West Melbourne, Florida Attorney: Dog Bites
Mark Anthony Gager — 23 Years Serving Brevard County
To say the least, animals are unpredictable. A dog that has been peaceful and tame for its entire life can one day snap and attack an unsuspecting bystander. Other animals may have a history of aggressive, violent behavior, and their owners are invariably cited for negligence when their dog bites someone and causes a serious or disfiguring injury. In fact, even if the animal caused the injury indirectly or by accident, its owner may still be liable.
For a free consultation, contact us.
Attorney Mark Anthony Gager has handled thousands of personal injury cases and has extensive experience in representing clients injured by dog bites and animal attacks.
What Separates "Dog Bites" From "Damage Done by Dogs"?
There are two Florida statutes that apply in any dog bite case. The first is a "strict liability" statute that refers broadly to "any damage done" by the dog to other animals or people. This doesn't have to involve an attack — in one landmark Florida case, for example, a dog managed to accidentally set off a gun by knocking it over and a person was injured. The dog's owner was still held responsible for compensating the victim.
The second statute refers specifically to vicious dog bites and animal attacks. It states that any time a person is injured by a dog while he or she is lawfully in a private or public place, that animal's owner is responsible for the damages caused. On the other hand, if the bitten individual was also negligent — like by taunting or harassing the dog — then he or she shares liability with the dog's owner for the dog bite and will not receive a full settlement.
The bottom line is, if you were bitten or otherwise injured by a dog and you weren't taunting the animal or trespassing, you're undeniably entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. For a free initial consultation at the Law Offices of Mark Anthony Gager, P.A., contact the firm online or call 321-473-3275.
