Mrs. López and all of the Staff that had helped us it has been an absolute pleasure. They always had an answer to our questions and treated us with respect but most of all they listened.
Alondra O.
Outstanding Attorneys and Legal Team. Lopez, Justin, and Daisy were quick to answer my questions and handled my accident case with speed and courtesy. The outcome was much better than I anticipated.
Robert R.
A huge thanks to your office for such a great experience with my case. Special thanks to Denora, Carmen, and especially Kevin for answering my many calls and questions and keeping me informed through the entire process. I’m am extremely happy and grateful with the outcome.
Kathy W.
If you were bitten by a dog and suffered damages as a result, you may have a right to file an injury case against the dog’s owner. Florida stands firmly behind dog bite victims, and the law supports you in these types of cases.
Read on for more information on Florida’s laws concerning dog bites and dog-related injuries:
More Information on Florida’s Dog Bite Law
Here are the most important rules and laws pertaining to dog-related injuries and liability in Florida.
Strict Liability Rule
In Florida, any time that you’ve been bitten by a dog while you were lawfully in a public or private place, the owner is responsible for your damages. Even if the owner had no prior knowledge of the dog’s viciousness, they can still be forced to pay for your injuries and losses. This law is often referred to as strict liability.
In addition, negligence laws can allow you to file a case against the owner of a dog when it injures you in other ways. For instance, if a dog jumped on you and knocked you down, causing you to be injured, the owner could be held liable for your losses if negligence was involved.
How Long You Have to File a Claim
The statute of limitations in Florida for filing a dog injury claim is four years from the date of the injury. It’s imperative that you file your case within this time frame, or you won’t be permitted to file it at all.
Also, you shouldn’t delay in filing a dog injury case because your case will weaken as time goes on. Witnesses could move or change residence, and important evidence in your case could be lost.
Proving Your Case
How do you prove a dog bite case in Florida? You should collect evidence of the incident, as well as proof of your injuries and damages. You will need to submit the claim with the dog owner’s insurance company to recover compensation for the financial and non-financial losses you’ve sustained as a result of your injuries.
Damages in Florida Dog Bite Cases
Florida law requires the dog’s owner to compensate you for all the damages that resulted from the dog bite incident. That usually includes things such as medical expenses, physical pain and mental trauma, lost work wages, permanent injury and scarring, and any other losses you’ve been dealt.
Get in Touch with a Florida Dog Bite Attorney
For help filing a dog injury case, get in touch with an attorney at Lopez & Humphries, PA. We will help you to secure monetary compensation for an injury caused by an aggressive dog. Call (863) 774-3573 or send over the online contact form at the bottom of this webpage.
