When the average person hears the term "personal injury lawyer," they may tend to think of lawyers who assist victims of car accidents. That is certainly an area in which many personal injury attorneys focus their practices. But there are many other types of injuries that can occur that require the services of a personal injury attorney such as Chris Roberts. One of the most common involves dog bites.
Under Florida law, the owner of a dog that bites a person who did not provoke the bite can be held strictly liable for the injury, if the bite occurs in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property where the dog is located. What this means is that the victim of the dog bite does not need to prove that the owner was negligent in some way, such as having prior knowledge that the dog had a tendency to bite. This is an important rule of which many individuals are not aware, believing incorrectly that the owner may only be liable if he had some reason to suspect that his dog was dangerous.
Even in circumstances where the victim himself did something to provoke the bite, there may still be a chance of recovering if the owner was also negligent. This is where knowledge of the dog's propensities may come into play.
A complicating factor in dog bite cases is determining the existence of insurance that may cover the injuries suffered by the victim. Many rental and even homeowners policies exclude dog bite injuries from coverage, leaving the consumer with no choice but to consider collecting directly from the owner, which can be difficult if the owner has no tangible assets.
If you or a family member are a victim of a dog bite that will require significant medical expense and/or significant recovery time, don't go it alone. Consult with a personal injury attorney who can assist you in understanding both the liability of the dog's owner, and the possible availability of insurance to cover your losses.
Chris Roberts is available for a free initial consultation on dog bite cases in the Clearwater and Tampa Bay area. Chris generally handles dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning he does not get paid unless you do. If you have questions or wish to schedule a free no obligation consultation, contact Chris at freeconsult@chrisrobertsfirm.com, or call to schedule an appointment: 727-286-3537.