Unfortunately, animal owners can’t always control their dogs. But you can control your legal destiny –and file a Florida dog bite lawsuit to recover economic damages related to your dog bite injury.

Florida has a strict liability dog bite law. That means that an owner is responsible for their dog’s actions no matter what – even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. Thus, it is important for dog owners to protect themselves with verbal warnings that their dog may bite and “bad dog” signs that identify potentially threatening dogs. However, if a dog bite does occur, the dog bite victim may file a dog bite lawsuit in Florida court.

Typical Florida dog bite lawsuits include cases in which mailmen or cable company employees are attacked by dogs; cases in which children sustain dog bites; and social situations in which a dog bites a visitor. However, if a dog bite victim played a part in the incident, they may not recover all the damages they seek. They may be found partially negligent if they antagonized the dog or ignored spoken or written warnings not to approach a biting dog.

If you have been injured by a Florida dog bite, it is important to document your experience and injury as soon as possible. Seek medical care for your wounds, then contact a Florida dog bite lawyer to discuss your rights and responsibilities and determine whether you should file a civil lawsuit. You are subject to Florida’s statute of limitations which limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit, and which begins running as soon as you sustain a dog bite. So it is very important that you see a Florida dog bite attorney as soon after the injury as possible to make sure you do not lose your right to file a lawsuit to recover damages for your injury.

If you are looking into pursuing a Florida dog bite lawsuit, be ready to provide your potential Florida dog bite attorney with as much information as possible. A successful Florida dog bite lawsuit hinges on dog ownership, and you must be able to prove that you were bitten and that injury did in fact result. Hence, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself with medical records, receipts and photographs, if available, before you speak to a Florida dog bite lawyer.

Ultimately, the decision to award damages in a Florida dog bite lawsuit is up to the jury. It’s up to you to find experienced, competent legal representation to pursue your legal rights and get you the compensation you deserve.