Our firm understands how dangerous the effects of a dog bite can be. If you are facing the consequences, reach out to our skilled legal team today to discuss the specifics of your case and your options. Our Panama City dog bite attorneys are on your side.
Can I pursue legal action for a dog attack in Florida?
Recognize that in the state of Florida, pet owners are held responsible for the behavior and actions of their dogs. Basically, if an individual’s dog attacks or causes harm to another person, the dog owner will be held accountable for that behavior. It is important to note, however, that in order to successfully bring a claim against a dog owner for a dog bite injury, the injured party must prove that they were attacked in a public place or while they were lawfully on private property. If a dog owner can show that the injured person actually instigated their dog, which caused the bite, a legal claim may not be possible. Also, if the dog bite occurred while an individual was trespassing on another’s property when he or she was bit, then it may not be likely that the injured party can file a legal claim.
What steps should I take after my injury?
If you were injured by a dog bite and would like to seek legal compensation for your dog attack injury, it is crucial that take several different steps to make sure that they sufficiently fulfill the burden of proof. This indicates that the injured party will be instructed to demonstrate that the dog owner was negligent in handling or training his or her dog, which directly caused the incident to occur. In order to demonstrate this with evidence, the injured party and their attorney will need to explore the history of the dog to see if any claims were made against it in the past for attacks. If a similar incident happened before and the dog owner did not improve the dog’s behavior, they can be found responsible.
In addition to reporting the dog’s history of violence, there are other pieces of evidence that can support a negligence claim. These include and are not limited to the following:
- Police reports from the accident
- Medical documentation of the injuries
- Witness statements to confirm the claim
- Security footage of the accident if it occurred in a public place
It is in your best interest to give our firm a call today if you were injured from a dog bite.
Contact our experienced Florida firm
Our firm proudly handles injury claims, insurance disputes, hurricane claims, fire loss claims, commercial litigation, and construction law matters. To discuss your case with our experienced Panama City personal injury attorneys, contact Manuel & Thompson, P.A. today.