A dog bite in Navarre, Florida, can change your life in an instant. Fortunately, you have the right to seek compensation from the dog’s owner and, in some cases, other responsible parties. If you’ve been injured, call Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers at (850) 757-2898. You can also contact us online. Our Navarre dog bite lawyers are ready to help you maximize your recovery.
Don’t let the dog’s owner off the hook for the trauma you’ve suffered. Force accountability by trusting our top-rated personal injury law firm to fight for you, too. Your first consultation is free, so contact our Navarre law office to get started today.
Why Choose Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Dog Bite Case in Navarre, FL?
Experience matters when you’re fighting for compensation after a dog attack in Navarre, FL. Having a skilled, knowledgeable, and respected trial attorney with a proven track record of winning tough cases can be the difference between a nominal settlement and a life-changing financial recovery.
For decades, Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers has been a powerful voice for dog bite victims and families in Navarre and across Northwest Florida. Backed by 75+ years of combined experience taking on powerful corporations, we’ve helped our clients win over $200 million in financial settlements and jury awards.
Choosing our law firm means working with some of Florida’s most decorated and successful trial attorneys, whose collective experience spans generations. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Navarre personal injury lawyer.
Understanding Florida Dog Bite Laws
Unlike some states, which take multiple approaches to dog bite litigation, Florida’s take on dog bites is pretty straightforward. Under Florida Statute 767.04, a dog’s owner is strictly liable if their animal attacks another person, even if the dog never displayed vicious tendencies in the past.
Specifically, Florida’s dog bite law states that “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.”
Strict liability means that the dog’s owner is automatically responsible for a dog bite victim’s damages, even if they took steps to prevent a dog attack.
How Much Is My Dog Bite Case Worth?
Several factors can influence how much money you might be able to receive through a dog bite lawsuit in Navarre, such as:
- What types of physical injuries did the dog bite cause?
- Are your injuries permanent?
- Are you temporarily or permanently disabled because of your dog bite injuries?
- Have you lost the use of the function of a part of your body?
- Has your earning capacity changed?
- How old are you?
- Have you experienced any disfigurement or permanent scarring because of the dog bite?
- What type of dog bit you?
- Where did the dog bite take place?
- Can someone other than the dog’s owner be liable for your dog bite injuries?
- Are you being accused of provoking the dog or sharing responsibility for the dog bite in some way?
- How has being attacked by a dog changed your ability to enjoy your life?
The more your life changes because of a dog bite, the more money you might be able to anticipate receiving when your personal injury claim is settled or decided at trial. Working with a skilled Navarre dog bite attorney can help you ensure that you’re armed with the knowledge you’ll need to make smart, informed decisions when you’re offered a settlement.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to Navarre Dog Bite Victims?
Florida dog bite victims are entitled to both economic damages and non-economic damages.
When you win your case, damages can be paid for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Personal care assistance
- Funeral expenses if a dog bite is fatal
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Embarrassment
- Reduced quality of life
Our team will investigate your situation, gather important evidence during the discovery process, and work hand-in-hand with reliable expert witnesses to build a winning case that helps you recover full compensation for your objective financial losses and harder-to-value trauma. If the dog’s owner, their homeowner’s insurance company, or another third party won’t fight fairly, we won’t hesitate to bring them to justice at trial.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win My Dog Bite Lawsuit?
When you file a dog bite lawsuit against a dog’s owner, your claim will likely be based on strict liability.
So, you’ll have to prove:
- The defendant owned or was responsible for the dog
- The dog bit you without provocation
- You were lawfully on public or private property when the dog attack took place, and
- You’ve suffered damages because of the dog bite.
There are times when other parties might also be liable for a dog bite injury. If you’re bitten by a dog in public or on someone else’s property, the owner of the premises might be liable for the attack if they knew or should have known that a dangerous dog was on the premises and didn’t do anything to protect you.
In these situations, dog bite cases become a matter of premises liability. The owner can potentially be held accountable for their negligence.
What If I’m Suing a Property Owner or Business?
When you seek compensation from a business, government agency, or private property owner after a dog bite, you’ll need to prove:
- The defendant, who owned the property where the dog attack took place, owed you a duty of care because you were lawfully on the premises
- The defendant failed to restrict access to the dangerous dog or provide warnings that there was a potentially dangerous animal on the premises
- The defendant’s failures contributed to the dog attack, and
- You’ve suffered damages
Whether you sue the dog’s owner or a negligent property owner, you have the burden of proving your case by a preponderance of the evidence.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Millions of people—half of which are children—are bitten by dogs across the nation every year. Many of these victims require emergency medical care or hospitalization. Some suffer wounds so catastrophic that they don’t survive.
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we’re ready to help you fight to get compensation for any dog bite injuries you or your child have suffered, including:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Puncture wounds
- Soft tissue injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Chest injuries
- Leg injuries
- Infections
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Concussions
- Brain injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Always report a dog bite to the local police department and/or property owner immediately. Once the incident has been reported, make it a priority to get to the closest hospital. Prompt medical attention can help to ensure that any injuries are diagnosed and treated, while also significantly reducing the risk of infections that could lead to life-threatening complications.
Taking these steps right after a dog bite can also help to document what happened and give you proof of the devastating injuries you’ve sustained.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney?
Our Navarre dog bite lawyers represent clients on a contingency fee basis. We only get paid when we win compensation for your dog bite case. When we win, our fees come right out of the money we’ve recovered on your behalf. No win, no fee. That’s our promise to you.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Lawsuits in Florida?
Most dog bite lawsuits are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in the state of Florida. You have until the second anniversary of the dog attack to pursue compensation for your losses.
If your child was bitten by a dog, you can file a personal injury lawsuit on their behalf. The same two-year statute of limitations applies. However, if no one files a claim on your child’s behalf, the statute of limitations can be tolled until they turn 18.
Contact Our Navarre Dog Bite Lawyers for a Free Consultation
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we appreciate how much a dog bite injury can change your life, even if only for a relatively short time. You shouldn’t have to shoulder the costs and consequences on your own. Our Navarre dog bite lawyers are ready to fight for you as if you were family.
We’ll take on the dog’s owner, their insurance company, and anyone else who attempts to stand between you and the compensation you deserve. There’s no charge for an initial consultation, so contact our law office today.