Cowen Edwards Trial Lawyers represents dog bite accident victims in the Fort Lauderdale area. Our dog bite lawyers offer free consultations to all injured victims. Contact our offices to find out what your case may be worth and how to hold careless dog owners and insurance companies fully responsible for recovery costs.
Do I Need a Lawyer After Getting Bitten by a Dog?
If your encounter with a dog only results in minor scratches or bruising, you might not need a lawyer to help with your case. But if your injuries are more serious, like crushed bones, or a deep bite wound, it’s a good idea to at least go over your case with a skilled Fort Lauderdale dog bite lawyer.
Dog owners can usually be held fully accountable for your injury, but when their insurers see the medical bills rising, they’ll fight as hard as possible to avoid liability. They’ll look for ways to blame you for what happened. They could also downplay your injury so they can more easily convince you to sign off on a “lowball” settlement offer that doesn’t cover all of your doctor bills.
Your Cowen Edwards attorney fully investigates what happened and backs your case with hard evidence. Then your lawyer demands the maximum in compensation available for you and your family.
Who is Liable After I’m Bitten at a Fort Lauderdale Dog Park?
A dog owner would still usually be fully responsible if you get bitten while at a Fort Lauderdale dog park or at a beach where dogs are welcome. Victims could seek help with their medical bills, their physical therapy expenses, and in replacing the paychecks they lose while unable to work.
Florida follows the legal concept of “strict liability,” which means that dog owners are generally liable if their pets bite someone. Strict liability holds dog owners responsible for every bite, no matter the dog’s history.
The dog may have never shown aggression before, but the dog owner can still be accountable for a wound, even if it’s a first-time incident. The approach makes it easier for victims to hold pet owners legally responsible.
The dog owner would be liable as long as the following weren’t true:
- The dog bite victim had provoked the dog.
- The victim was trespassing on private property. This should never be the case at a public park.
It’s up to the owners to protect others from a dog that might bite someone. That goes for people inside the fenced-in area of a dog park.
In Fort Lauderdale, dog owners are responsible for the safety of others at places like:
- Snyder Park Bark Park
- Holiday Park Dog Park
- Fort Lauderdale Dog Beach
- Canine Beach
- Precious Paws Dog Park
These laws also apply to private dog parks provided by Apartment Complexes, Neighborhoods, and Condo Associations.
Dog parks at businesses featuring food and beer along with dog exercise would also be places where dog owners would be liable for the behavior of their pets.
Can The City or an Apartment Complex Be Liable for a Dog Bite at a Dog Park?
In general, The City of Fort Lauderdale and Apartment Complexes are protected from lawsuits over dog bites. Their dog parks will usually be posted as “use at your own risk” properties. The dog owner would generally be the only liable party.
However, there are some cases where the city parks and rec department or a landlord could be liable. If a dog owner had been reported as having a dangerous dog but was not barred from a dog park or allowed to remain living at an apartment complex after an attack, the management or the city could be held liable.
A structural problem with the dog park that caused someone to get bitten could also leave a property owner or operator liable for dog bites.
It’s important to allow a skilled Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Lawyer to help you determine every party that might be financially responsible for your recovery.
Compensation for Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Victims
Dog bite victims need to seek compensation that will cover every immediate bill, such as emergency room and ambulance fees, and every healthcare expense expected in the future.
These hardships and estimated costs would all need to be submitted with an accident claim. Anything left off is in danger of becoming an invoice that would be left to the victim or the victim’s family to pay.
Your Cowen Edwards attorney would be demanding a settlement check that covered a few things you might not have known could earn additional support:
- Totals on current medical bills and estimates on the cost of care in the future.
- Money to pay for physical therapy treatment for victims to relearn how to walk or use their hands after nerve, tendon, and ligament damage.
- Long-term costs associated with a permanent physical disability.
- Pain and suffering. This includes the physical pain you endure and the emotional trauma you are put through due to a frightening dog attack.
- Loss of enjoyment of life as your injury forces you to give up hobbies and family activities.
- Travel costs as you must find ways to get to and from doctor appointments while you’re injured.
- Money for property damage.
- Income and benefits you’ve lost while missing work.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Lawyer
Dealing with injuries and the emotional fallout from a dog bite can be really difficult. But our experienced team of Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers who focus on dog bite cases can make a big difference. We understand these situations well and will protect your rights, helping you get the support and compensation you deserve.
Don’t hesitate. Contact us now for a free consultation to get started. There’s no obligation, but if you feel we can help you earn more in an injury claim, you won’t need to have the money to pay our lawyers. We don’t get paid unless your case is successful. Then our fee comes out of the money an insurance company must pay you and your family.
