was attacked by a dog?

If you are bitten by a dog, you must call the police and seek medical attention immediately. However, you should also collect any witness’ contact information if possible, as you may use their testimony to help prove your personal injury claim if you plan on filing one. To win any personal injury lawsuit, you will, of course, have to prove that you were injured due to another party’s negligence. Your attorney will use security camera footage of the accident, medical documents, police reports, pictures of your injuries, and more to prove your claim.

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