In the state of Florida, a dog owner is strictly liable, that means 100% responsible for any injuries caused or damages caused by their dog biting someone else. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, what should you do?
Well, first you should seek medical attention. Dog bites can be very ferocious, primarily because of infection. Of course, we worry about rabies, did the dog have all of its shots? Animal control might be involved, they may quarantine the dog as a vicious dog. But you’ve got to worry about yourself. Even though it may seem superficial, you probably should get all the appropriate testing done at a medical facility so that you can make sure that you are able to heal. Your own medical condition is the primary factor you should be thinking about when you have any injury, including a dog bite injury.
Now, should you contact an attorney, when should you contact an attorney, if you’ve been bitten by a dog. Probably very early on. There’s a lot of things that have to be figured out concerning who might be responsible, whether they have any money or insurance available to pay your medical bills, your time off work, your pain, and your suffering. That can be a a complicated process to figure out and one that most people, who are not lawyers specializing in handling dog bite cases, don’t know what to do and you can really misstep if you try to handle that yourself. You are legally allowed to, but it’s probably not advisable.
Dog bite injuries and claims for dog bites are typically handled on a contingency fee, that is no fee paid if no recovery is made, and so it doesn’t cost you anything out of your pocket to get an attorney on your side early. That attorney can start doing work and investigation not just on liability, who’s the dog owner and who might also be responsible, but the collectability. Is there any insurance or funds available to compensate you for your medical bills, your loss wages, your pain, your suffering, your scarring and disfigurement, that you will likely have as a result of a dog bite.
So, seek medical treatment right away and get a lawyer on your side as soon as possible to help stand with you, guide and protect you through this complicated process.