Orlando Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites are a common injury in Florida, resulting in thousands of hospital visits around the state every year. Every serious dog bite requires medical attention, not only for stitches, but for proper cleaning and possibly antibiotics, due the serious chance of infection caused by the bacteria-rich saliva of a dog’s mouth. These hospital procedures are costly, and all dog bite victims deserve to be compensated not only for their medical expenses, but their pain and suffering as well. In Florida, the owner of the dog that caused the injury will be held liable for the damages it caused. However, if the victim somehow provoked the attack or was partially to blame, they will only be able to collect a certain percentage of the damages owed, due to Florida’s law of pure comparative fault. If you or a family member have been injured by a dog or another pet, contact an experienced Orlando dog bite lawyer today.

Pitbulls And Dog Bites At An Early Or Old Age

Being bitten by a dog, especially at an early age, can be a traumatic enough experience to last a lifetime and instill a fear of dogs for decades to come. While most dogs don’t have a mean bone in their body, unfortunately it is the few that do that create such a problem for everyone else. In fact, most serious dog bite injuries and fatalities can be traced to just one breed of dog: the American pit bull, which is responsible for 59 percent of fatal dog attacks in the U.S., according to data gathered by an international study that took place from 1982 to 2014. And, even worse, most fatal and serious injuries are inflicted upon the very young or the very old, two groups that are the most vulnerable and easy prey for a vicious dog. The study found that molosser breeds, which is a large breed of dog that includes pit bulls, rottweilers, and boxers and only makes up a total of 9.2 percent of the dog population, is responsible for the following attacks:

• 86 percent of attacks that cause bodily harm;
• 81 percent of all attacks on children;
• 89 percent of adult attacks;
• 76 percent of fatal attacks; and
• 86 percent of attacks that result in maiming (a wound that inflicts permanent damage).

These attack breeds of dogs are obviously incredibly dangerous, yet are are exposed to children and strangers on a daily basis throughout Orlando. According to a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 799,700 people that required medical attention from dog attacks in 1994, with an estimated 4.7 million dog bites taking place that year. Of the 333,700 that sought emergency care attention, 6,000 were hospitalized for their injuries. And, of all dog bite victims, 42 percent were among children 14 years old or younger, and the injuries among five to nine year olds was much for boys than for girls. In terms of injury location, 45.3 percent were to the arm or hand, 25.8 percent to the leg or foot, and 22.8 percent to the head or neck.

How to Defend Yourself During a Dog Attack

Cesar’s Way suggests following the tips described below if you are ever attacked by a dog:

• Let the dog bite something on you, but not a part of you. For example, allowing the dog to bite or even baiting a dog with a piece of clothing that you slipped out of, a shoe, or a backpack will distract the dog. Back away once the dog is wrestling with whatever you tricked it with.
• Protect your face, neck, and chest;
• The best places to be bitten are the forearm and shin. Being bitten on the thigh can cause your femoral artery to be severed;
• Keep your hands in fists to protect your fingers from being bitten;
• Do not pull away once a dog has bitten and latched on, as this will only increase the chance of flesh being torn. Instead, allow the dog to latch where it has and then attempt to lift the dog’s rear legs up off the ground; and
• Shout for help.

Tips for avoiding the attack in the first place include:

• Do not make eye contact with strange or aggressive dogs;
• Do not run away from a dog that chases you or approaches you. Stand your ground;
• If you are on a jog or riding a bike and being chased, stop and turn around to face the dog;
• Get up on something high, like the roof of a car.

Safely Breaking Up Dog Fights

Thousands of people are bitten every day when they attempt to break up dog fights. While a person’s first instinct may be to reach down with your hands and pull your dog away from the other, this is one of the last things you should try. A dog may interpret this as you getting into the fight. Your dog or the other person’s dog may jerk their head around and bite you. Instead, do the following:

• Figure out which dog is the aggressor, if you are able to, and focus on that dog;
• Use a loud gruff voice to stop the fight before you make physical contact;
• Grab the dog by the back of its neck/collar and lift up;
• Keep your face up high and away from the dogs as possible to avoid having your face or neck attacked.

The Average Dog Bite Settlement

Dog bite claims are on the rise, according to the Insurance Journal. The average claim was for over $32,000 in 2014, the most recent year that data is available. The value of dog bite claims rose by 67 percent from 2003 to 2014, mostly due to rising medical costs. In total, there were $520 million in homeowner’s insurance claims for dog bites in 2014, which makes up over one third of all homeowners insurance liability claims. The amount of compensation that you receive depends on your injuries, lost wages, disfigurement, and many other factors, so it is not possible to give an accurate estimate without a more detailed examination of your case.

Have You Been a Victim of a Dog Bite?

If you have been victim to a dog attack, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone today and call The Pendas Law Firm at 1-844-200-0000 to discuss the matter with one of our experienced Orlando dog bite lawyers. We will help you pursue compensation for all of the harm that you have suffered.