Steps to File a Florida Dog Bite Claim
Getting attacked or bit by a dog can be a traumatizing and life-threatening experience. Dog bites can leave victims with long-term health issues, such as nerve damage, missing fingers or limbs, or disfiguring scars, in addition to immeasurable emotional suffering. Victims of Florida dog bite attacks have a right to seek compensation for the injuries they’ve suffered by filing a claim for money damages against the dog’s owner. In fact, Florida law states that no matter whether a dog has shown aggressive tendencies in the past, Florida dog owners are liable when their dogs bite victims in a public place or when the victim is lawfully present in a private location. See below for the steps involved in filing a Florida dog bite claim, and contact an experienced Vero Beach personal injury lawyer if you have been injured by a dog bite in Vero Beach.
What are the steps involved in filing a dog bite claim in Florida?
- Report the attack to the authorities: After seeking medical attention, be sure to report the dog bite you suffered to the authorities as soon as possible. Animal control needs to know that there is a dangerous animal in the area, and you may need to request a copy of an eventual law enforcement report in your claim for damages.
- Speak with any witnesses and document the injuries and circumstances of the attack: Get the contact information of anyone who may have seen the dog bite occur. The owner may try to claim that you provoked the attack, and having eyewitness support can help strengthen your claim for damages. Additionally, take photos of the site of the accident and your injuries. If the owner of the dog was not present at the time of the bite, do everything you can to locate them and find out if they have an insurance policy that covers dog bites.
- Contact an attorney who is experienced in dog bite claims: Filing a claim for money damages often involves hours of paperwork, gathering evidence, negotiating with insurers, and in some cases, even a courtroom trial. After you or someone you love has been injured in a Vero Beach dog attack, don’t fight for compensation without help. A skilled personal injury lawyer can handle the hard work of pursuing a claim for damages so that you can focus on making a full recovery from your injuries. Vero Beach dog bite lawyer Keith Bregoff has spent decades assisting injury victims. By hiring the law office of Keith Bregoff to handle your dog bite claim, you can trust that your claim is inexperienced, knowledgeable, and effective hands.
Get the Legal Help You Need after a Vero Beach Dog Bite or Animal Attack
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack in Florida, find out how to get the money you deserve for your injuries by contacting the dedicated and effective Vero Beach dog bite lawyer Keith Bregoff at 772-492-8967.
Our personal injury attorney in Vero Beach, Florida handles cases in the following practice areas:
- Motorcycle accident
- Pedestrian accident
- Truck accident
- Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Auto Accident
Related Links: