Were you or your child bitten or attacked by someone else’s dog in Aventura, FL? Don’t underestimate the potentially severe consequences of a dog bite injury. An experienced Aventura dog bite lawyer can help you fight for compensation. At Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we have the resources and experience to fight for full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and trauma.
Between us, our lawyers have over 100 years of experience in personal injury law. Over the years, we’ve helped injured clients and their families recover hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
If you have questions about your legal options after a dog bite injury, contact our law offices in Aventura, Florida, at (305) 937-0191 to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After Suffering a Dog Bite Injury in Aventura
Choosing the right Aventura personal injury attorney is always important. Dog bite injury cases are no different.
The dog’s owner and insurance company will fight you every step of the way. They’ll probably even try to blame you for provoking their pet to bite. They certainly won’t be anxious to hand over a full settlement.
Our team at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers knows how to handle the legal and insurance issues. Our board-certified civil trial lawyers have been recognized as Super Lawyers and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
When you hire our award-winning attorneys, you’ll have a team to:
- Answer all of your questions
- Gather and evaluate evidence to support your injury claim
- Consult with top-rated experts throughout the legal process
- Develop a strategy to help you win the maximum compensation possible
- Work to disprove any allegations that you provoked the dog
- Handle all insurance negotiations and communications on your behalf
- File a lawsuit and take your case to court if that’s in your best interest
Contact our trusted Aventura personal injury lawyers to learn more about creating an attorney-client relationship today.
How Common Are Dog Bites in Florida?
According to the CDC, at least 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs every single year. Roughly 800,000 of those dog bites are serious enough to require medical attention. Unfortunately, children are both the most common dog bite victims and the most likely to suffer serious injuries.
A study published by the Insurance Information Institute found that Florida ranked second in the nation when it comes to dog bite injury claims. In a single year, insurance companies in Florida paid nearly $68 million to settle insurance claims related to dog bite injuries.
What Is My Aventura Dog Bite Case Worth?
There is no simple answer to this question. All dog bite injury claims must be evaluated on their merits. Otherwise, you risk walking away with an insurance settlement that fails to cover all of your losses.
The most important factors to evaluate include:
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- Whether you will be left with any permanent disability or scarring
- The cost of your medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Your need for future reconstructive surgeries or medical care
- How the injury and trauma impact your earnings
- Whether your future earnings will suffer due to the attack
- Damage to your emotional health and wellbeing
- Whether the insurance company can prove you did something to provoke the dog
The dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy will probably cover your dog bite injury claim. That doesn’t mean recovering full compensation from the insurance company will be automatic–or even possible based on the policy’s coverage limits.
Our lawyers will collect the evidence to prove your case value. In severe injury cases, we’ll also help you identify any available avenues we can use to recover compensation that covers the full amount of your damages.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims?
Your compensation award should account for all of your economic damages and non-economic damages.
Your economic damages award should cover all of your financial expenses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
Non-economic damages attempt to compensate for losses that money can’t fully cover, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- PTSD and fear
- Diminished quality of life
Your damages are always unique to your situation. They’ll depend on the nature of the losses you have actually suffered because of the animal attack. To learn more about the types of damages you may be entitled to seek, call our Aventura dog bite attorneys for a free case review.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Aventura?
At Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our team works on a contingency fee basis. That means your legal fees depend on the value of the compensation we recover for you.
Instead of charging a retainer or hourly fees, we take a percentage of your settlement or verdict. If we don’t obtain compensation for you, you’ll owe us nothing in attorney’s fees. You can also hire us without paying a cent upfront.
How Can Florida’s Shared Fault Laws Impact My Right to Compensation After a Dog Bite?
Florida’s strict liability rule won’t protect you if the insurance company can prove you provoked the dog. In cases involving provocation, Florida’s modified comparative negligence law will apply. Your settlement or verdict will be reduced to account for your own negligence.
Once your share of fault reaches or exceeds 51%, you lose your right to compensation. If your share of the blame is less than 51%, your compensation is reduced by that percentage.
An experienced personal injury attorney in Aventura can help you in this area by working to minimize the amount of fault assigned to you.
Our Attorneys in Aventura Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites always have the potential to cause serious injuries, including:
- Puncture wounds
- Torn skin
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Eye injuries
- Facial injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Severe infections
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Physical scarring or disfigurement
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Dog bites can be especially dangerous if the dog is not properly vaccinated. Rabies can be particularly dangerous. The disease can cause brain damage and even death in humans.
If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog, seek medical attention quickly. It’s also important to report the dog bite to animal control. Animal control can examine the dog and determine whether rabies is an issue.
How Do I Prove the Dog’s Owner Is Liable for My Damages After a Dog Bite Injury in Florida?
Florida is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bite injuries.
Under Florida dog bite laws, you must prove the following things to hold the dog’s owner liable for your damages:
- You were on public property or lawfully on private property
- The dog bit and injured you
You can recover damages even if there is no evidence to prove the dog’s owner knew that the dog had aggressive or vicious tendencies. You can also recover damages even if the dog has never bitten anyone before.
Dog Owner’s Defenses to Strict Liability Dog Bite Laws
Even with strict liability laws, recovering compensation isn’t always straightforward. There are situations where Florida’s strict liability law does not apply.
Several defenses exist, including:
- The dog’s owner warned you by posting a “bad dog” sign in a prominent location, and the victim was at least six years old
- You were trespassing when the dog bit you
Provocation is also a common defense. If the dog’s owner can prove that you provoked the dog to bite you, you could end up with a reduced settlement.
Can I Recover Damages if Florida’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law Does Not Apply?
Dog bite victims may be able to rely on negligence theories to establish liability if Florida’s strict liability law does not apply. Like any car accident victim, you can recover damages if you can prove the dog’s owner failed to exercise reasonable caution to prevent injuries.
Examples of some scenarios that can prove negligence include:
- The owner allowed the dog to run freely in violation of Miami-Dade County leash laws
- The dog was classified as a “dangerous dog,” and the owner failed to take special precautions to keep the dog confined
- The owner trained the dog to attack or encouraged aggressive behavior
Dog ownership comes with responsibilities. If the dog’s owner neglected their duties, our law firm can help you prove it. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Florida?
After a dog bites you, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida. After the two-year anniversary of the attack passes, you cannot sue the responsible party for damages.
However, there are exceptions to this time limit in some cases. Contact our personal injury law firm as soon as you can for help determining the amount of time you have to take legal action.
Contact a Skilled Aventura Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog, contact an experienced Dog Bite Lawyer at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers for legal assistance today at (305) 937-0191. The dog’s owner will probably try to defend themselves and their animal. An experienced Aventura dog bite lawyer can help you fight for the full compensation available.