Ocala Dog Bite Lawyer

Florida dog owners are responsible for keeping their dogs on leashes, behind securely closed gates, and away from public areas if they know their dog has issues with other people. However, even if they are successful in all of these responsibilities and their dog bites someone either on the dog owner’s property, in a public place, or anywhere else, the victim can pursue financial compensation by filing a personal injury claim against that party. There does not need to be any record of aggression with the dog to hold the dog owner liable for financial compensation. Whether you suffered a bite from a terrier that required a trip to the ER and a few stitches, or were traumatically mauled by an attack dog, you deserve compensation for your damages, and the Ocala dog bite lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm are here to help make that a reality.

How Comparative Negligence Matters in Florida Dog Bites

Under the doctrine of comparative negligence, a victim of a dog bite or attack can be held partially, or even fully, responsible for causing the incident. If, for example, the victim was taunting the dog before the dog bit them, their compensation would be reduced by the percentage that they were at fault. If they were 40 percent at fault, the dog bite victim would only be able to collect 60 percent of the available compensation for their injuries. Breaking that down even further, if the attack was serious and the victim’s damages amounted to $100,000, because they were found 40 percent at fault for taunting the dog, the victim would only receive $60,000. As such, limiting this percentage of liability is vitally important for plaintiffs; an experienced dog bite attorney can help reduce the degree of liability or eradicated it all together.

The Goal of Insurance Companies is to Reduce the Value of Your Claim

While the CDC reports that there are 4.7 million dog bites per year, 81 percent of them cause no harm or only cause minor injuries that do not require medical attention, according to the Canine Journal. One tactic that insurance companies use to reduce your claim’s value is to blame you for causing the dog bite or attack, using Florida’s comparative negligence law to their advantage. Another way is to simply make the claim that your damages are not as severe as they truly are. In order to ensure that the extent of your physical and emotional injuries are documented and fully known, you must seek medical attention after the dog bite. By working with an attorney, you can fight back against claim devaluations so that you are compensated fully for your injuries. While 81 percent of dog bites may not lead to serious injury, there are still hundreds of thousands of serious attacks every year. A study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality discovered that dog bites sent 316,000 people to the emergency room and required 9,500 hospitalizations in one year alone, as reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

An Ocala Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You Today

Dog attacks are traumatic experiences, and victims often require extensive medical attention, causing weeks of missed work, potential disfigurement, pain and suffering, and psychological damage that may result in a fear of dogs for life. The Ocala dog bite lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm can help you get started on recovering compensation for these and your other many damages today. Call 1-844-200-0000 to schedule a free consultation.