Dog bites are often traumatic and can leave a victim with devastating injuries. If you’ve been seriously injured after being attacked by a dog in Florida, read on to learn more about who you can file a civil lawsuit against and other dog bites laws you’ll need to be aware of as you prepare to pursue your claim for compensation.
Who Pays When a Dog Bites in Florida?
Obviously, you cannot file a lawsuit against a dog, but you can file a claim against their owner, and that’s just what you should do when you are bitten or attacked by a dog in Florida. Florida practices strict liability in terms of dog bite cases.
This means that when a dog attacks someone, it will not matter whether they have previously acted aggressively or bitten before—the dog’s owner will be held strictly accountable for the damages of their pet.
Other states practice the “One Bite Rule” which gives the dog the benefit of the doubt if the animal has never been known to act violently or bite someone in the past. Fortunately, if you are bitten by a dog in Florida, a Tampa personal injury lawyer can help you pursue a lawsuit against the dog’s owner so you can obtain full compensation for all you have been through.
When a Dog Owner Could Escape Liability
There are a couple of instances in which dog owners cannot be compelled to compensate victims their dog has attacked as well. The first exception is if the injury victim was trespassing on the dog owner’s property. In most cases, dogs will attack in public places, so if you were not supposed to be on the dog owner’s property when you were attacked, chances are you will not be able to obtain an injury settlement.
The other exception to Florida’s strict liability dog bite law is if the dog bite victim was provoking the dog into behaving in an aggressive manner and/or biting. Provocation can take many forms, but some of the most common include taunting, teasing, hitting, kicking, screaming, and otherwise abusing the dog.
The dog owner will not be found liable for the injuries of the victim if the victim was provoking the dog, or in cases of trespassing, so you will need to speak with your lawyer in detail about your case if either of these situations may apply to you and what legal recourse you may have, if any.
Get Help from a Lawyer
Filing a lawsuit can be overwhelming, but when you have been attacked by a dog, you may be entitled to full compensation for your losses. A highly trained Florida dog bite lawyer could help you get the most out of your claim.
