Animal Attacks and Dog Bites

Every year, more than 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. Dog bite victims requiring medical attention in the United States number approximately 800,000 annually. Countless more bites go untreated. On average, about a dozen people die each year from dog bites. Animal attacks, especially dog bites, result in some of the most gruesome personal injuries or even death. Florida law makes dog owners responsible for any damages done by their dog. A bite or other contact with a dog is not necessary if the dog's actions cause the injury. For example, if a person falls and injures themselves trying to escape from an attacking dog, the owner of the dog may be liable for those injuries.

Injuries

Unfortunately, the majority of dog bite victims are children who make sudden moves or elderly people who may walk unsteadily. Dog bites are traumatic events leading to serious injuries.

Animal bites often result in permanent scarring, tearing of nerves, blindness, deep puncture wounds in the victim's face, rabies, loss of motor skills, nerve damage and a significant risk of infection. Additionally, most animal attack victims, especially children, suffer psychological damage such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that lasts wells beyond the physical injury.

Strict Liability

A dog owner is liable, regardless of whether or not the dog has ever been vicious before and whether or not the owner had reason to believe the dog would behave in a vicious manner.

The state of Florida has a strict liability statue that states "the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his or her dog that bites a person who is either in a public place or lawfully on the dog owner's property" (Florida Statute § 767.04). The Statute also provides the dog owner with certain defenses to claims by those who provoke the dog or ignore a "bad dog" warning sign on the property.

In many cases, a victim of a dog or other animal that attacks may have a legal right to recover damages from the animal's owner or another responsible party:

• Anyone who is responsible for the care or custody of an animal may be considered an owner or keeper, and may be help responsible for an animal bite. Examples include kennels, a pound or an animal sitter.

• Parents of Minors: Even if a person under 18 years of age owns the animal at issues, an injured person can bring a legal claim against the minor's parents, even if the parents had no involvement with the animal; the minor may be insured under the parental homeowner's insurance.

• Property Owners: A property owner may be liable for injuries caused by an animal the property owner has allowed onto his or her property.

What To Do

The first thing you should do it you are bitten by an animal is to seek immediate medical attention. An untreated animal bite, even on a hand or foot, can cause serious injury or death. The wound needs to be cleaned, irrigated and examined for possible nerve or muscle damage. Medical care for a dog or any animal attack can include emergency care, an ophthalmologist for eye damage, dentistry and plastic surgery. In many instances, the victim will also need to seek therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

After seeking medical attention, you should also consider consulting with an experienced Personal Injury Attorney who will be able to tell you whether you have a legal claim, and what damages you may be able to recover. Our animal attack/dog bite attorneys will ask you for detailed information about the circumstances surrounding your animal attack. You should try to provide the name, address and phone number of the animal's owner and photographs of your injuries and the accident scene. If you don't have this information, a neighbor or a witness might be able to provide it to you. Also, if there were witnesses, you should get their names and contact information.

Recoverable Damages

Damages that are available to be claimed in an animal attack or dog bite lawsuit are varied and complex. These damages are intended not as a reward, but as a way to restore the victim to his or her pre-accident status. Since circumstances will vary widely, you should get specific advice from your attorney. For general information, please visit our page on recoverable damages .

Contact the Kane Law Firm

The Kane Law Firm, P.A. is dedicated and experienced in dog and other animal bite litigation in the Central Florida area, so we can help you navigate the complexities of your case - filing a claim, promptly collecting evidence, gathering all of the pertinent data and documents, making a determination, and enabling medical providers and other expert witnesses to evaluate any injuries.  Our family of attorneys will help you pursue the maximum damages to which you are entitled. 

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog or other animal bite or attack, please call the Central Florida Dog Bite and Animal Attack Attorneys at the Kane Law Firm, P.A. in Orlando, Florida at (407) 898-9130, submit a contact form on our website, or email us at Info@KaneInjury.com.  

We offer a free initial consultation, and if we agree to take your case, we will work on a contingency basis. This means we will get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds, otherwise you would owe us nothing.