With the help of a Jacksonville dog bite lawyer, you can help receive fair compensation for any injuries you may have suffered due to an unprovoked dog attack.
Most states impose liability on the owner of the dog for all bites or attacks even if the dog was said to be a “good dog.” The injured individual can be compensated through the dog owner’s insurance. Some states follow the “one bite rule” that shields the owner of the dog from liability unless he is aware of its tendency to harm people. In Florida, anyone who has been bitten or attacked by a dog has several legal grounds to be compensated for damages. These include the dog bite statute, intentional injury, common law liability, negligence and negligence per se. To know what legal option is best for you, it is crucial to speak to a Jacksonville dog bite lawyer.
Florida has a dog bite statute that puts strict liability upon the owner of the dog for a bite that results in wounds and injuries to a human being. This is applicable if you have been injured while you are in a public area or lawfully in a private place. Any negligence on your part that is an immediate cause of the dog biting incident lessens the owner’s liability by the percentage that your negligence contributed to the incident. Dog owners are also responsible for any damage inflicted upon other dogs on other domestic animals like cats, goats, sheeps, dogs and ostrich.
In the Jacksonville and the state of Florida, the legal negligence per se doctrine is followed. Based on this doctrine, negligence may arise from the violation of any law that establishes a duty of care to protect specific classes of people from certain type of injury. The city of Jacksonville merely adopts the ordinance of the county.
Determining who is to be held accountable is a risky business. Before you can file a claim, your Jacksonville dog bite lawyer will see to it first that you are not a trespasser and that you did not provoke the dog. If you have a viable dog bite case, a Jacksonville dog bite lawyer will let you know the course of action that you two can work on to attain just compensation.
Having a Jacksonville dog bite lawyer on your side offers a lot of benefits. Procedural laws and other rulings can restrict your right to bring a claim against the liable party. The most vital of these is the statute of limitations that places a time limit upon all dog bite claims. With the assistance of a qualified Jacksonville dog bite lawyer, you can be sure that your claim is brought on time and that you are guided at every stage of your case.
Among the damages your Jacksonville dog bite lawyer may recover for you include not just previous medical expenses but also the future cost of medical care and treatment (i.e. physical therapy or cosmetic surgery). Also, you may recover damages for lost income, pain and emotional trauma. Having a Jacksonville dog bite lawyer who is experienced in handling dog bite claims can make the claim process much easier and less stressful for you. A Jacksonville dog bite lawyer can free you from stressful meetings with the other party and his insurance company. Leaving the majority of legal matters to a knowledgeable Jacksonville dog bite lawyer can save you time and free you from stressful preparation of paperworks.
If you have been bitten by a dog and the attack was not your fault, it is in your best interest to contact a Jacksonville dog bite lawyer today.
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