Dog Bites

Everyone loves dogs, right? Sure, but what about their owners? When owners of dogs and other wild and domestic animals fail to train, restrain or confine their pets and other animals with a leash or an enclosure, those animals can run free and inflict bites and other injuries serious enough to require medical attention.

Our law firm has represented many innocent victims of dog attacks who have suffered serious puncture wounds, disfigurement scarring, infections, debilitating nerve damage, traumatic stress, and injuries that require reconstructive or plastic surgery.

The Law Offices of Barbara G. Banks has represented both children and adults with respect to dog bites, with great success. Florida Statutes states, the owner of any dog that bites any person in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owners knowledge of such viciousness. However, if the person who was bitten, in some way, provoked the dog before he attacked, the amount of liability of the owner of the dog may be reduced.

If you or someone you know have been attacked by a dog or any other animal, please contact the Law Offices of Barbara G. Banks and we will immediately help you with your legal claim against the owner(s) of the dog.

Keep in mind that injuries can be inflicted by many species of animal, including horses, cattle, cats, large birds, and of course dogs. And dogs that bite are not just the the usual suspects (Pit Bull, Doberman, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Akita and Presa Canary breed). In fact, the dog mentioned in the case above was a yellow Lab. Sadly, he had a negligent owner who never trained or restrained him.

Again, it is the owners, not their animals, who are responsible when bites, attacks or other serious injuries occur. In Florida, most individual counties and cities have their own particular Leash Laws. In addition, the State of Florida has laws that generally prohibit an owner from letting his dog run free or at large, and require dogs to either be kept on leashes or confined to enclosures, such as kennels, fenced yards, or inside their owner’s home. Not only does this keep the animals from escaping and running at large, it also helps prevent innocent people, including children, mail carriers, deliverymen, etc., from being attacked by unrestrained animals.

If you or a loved one live in the greater South Florida area and have suffered serious injuries after being bitten or attacked by a dog or another privately owned animal, it is important to know your legal rights. As mentioned above, those rights may vary depending upon the laws of your particular city or county. Our firm can assist you in determining your legal rights and help with insurance claims and requests for compensation.

Contact us online or call at 877-722-6575 to arrange a consultation. When results matter, choose THE LAW OFFICES OF BARBARA G. BANKS.

Barbara G. Banks of The Law Offices of Barbara G. Banks, P.A. is a South Florida based attorney who represents serious personal injury and wrongful death clients throughout the State of Florida.