South Florida Personal Injury Blog

Palm Beach County commissioners voted to crack down on dangerous dogs in the area. The county labels certain dogs as “dangerous dogs,” according to Palm Beach personal injury attorney Andrew Alitowski. Dangerous dogs are not permitted to go to area dog parks or any other parks, businesses, or beaches. Previously, a dog had to attack one person or kill or injure two or more domestic animals to earn the unfortunate label, says Palm Beach accident lawyer Alitowski. Now, an attack on just one domestic animal, like a cat or another dog, can allow animal control authorities to designate a dog with the unwanted label. The dog must be muzzled and its owner must post signs to warn people in the area of the dog’s propensity to injure.

A dog can be euthanized after attacking a human, which conforms to the old rule. Now, however, county officials may take this step after it attacks two or more domestic animals. Under the old rules in Palm Beach County, a dog could not be euthanized for attacking only other animals. County commissioners hope to prevent attacks on people by instituting the new, tougher rules.

Broward accident attorney Alitowsk says that the state of Florida has tough laws regarding the civil liability for the actions of their pets. Dangerous dogs, of course, cause the most frequent and severe injuries in the form of bites. Under state law, a dog owner is liable for the injuries her dog inflicts on another person in almost every instance. If the owner warns people of the presence of a dangerous animal on her property by posting a sign, however, she may not be liable. This loophole does not hold true, however, if the injured person was a very young child who could not appreciate the significance of the sign.

Palm Beach and Broward Counties have strict rules regarding dangerous dogs and other pets, although they have not gone as far as Miami-Dade County. Miami-Dade, in response to the high number of injuries inflicted by pit bulls and pit bull mix dogs, has actually banned ownership of the breed, says Fort Lauderdale dog bite lawyer Alitowski. It is also against the law to have or keep “American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or any other dog that substantially conforms to any of these breeds’ characteristics.” The animal control authorities do not make exceptions to these rules and will confiscate dogs, fine their owners or keepers, or take other steps to prevent the dogs’ presence in the county.

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Broward dog bite attorney Andrew Alitowski knows that animals can run the gamut from the most docile of household pets to dangerous menaces. Certain dog breeds have a reputation for causing trouble, especially bites.. This perception is so widespread that many condominium and townhouse homeowners’ associations in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties go as far as to ban vicious dog breeds. Not surprisingly, the county animal shelter and privately-run animal welfare organizations are brimming with these dogs for adoption, as they are the most likely to be surrendered. But which dog breeds are considered to be the most dangerous?

Homeowners insurance policies may even refuse to cover households which have a dangerous dog breed, says Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer Alitowski. The Centers for Disease Control, which compiles statistics on serious dog bit injuries, reported that between 1979 and 1998, there were 238 dog bite attacks that result in a person’s death. The dogs involved varied, however: 25 different breeds of dogs were involved in the deaths. Still, certain breeds stood out. Over half of the deaths were caused by attacks by pit bulls (purebred or mixed) and Rottweilers.

Aside from pit bulls and Rottweilers, Chow Chows, boxers, Doberman retrievers, and any wolf-dog hybrid, or dog with wolf ancestry. German shepherds, which are commonly used by police, including to stop suspects fleeing on foot, are also responsible for a disproportionately high number of dog bites.

The breed of dog alone is not the only determining factor. Although certain dog breeds are responsible for a higher percentage of attacks, good socialization and training is likely to reduce risks. A dog should be trained early and learn to follow human commands. Proper socialization, including being introduced to strangers from a young age, can prevent a dog from attacking a person out of fear. It is also difficult to train a dog to act as protection or as a guard animal, yet expect it to be safe around children or even adults. Dogs are probably not able to turn on and off their working, guard dog mode, and it is far safer never to teach a dog that it is acceptable to bite or attack in any circumstance at all. Broward personal injury attorney Alitowski finds that many dogs who attack humans, even once, are unfortunately never going to be safe pets.

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Broward accident attorney Andrew Alitowski represents south Floridians in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties in a variety of personal injury lawsuits, including swimming pool injuries, employment discrimination, harassment at work, nursing home abuse and neglect, and motor vehicle accidents. He also represents plaintiffs who have suffered injuries from another person’s animal. Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer Alitowski says that these injuries are most commonly dog bites, although injuries from other animals can and do occur.

Canine attacks can be terrifying for adults and children alike. They may even cause lifelong injuries, as well as a fear of “man’s best friend.” Pet owners have a responsibility to ensure that their animals do not injure other people who may come across them. Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer serious injuries from dog bites every year, in the Fort Lauderdale area and around the nation.

According to Fort Lauderdale accident lawyer Alitowski, the state of Florida is serious about holding pet owners responsible for the actions of their animals. Under state law, a dog owner is liable for the injuries his dog inflicts in almost all cases. If the owner warns of the presence of a dangerous animal through a sign, however, then he may not be liable, unless the injured person was a young child.

Dog bites are occurring more frequently in Florida, although animal control officials are unsure why the numbers are rising. In any case, if you are bitten by a domestic or wild animal, take immediate health precautions. Because even a domesticated pet could carry rabies, it is important to report the incident to animal control authorities as soon as possible, so that they can take precautions for your safety and the safety of other people who could be affected by an animal’s poor health. Likewise, if your pet is bitten by another animal, take similar precautions.

Rabies is not always easy to detect to the naked eye, so any biting animal without sufficient veterinarian and vaccine records should be tested or kept under observation. Animals in the later stages often display odd behavior and may appear to have difficulty walking properly. Wild animals, like raccoons, may seem unusually friendly towards humans. In domesticated animals, cats are more likely to contract rabies than dogs.

Broward injury lawyer Alitowski reminds Fort Lauderdale residents to remain especially vigilant about dog bites affecting children. Children are less equipped to escape from a dangerous dog and may suffer devastating injuries if attacked. They should not be permitted to pet unfamiliar animals, who may seem friendly to a child accustomed to a family’s dog or a neighbor’s pet.

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