Gainesville Dog Bite Lawyer

If a dog bites or attacks you and causes you injuries, we can help you claim damages against the dog owner for the losses you suffered. From medical bills to disfigurement and scarring, you can hold the vicious dog owner accountable for allowing you to suffer an attack and sustain injuries.

A lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can evaluate the circumstances that led to your dog bite injury in Gainesville and determine who is responsible for your losses. Together, you can gather evidence of your injuries necessary to prove your case and seek compensation for your injuries.

Building Your Dog Bite Case

When a dog bites or attacks you, causing injuries, you may be overwhelmed by extensive medical treatment, steadily increasing medical bills, and pain and trauma from the attack. In this situation, you may find it challenging to devote your full attention to building a case for compensation against those responsible for your injuries.

Fortunately, working with a Gainesville lawyer from our firm can alleviate some of these pressures after a dog bite.

We Can Gather Evidence on Your Behalf

We know what it takes to establish a dog bite case by gathering all necessary evidence and presenting it to the insurance company for the responsible parties. If we cannot reach a settlement award on your behalf, we can file a lawsuit to hold the other parties accountable for causing your injuries.

We are accustomed to handling a wide variety of injury cases, including dog bites and attacks. We can help you gather medical records and other documentation of your injuries. We also can calculate your financial and other losses that stem from your injuries so you can receive fair compensation in your case.

Affording Legal Services

We also understand how challenging it can be to pay for an attorney when you cannot work and bills are piling up quickly. At our law firm, we offer free consultations for everyone who may have a personal injury claim.

We also take these types of cases on a contingency basis. This means that you pay nothing upfront for us to handle your case. You only pay us when you receive compensation for your injury-related losses.

Getting Damages in a Dog Bite Case

You can get compensation for damages that you suffer in a case involving a dog bite or attack.

Compensation or damages in a dog bite case can include bills for medical care, as well as for the emotional and professional losses resulting from your injuries. Some common examples of compensation for which you may be eligible include:

• Medical treatment and surgical costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma from the attack, which may require counseling
• Loss of enjoyment of life to engage in your regular activities or hobbies
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Lost wages from being off work for medical treatment and recovery

To document your losses, you and your attorney from our team will compile medical bills to show your expenses. You will also need to gather medical records to show your injuries’ current status and future prognosis.

If you have been off work or will be off work indefinitely, you can produce evidence of your income before the dog bite occurred.

Understanding State Law and Dog Bite Cases

Under Florida Statutes §767.04, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries that occur when their dogs attack or bite someone. Strict liability means that the dog owners are liable for injured victims’ damages even if they were not negligent. This level of liability holds true even if the dog had never acted aggressively or bitten anyone before.

As a result, dog owners likely are liable or responsible for the injuries to others that their dogs cause. The dog owner is responsible when the attack occurs in a public place or at a location where the injury victim was legally present. Generally, then you can seek compensation from dog owners for your injuries.

Exceptions to the Strict Liability Rule

The law does provide some exceptions to strict liability in dog bite cases. For instance, if you are trespassing or breaking into a house when a dog bites you, you may not be able to seek compensation from the dog owner.

Likewise, if you tease or provoke a dog, which leads it to bite you, you may only be entitled to reduced compensation, depending on the circumstances. Our attorneys can tell you whether you qualify for an award, so reach out for a free consultation regardless of your situation.

Knowing the Deadlines that Apply to Your Dog Bite Case

All states put limits on how long you have to file different kinds of lawsuits. Florida has a law or statute of limitations that applies specifically to dog bite and other personal injury cases. Under Florida Statutes §95.11(3)(a), you have four years from the date of the dog bite or attack to file your case in court.

This deadline is important because you could miss out on compensation for your injuries if you fail to take quick action. You should not be solely responsible for your medical bills and other losses when a dog caused your injuries. Getting legal advice right away can be helpful to your case.

We Can Get You Compensation for Your Dog Bite Injuries

You do not have to handle these dog bite expenses on your own. Instead, you can enlist the services of a Gainesville lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to hold the owners responsible for your dog bite injury.

We are waiting to hear from you about your dog bite injury case. When you become our client, your attorney can answer your questions and address any concerns you may have. Call our offices today at 1-800-747-3733 and get a free consultation about your potential legal case.