Dog Bite Injuries in Florida | Your Legal Options

If you are facing the consequences of a dog bite, you may want to consider your legal options. Reach out to our firm today to speak with a skilled Hillsborough County dog bite lawyer today. Our legal team is on your side.

What steps should I take after a dog bite injury?

If you were injured because of a dog attack and you would like to pursue legal action, the first thing you should do is call the police. By doing this, an ambulance will be sent to the scene of the accident so that you can obtain medical treatment to treat your injury and prevent the spread of infection. You should also ask the dog owner for his or her contact information and collect contact information from anyone who witnessed your accident. You should ask for names, phone numbers, and email addresses, too. They may verify your claim at a later date. Next, take plenty of photos and videos of your injuries and make sure you are treated at a hospital, where your doctor should provide you with medical documentation regarding any damage caused by the dog bite. Lastly, you should retain the services of a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer who can work to discover all additional information required to meet the burden of proof on your behalf.

Can I pursue legal action for a dog bite?

After you were bitten by a dog, you and your personal injury lawyer will have to establish one of two things: you will have to prove that you were either attacked in a public place or that you were attacked while lawfully on private property. For instance, if you were just walking down the street when you were randomly attacked by a dog, you will most likely have a case against the dog’s owner. Furthermore, if you were visiting a friend or family member at their house and you were attacked by their dog out of nowhere, you will also most likely have a claim. With this in mind, if you were attacked by a dog and the dog owner can prove that you were either trespassing on his or her property, or that you instigated the attack in any manner, such as by teasing the dog, you may not have a valid lawsuit.

What damages can be recovered?

After a dog bite accident, it is expected that you will face physical and emotional injuries that can be permanent. Because of this, accident victims may seek compensation for two kinds of damages: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages protect the monetary cost of an injury, such as the cost of doctor’s visits, surgeries, and more. Non-economic damages cover the cost of non-monetary damages, such as disfigurement, the loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and more. Reach out to our firm today to learn more.

Contact Our Firm

For a skilled Tampa personal injury lawyer you can trust, contact The Frank Santini Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.