According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are approximately 4.7 million dog bites in the U.S. each year. Of that, nearly 800,000 dog attack victims require medical treatment, over 300,000 dog bite injuries are severe enough to warrant an emergency room visit with an average of 30 attacks resulting in death.
Because of their low proximity to the ground, children 4 years old and younger are more prone to life threatening injuries from a dog bite. Dog bites for this age group occur to the head or neck region nearly 65% of the time, while older age groups experience injuries to arms, hands, legs or feet 70% of the time.
NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN
We believe that the costs associated with hiring a lawyer shouldn’t prevent any dog bite victim from obtaining sound legal counsel. Because of this, our law firm handles all dog bite injury claims on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no out of pocket expenses and you only owe attorney’s fees if we settle your claim or win a favorable verdict in court.
Dog Bite Liability
Under Florida law, all dog owners have a legal duty to control their animals. Further, if a victim is bitten by a dog while in a public setting or while lawfully on private property, the dog’s owner can be held liable for the damages.
Florida is a comparative negligence state. That means that each party involved in a dog bite claim is responsible for their portion of fault for the injuries sustained. For instance, if the victim was provoking the dog, prior to the attack, a court may place additional blame on the victim, reducing the dog owner’s liability.
Additionally, if the dog is known to be aggressive and the owner has placed prominent warning signs, the owner’s liability may be reduced if the attack happened on their property. If the victim was under the age of 6 years old, unable to read or understand the warning signs, the owner’s liability may be greater.
Contact Our Dog Bite Lawyers
Call us at 877.951.1800 or fill out the form below to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our dog bite injury lawyers.
Are Dog Bites Premises Liability Cases?
Under most circumstances, a dog bite will fall under a premises liability claim against a homeowner or their homeowner’s insurance policy. In certain cases, there may be other compensation available.
Some employees, such as delivery drivers and mail carriers are required to enter private property while performing their normal duties. If the employee is attacked by a dog, while lawfully on private property and performing their job duties, they may have two legal claims. A third-party claim against the owner of the dog and a worker’s compensation claim for being injured while performing their job duties.
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Why Hire Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A.?
There’s a reason that our reputation precedes us: our 25-plus year history in Sarasota has garnered us some of the top reviews in the area, from both peers and clients alike. If you are in need of an experienced law firm, with personalized service and a desire to win your case, we’re here for you. Read on to learn more about the key reasons why the law offices of Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. are considered one of the premier civil trial law firms in Southwest Florida.
They make you feel comfortable and they’ll get the job done professionally.
Built from the ground up
Solid Reputation
We are a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated law firm, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards. With over 300 years of combined legal experience at our firm’s disposal, we have a vastly experienced knowledge of the legal system.
One of a kind
Personalized Attention
We believe that when you hire an attorney, you should be able to communicate directly with that attorney. At Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A., you’re never treated like a number. We work hard to understand the specifics of your situation and to craft a compelling legal strategy to fight for the best outcome for you.
Thousands of cases
A History of Success
Our law firm has recovered millions and millions of dollars in jury verdicts and settlements for our clients. While we don’t guarantee results, we do promise to work tirelessly towards the best possible outcome for you.
What our clients say
Client Testimonials
Experience and skill are meaningless without the passion to succeed. Our law firm takes pride in knowing that we’ve done our job by serving our client’s interests well. Our greatest satisfaction comes when our clients take the time to acknowledge their satisfaction with our legal representation, by providing our law firm with a testimonial.
I would recommend to family, close friends, and even shout it out from a corner. The experience was that good for me.
I feel they have been very efficient, very effective, and have gone above and beyond.
I certainly would recommend the firm to anyone in the future that is in need of legal assistance.
I truly felt like I was part of the family and I had a lawyer in the family.