Articles Posted in Animal and Dog bites

According to Florida statute of limitations section 767.04 “The owner of any dog that bites any person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owners’ knowledge of such viciousness.”

In Florida, you are strictly liable for any injury or damage caused by a dog. To file a lawsuit for a dog bite, the Florida statute of limitations section 95.11(3)(a) allows four years after the date of the injury. This injury must be a dog bite to be covered by the statute. However, if it’s another type of injury caused by a dog proving that it was caused by the owner’s negligence might be liable.

In addition, Florida law applies the law of comparative negligence, which implies that the injured victim’s compensation claim is lowered by the proportion of culpability he or she holds in the assault. Dog bite injuries are included in this comparative negligence.

In Homestead, Florida, an area just south of Miami, a 7 year old boy was hailed as hero when he shielded both his younger brother and friend while being attacked by a German Sheppard.

The boys were playing outside when the guard dog from a business in the area escaped and attacked the boys. The seven year old pushed the two younger children under a vehicle and blocked them from the dog while suffering bite wounds to his head, arms, and shoulder as the German Sheppard attacked.

The boys’ father heard the screams and was able to stop the attack. Had he not been so responsive, the injuries to the heroic boy and his playmates could have been even more severe.

Florida dog bite laws state that when a dog bite or animal attack occurs anywhere in the State of Florida, the animal owner is responsible for the injuries and damages under a theory known as strict liability. This theory means that the injured party does not need to prove negligence to obtain an award.
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