Miami Dog Bites & Animal Attacks Lawyer

Yes, you can bring a lawsuit for a dog bite in Miami. Florida laws allow victims to claim financial compensation for their injuries, financial losses, and suffering. To win a claim, you must prove that you are the victim of a dog bite and that you have suffered physical injury or property damage as a result.

A dog owner or the person responsible for the dog’s care may be responsible for a dog bite in Miami. Florida laws regarding dog bites apply in Miami. The state uses a system of strict liability to assign responsibility to the dog owner in most situations.

No, Florida does not have a “one-bite” rule. Instead, victims may receive compensation even if the dog does not have a history of vicious behavior before the attack. Rather than a one-bite rule, Florida uses a strict liability system to require the dog owner to pay the victim for their damages.

While a dog owner is responsible for a dog bite claim, in many cases, the victim may receive compensation through the owner’s homeowner insurance policy. So, even though the owner may be legally liable, they can look to their home insurance policy for payment for the victim in many cases.

The Florida statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including dog bite claims, is four years. Florida law 95.11 gives the victim of a dog bite four years to formally start their claim, or they may lose the opportunity to recover for the animal attack.

Starting the claim is all it takes to meet this requirement. However, notifying the insurance company is insufficient to preserve your right to a claim.

Yes, Florida has strict liability for dog bites. Therefore, a lack of bite history on the part of the animal is not a defense. However, a few other defenses may apply.

Some defenses that are common in dog bite claims in Florida are:

– Trespassing on the part of the victim – Comparative negligence – Provocation of the animal – Claims that the dog was protecting its owner or caretaker – Contesting the amount of damages – Questioning the link between the bite and damages – If the dog was engaged in law enforcement work, legal hunt, legal sport, or exhibition

The compensation available for dog bites in Miami may include economic and non-economic damages. Medical treatment costs should be a part of the claim as well as lost work and other financial costs that arise.

In addition, dog bites often come with significant pain, suffering, and loss of use of limbs. Therefore, temporary and permanent pain and suffering damages may also be appropriate in compensation requests for dog bites in Miami.

Yes, an owner is liable if a dog bites a person delivering mail or packages. A person who enters the property to make a delivery is lawfully present. Laws that protect victims and impose legal liability on dog owners apply to delivery people just like any lawfully present person in a private place.