On a beautiful fall afternoon, you were walking in the park when an off-leash German Shepard started barking and running toward you at full speed with its teeth bared. Startled and scared, you screamed and looked around for a fallen branch or anything you could use to defend yourself against the animal. In the distance, you heard the owner shouting for the dog to stop and come back to them. But the dog ignored them. For no apparent reason, the 100-pound creature pounced on you, knocking you down, and started to bite. After what seemed like an eternity, the owner was able to wrestle the dog off of you and take control, while a passerby called 911.

Dog attacks happen all too often in Florida – according to the US Postal Service, Florida is one of the top 10 states for dog attacks . Moreover, Florida is ranked second in the country in the number of dog bite insurance claims.

While dogs can be lovable pets, they are also animals descended from wolves, and as such, can viciously attack a victim. A dog attack can cause scarring, disfigurement, loss of limbs, broken bones, concussion or other head injuries, bruises, soft tissue injuries, psychological trauma, infections, nerve damage, and in the most severe cases, wrongful death. According to Florida law, if a dog bites a person while the person is in a public place or legally on private property, the dog owner is liable for the attacked person’s damages. This is true even if the dog is generally friendly and has never attacked before. However, there are two exceptions to this:

  1. If the person who was attacked intentionally provoked the dog, the amount of damages they are eligible to receive may be reduced.
  2. If the bite occurs on the owner’s property and they post a sign that says “Bad Dog”, they are only liable if the dog attacks someone under the age of six, unless the damages are proximately caused by a negligent act or omission of the owner.

If someone is trespassing on private property and the dog bites them, the dog owner is generally not responsible unless they specifically instructed the dog to bite.

If you or a loved one have been the victim of a dog bite or a dog attack, you are eligible to receive compensation for medical bills, reconstructive surgery, prostheses, assistive devices, prescriptions, psychological therapy, lost wages, pain and suffering and mental anguish.

The attorneys at Rader Law Group are experts at securing compensation for victims of dog bites or dog attacks. If the dog owner’s insurance refuses to provide a fair settlement for your injuries, we will take the fight to court. We are committed to pursing justice for our clients and our track record of success demonstrates this. Call us today at 954-913-2273 to learn your legal options if you have been the victim of a dog bite or dog attack.

Rader Law Group, LLC

With decades and decades combined experience, the attorneys at Rader Law Group understand the meaning of Justice. Our one and only mission is to get each client the justice he or she deserves; our team of attorneys never back down when we know our client is right.
We offer our clients the compassion and guidance they need as they work through trying times in their lives. The balance of working relentlessly for our clients combined with our caring approach has helped us achieve a fantastic record of success with our clients. We get our clients the justice they deserve.

At Rader Law Group, You matter. Your justice matters. Your Justice Starts Here. 954-913-2273.

References Used:
USPS. U.S. Postal Service Releases Dog Attack National Rankings – Newsroom – About.usps.com. Accessed November 13, 2022.
Insurance Information Institute. Spotlight on: Dog bite liability | III. Accessed November 13, 2022.