You might think that your chances of getting a dog bite injury in Florida are slim. But in reality, dog bites happen quite frequently. There are about 600 people bitten by a dog each year in the state of Florida. Dog bites can happen for different reasons, and they don’t always lead to severe injury.
Causes of Dog Bites
There are three main causes of dog bite injuries. The most common occurrence of dog bites is when people try to break up a dog fight. As a general rule, these dog bite injuries are not the responsibility of the dog owner. The other two causes of dog bite injuries are inappropriate behavior management and protective behavior.
Inappropriate behavior management refers to actions such as taking away a chew toy, interrupting feeding, roughhousing, or moving the dog against its will. Protective behavior includes trying to protect children and household members or property.
When a Dog Owner Is Responsible
Generally, a dog owner is always responsible for the behavior and actions of their pet. However, there are some instances in which you will not be able to recover compensation for a dog bite injury. If you are trespassing on private property, meaning that you are unlawfully there, you will not be able to recover damages. You may also be unable to recover damages if you provoked the animal.
Filing Deadlines
You actually have quite a bit of time to file your case for a dog bite injury. Florida law allows you to wait up to four years to file your claim. This allows you time to get appropriate medical and reconstructive treatment, if required. It is important that you do not miss the deadline because after the four year mark you will be unable to file.
If you or a loved one have been injured by a dog bite, contact us today for a free consultation.