Fort Walton Beach Dog Bite Lawyer

Were you or a loved one injured after being bitten by a dog in Fort Walton Beach, FL? You may be entitled to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. An experienced Fort Walton Beach dog bite lawyer at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can help you stand up and protect your legal rights. 

We’ve been working hard to recover fair compensation for injured clients since 1990. In that time, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in life-changing settlements and verdicts.

We’d proudly stand up for your family. Just call our law firm in Fort Walton Beach, Florida at (850) 863-5297 to schedule a free consultation for the legal advice you need today, or contact our law firm here.

How Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Dog Bite in Fort Walton Beach

How Brannon & Brannon Can Help After a Dog Bite in Fort Walton Beach

It can be tough to recover fair compensation for dog bite injuries in Florida even if someone else’s dog was clearly at-fault. The dog itself can’t be “liable.” Dog owners have a number of different defenses that can limit your right to compensation.

Hiring an experienced Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyer gives you the best chance of recovering maximum compensation for your injuries. At Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we have over 60 years of combined experience handling personal injury claims in the panhandle. 

We’ll fight for your family by:

  • Gathering evidence about the dog bite and the dog owner’s actions
  • Protecting you from insurance tactics and schemes
  • Identifying all responsible parties
  • Hiring specialists who can testify about the fair value of your injuries
  • Defending you if the dog owner blames you for provoking the dog
  • Negotiating with the insurance companies on your behalf

Filing a claim with insurance can be enough of a headache. If your rights are being challenged, you need a Fort Walton Beach personal injury attorney who will protect your interests. Give us a quick call to establish an attorney client relationship today.

How Common Are Dog Bite in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

Dogs may be man’s best friend. In reality, they can be very unpredictable–and dog bites are very common in Florida and across the United States.

According to Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates, about 4.5 million dog bite cases are reported across the U.S. each year. Around 800,000 of those cases are so serious that the victim requires medical attention.

The Florida Department of Health estimates that 600 people in Florida are hospitalized with dog bite injuries each year. Unfortunately, children between the ages of one and nine are at the highest risk for dog bite injuries.

What is My Fort Walton Beach Dog Bite Case Worth?

It’s impossible for a lawyer to know the value of your personal injury claim without reviewing the facts. Despite this, there are some issues that are common in every case. 

In the most general terms, the value of your personal injury case will usually depend on:

  • The severity of your injuries
  • The cost of your medical care
  • Your lost income and expenses
  • How the injury changed your life, factoring in both physical and emotional suffering
  • Available insurance coverage
  • Whether your actions contributed to the injuries

Unfortunately, children are often the victims of dog bites and animal attacks. If your child was bitten, the emotional trauma can be long lasting. Our Fort Walton Beach dog bite attorneys know how to translate that suffering into a dollar value.

Are you curious about how much your personal injury case is worth? Call our law offices to discuss your case in detail during a free case evaluation today. 

What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims?

Compensatory damages under Florida personal injury laws are designed to cover both financial and non-financial losses. In other words, they’re meant to make a victim “whole” again after an injury.

Examples of your financial losses, which are called economic damages, may include:

Examples of your non-economic damages might include:

It isn’t enough to identify the types of damages you deserve. You’ll also have to put a dollar value on those damages. Calculating the cost of your injury is one of the most difficult aspects of any personal injury case. Fortunately, our lawyers have relationships with experts and specialists who can help.

Do you want to make sure you’re getting all of the compensation you deserve after being bitten by a dog? Call our lawyers for a free consultation today.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Dog Bite in Florida?

Blaming the victim is one of the most common defense strategies in dog bite cases. Under the modified comparative fault laws in Florida, a victim’s compensation can be reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault. If a victim is mostly at fault, they cannot recover any money.

However, under Florida dog bite laws, dog owners can also reduce their financial responsibility if they can prove the victim provoked the dog. If you were also negligent, you’ll receive only a portion of your settlement. That gives insurance companies a powerful incentive to blame you for getting hurt. 

We can help protect you from these tactics. If you’re being blamed for causing a dog bite, don’t hesitate to call for legal help today.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries

Dogs and humans come in all shapes and sizes. When a large dog bites a small child, the injuries can be much more significant than the puncture wound itself. The same is true when a dog bites an adult.

At Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of dog bite injury cases. We represent victims who have sustained:

You’ve suffered enough because someone else failed to control their dog. Let our lawyers fight to win the money you deserve. Call to schedule your free case review today.

How Do I Prove the Owner is Liable After a Dog Bite in Florida? 

Florida follows a strict liability law when it comes to dog bites. Under Florida dog bite laws, an owner can be held financially liable for your damages if:

  • their dog bit you
  • You were in a public place or were lawfully present on private property (for example, if you were visiting the dog owner’s home as a social guest)

In some states, dog owners aren’t liable for damages if their dog has never been bitten before. Florida doesn’t have this type of “one bite rule.” That means the dog owner can be responsible even if the dog hasn’t displayed vicious tendencies in the past.

Will Negligence Play a Role in My Dog Bite Injury Case?

It might seem like recovering compensation after a dog bite will be simple under Florida state law. That isn’t always the case. Negligence theories often become important for victims seeking compensation for dog bite injuries.

Dog owners often try to defend themselves by:

  • Claiming that the victim provoked the animal
  • Displaying a “bad dog” sign in a prominent place (which can be a valid defense if the victim is at least six years old)
  • Arguing that the dog didn’t actually bite the victim
  • Claiming that the victim was trespassing

In these cases, the dog owner’s actions become important. Dog owners can be held liable for their own negligence under Florida personal injury laws. 

For example, a dog owner may be liable for negligence where:

  • The dog owner violated Okaloosa County leash laws
  • The dog was allowed to roam freely
  • The owner failed to keep the animal secured in a confined area

Florida strict liability dog bite laws only apply if the dog actually bit the victim. The law doesn’t cover dog attack cases. Call our lawyers in Fort Walton Beach today if a dog attacks you. We’ll fight to recover the fair compensation you need and deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Florida?

Florida law limits the amount of time you have to take legal action if you’re hurt. The statute of limitations gives victims two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. After two years have passed, you forfeit your right to seek compensation entirely. You may have longer if your case is based on strict liability.

Contact a Fort Walton Beach Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Are you struggling to understand your legal rights after sustaining a dog bite injury? We’ve been fighting on behalf of injured clients for decades and are well-prepared to fight for you. This page is for informational purposes only, so call a Fort Walton Beach dog bite lawyer at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation today.

Our personal injury law firm in Fort Walton Beach, FL also provides: