Many people seriously underestimate what a dog can do to a human being. They think dog attacks and dog bite injuries are rare occurrences that don't really affect the victims too severely. Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth.
Dog bites can cause serious physical and emotional injuries, sometimes even leading to death. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a dog attack, it's important to understand your legal rights and options.
A Tampa dog bite injury lawyer at Coleman Law Group can help you pursue compensation for your injuries, holding the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
Our personal injury lawyers have over decades years of collective experience and have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We're here to help you.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Coleman Law Group Tampa dog bite injury lawyer.
There's a common misconception that dog bite injuries are rare occurrences, affecting only a few people each year. In reality, however, thousands of victims suffer from bites and attacks every single year in Tampa alone.
And the costs of these injuries can add up quickly. The average medical expense for a dog attack victim is over $18,000, and that's not even taking into account lost wages or other damages.
If a colleague or you have been the victim of a dog bite, it's important to understand your legal rights and options. You may be entitled to claim compensation and our experienced personal injury lawyers in Tampa can help you get the justice you deserve.
There are many injuries that can be caused by dog bites, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries like broken bones and nerve damage.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Aggressive dogs can cause serious injuries to their victims, and some of these victims end up losing their lives due to their injuries. Plus, even if you don't die from your dog bite injuries, you may have to spend days or weeks in the hospital, causing your medical bills to skyrocket.
Types of dog bite injuries include:
We don't know about you, but we believe that the dog owner should be held liable for what their dog did to you. Thankfully, Florida is a "strict liability" state. A dog owner can be held responsible for any damages the dog inflicted, even if they were unaware of their dog's aggressiveness. Also, Tampa doesn't require you to prove that your injuries were due to an owner's negligence and not your own.
Unfortunately, the dog owner is not always the person who should be held liable for your injuries. Anyone who owns or controls a dangerous dog can be responsible, including:
If a dog attacked you on another person's property, the owner might also be liable if they knew about the dog's aggressive tendencies and did nothing to stop it.
You can pursue one of four claims based on the situation:
All four of these claims are appropriate for getting the settlement you deserve, but there is a catch. Most dog owners in these situations will have their homeowner's insurance take care of the problem, and, as we all know, getting insurance to cough up a settlement is a tough battle to fight. Not only that, but time does run out.
If the dog is a police dog, you may be able to seek compensation from more than one party. The city that employed the animal might be responsible for its actions if it was not properly trained or handled properly. And because most cities have insurance to cover these incidents, you will likely have an easier time getting compensation through their insurer as opposed to taking legal action against the city itself.
You could also take action against the individual officer who was handling the dog at the time of the attack. If you can prove that the police officer has used excessive force or acted negligently, you may be able make them accountable for your injuries as well. It is important to remember that most officers are protected by qualified immunity, which means that you will have to prove that they acted outside the scope of their duties in order for them to be held liable.
Many of our Tampa dog bite lawyers have had the painful experience of having to tell victims and their families that the statute has expired, and they have run out of time to act.
Thankfully, we at the Coleman Law Group are experienced dog bite injury lawyer that will work with you and help you get the settlement you deserve. Our talented and experienced team is prepared to do everything we can to help you recover damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Call the Coleman Law Group to get a personal injury attorney free consultation from one of our caring and empathetic injury lawyers.
We would be happy to talk with you
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