South Florida Personal Injury Blog

Any Broward personal injury lawyer knows that vicious dog bites are not only common, but a source of intense stress. Some victims were chased by inadequately supervised dogs. Others were assured that they were harmless – “all bark and no bite” – by the owners. When bitten by an unfamiliar dog, the situation is even more dire. In addition to the fear at the time of the attack, and the ongoing pain, the victim of a dog bite will also have health concerns and medical bills. For instance, has the dog been recently vaccinated? Do we know who the owner is? Is the owner cooperative? Do I need painful, pricy rabies vaccinations to protect myself? These are just some of the questions clients of our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney ask themselves.

First of all, seek medical attention and follow the advice of your doctor. When possible, you will want to find out the history of the dog, including the owner and all veterinarian records. Any Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer will tell you that safeguarding your health is the most important aspect of any animal bite ordeal.

A Broward personal injury attorney can help you enforce your rights. Under Florida law, the owner of a dog is liable for the injuries inflicted if you are bitten. This is true so long as you were either in a public place or you were lawfully on private premises. For instance, if you were visiting your friend for dinner when her German shepherd bit you in the kitchen, your friend is liable for the injuries. Likewise, if you were bitten on a public street, sidewalk, park, or other public property, the owner is liable.

If the owner had a “Bad Dog” sign, indicating a dangerous animal’s presence, the owner may only be liable if she was negligent in her supervision or containment of the animal. A Broward personal injury attorney knows that the sign serves as a warning to outsiders who may be unfamiliar with the dog’s dangerous tendencies. The exception to this is children under six years of age: those very young children are always protected by the law. The owner will be liable regardless of whether she was negligent in containing or supervising the dog, if the dog caused injury to the child under the age of six.

Similarly, the owner is liable for damages the dog causes to your pets or your livestock. If your neighbor’s dog comes onto your property and attacks your cat, your toy poodle, or your cattle, for instance, the owner will be liable to you for your damages. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer is familiar with the complexities of dog bite cases and the amount of damage just one dog can cause to your person, your animals, and your property.

The owner’s liability for his dog’s behavior does not depend on whether or not he had prior knowledge of the dog’s dangerous tendencies. In some states, the owner must know of the dog’s danger; in Florida, such knowledge is irrelevant. Our Broward personal injury lawyer knows the ins and outs of dog bite liability in Florida.