Dog Bite Attorney
Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Attorneys
Discover Your Legal Rights After Being Bitten by a Dog
Dog owners have a responsibility to control their pets when others are around, especially to prevent any risk of a dog bite. If you were bitten by someone’s dog in Fort Lauderdale, whether you were on their property or in a public space, you could have legal options to restore your quality of life by pursuing compensation and justice. Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A. and our Fort Lauderdale dog bite lawyers can help you through this difficult time.
Why should you make our law firm your first choice of legal representation?
- We are a multi-generational law firm with more than 70 years of tradition and experience.
- We have a long and well-known history of delivering record-setting settlements and verdicts.
- We use a teamwork approach to ensure every case gets our full attention and resources.
- We are a respected law firm among our peers and often get new cases through referrals.
Florida Dog Bite Laws
Florida is a “strict liability” state for dog bite liability, contrasting to other states that use a “one bite rule.”
In Florida, the strict liability dog bite rule allows you to hold a dog owner liable for a dog bite injury if:
- You were bitten by the someone’s dog; and,
- You were in a public space or lawfully in a private place.
Under this plaintiff-friendly rule, a dog owner can be found liable for dog bite injuries even if the dog never showed signs of aggression before. The plaintiff does not need to prove that the dog owner did not take appropriate steps to prevent the dog bite,. What is most important is proving that the dog in question caused the bite injury, which resulted in harm and damages suffered by the plaintiff.
OUR results
$41 Million
PREMISES LIABILITY
$41,000,000.00 verdict for Jim Schnurr, the former chief accountant of the United States Security and Exchange Commission, after Mr. Schnurr became a quadriplegic resulting from a bicycle accident while traveling along a bike path in his community in Jupiter, Florida.
$6.5 Million
PREMISES LIABILITY
$6.5 Million Dollars in an personal injury negligence case based on an amusement ride accident.
$2.5 Million
PREMISES LIABILITY
Our client was watching a baseball game when she was hit between the eyes by a wild pitch coming out of the bullpen. The jury found that the protective screen was too low to prevent the injury, which resulted in a broken nose and chronic migraine headaches.
How Do Dog Attacks Happen?
A dog attack can happen for many reasons, which often involve some form of negligence on behalf of the dog’s owner. Although Florida’s strict liability rule for dog bites can favor the plaintiff, the defendant will still have room to challenge a case. For this reason, our Fort Lauderdale dog bite attorneys will work diligently to build a case that highlights the dog owner’s negligence.
A dog owner could be found negligent if they:
- Do not keep their dog on a leash in public.
- Do not post signs on their property to warn of a large or aggressive dog.
- Do not confine a dog with a known history of aggression to their private property.
- Encourage their dog to harass or attack other people.
Drawing upon our decades of experience, we can look for clear proof that the dog’s owner did not take reasonable steps to protect you from their pet and the dog was able to hurt you. Thanks to our considerable resources, we can conduct investigations and interviews, compile testimonies and evidence exhibits, negotiate with opposing parties and insurance companies, and more, all in the pursuit of justice. We can push for a fair settlement during negotiations or go to trial and litigate.,
Injuries Caused by Dog Bites
A survivor of a dog bite or attack may experience a variety of injuries. We can work with medical experts to evaluate your injuries, so we get a full understanding of how they have impacted your day-to-day life, as well as what impacts you can expect far into the future. Our law firm has a positive reputation among medical professionals and institutions across Florida and beyond, so it is simple for us to work alongside medical experts who can improve your case.
Severe injuries caused by a dog bite can include:
- Physical wounds: A severe dog bite can destroy flesh, muscles, nerves, tendons, and bones. Commonly, even with complete medical treatment, a severe dog bite can leave a permanent scar. A dangerous infection may also occur, which will bring its own side effects and symptoms.
- Psychological harm: It is important to acknowledge the psychological damage that a dog bite can cause. Many dog attack survivors become fearful of dogs and/or afraid to leave their homes. Therapy may be needed to overcome such traumatization.
Damages in a Dog Bite Claim
The damages that are available in your dog bite claim will depend on your losses and how you have suffered due to the dog bite. Every case is unique, so the damages owed to you will be unique as well. We take the time to carefully calculate the damages, so you don’t feel like even a dollar has gone unclaimed.
Damages in a dog bite claim can include:
- Past and future medical treatment costs
- Past and future lost wages and income-earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma and therapy costs
If you lost a loved one to a dog attack, then we can discuss what damages might be available through a wrongful death claim. Let us respectfully and sensitively represent your family and fight for the name of your late loved one. We have won multiple multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in wrongful death cases for past clients, which shows what we can accomplish when the stakes are high.
Call Our Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Lawyers Now
You have friends and legal allies here at Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale. We proudly represent the people in our communities during difficult times. Our dog bite attorneys are ready to stand up for you and fight for your right to a fair recovery if you were attacked by a dog. For more than 70 years, our legacy has been showing that the truth leads to justice. Let us show you what that means by making us your dog bite lawyers today.
Get experienced, reputable attorneys to fight for you. Contact us online or call (954) 467-8800 now.
Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Claim FAQ
- What should I do right after suffering a dog bite?
Call 911 if you have been seriously injured after a dog attack. If you have been injured but are not bleeding profusely, you may choose to take yourself to urgent care instead. A tetanus shot will be needed, even for minor dog bites. While waiting for medical attention, you should take pictures of the scene and the animal if it is safe to do so. If the dog’s owner is there, be sure to get their contact information as well. - Will the dog be destroyed if I file a claim?
The decision to destroy a dog after it attacks someone does not depend on your injury claim. It will be an administrative decision made by local animal control officers. Or it might be a court’s decision. Either way, your claim won’t affect that decision, so you shouldn’t hesitate to use your rights as an injured plaintiff. - How much time do I have to file a dog bite claim in Florida?
Florida uses a four-year statute of limitations on most personal injury claims, including dog bites. The statute begins on the day of the animal attack. Once it expires, a claim essentially can’t be filed afterward. Four years might seem like a long time to start a claim, but you should not wait that long. If you wait too long, important details and evidence could be forgotten, weakening your claim.
