If you’ve been bitten by another person’s dog, call our Clearwater personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Florida’s liability laws are as clear as they are strict—dog owners are liable for the damage their dogs cause to people in public or private spaces, especially when the dog owner’s home has no signs or warnings about the violent tendencies of their pet.
Florida has no “first bite” clause regarding dog bites—that means even if a dog has no history of violence, owners are still liable for dog bites. Severe dog bites can lead to infections, especially if the dog who attacked has not had any rabies or other vaccinations. Dog bites can also result in severe emotional trauma, particularly for children. Personal injury claims can also provide compensation for mental and emotional trauma as well.
If you are suffering from the effects, physical or emotional, of a dog attack, call Attorney Bryan Caulfield. He has 25+ years of experience handling thousands of personal injury cases, and he is a board-certified Civil Trial Law specialist.
If you’re not sure if the owner of the dog who attacked you can be held liable, call Attorney Caulfield’s office. There are certain cases in which an owner may not be held liable, but these circumstances are rare. For example, an owner is liable for a dog bite when your presence is lawful or when there is no clear sign that the dog on the premises is vicious.
“Lawful” presence on a person’s property can be explicit or implied, and if you were bit while doing your job, your presence was lawful—even if it was not invited. If there was a sign explicitly stating that there was a dangerous dog, then the owner may not be held liable—but does not apply when the sign fails to include the phrase “bad dog” or the victim is 6 years old or under.
In other words, there’s no way to know your options until you ask a seasoned dog bite lawyer in Clearwater. Contact Bryan Caulfield’s office today and benefit from his 25 years of experience.