Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Our Fort Myers dog bite injury attorneys understand that more than 4.5 million people are bitten by a dog each year. More than half of these dog bite victims are in fact children. The second leading group of victims is Postal Service workers. Of all of the victims, nearly 1 million rely on medical attention for the treatment of these injuries. About 20 victims die each year.
These accidents are no joke and because of it, the third full week of each May is designated as National Dog Bite Prevention Week. During this time, members of State Farm, of the American Veterinary Medical Association and of the U.S. Postal Service, team up to raise awareness. They release nationwide statistics and launch a number of campaigns to help to promote dog safety.
A dog’s tendency to bite can be caused by a number of factors, including health, socialization, behavior, training and heredity.
According to the ASPCA, about half of all children in the U.S. will be bitten by a dog before they turn 12-years-old. What’s most alarming is that a majority of these dog bite incidents will involve a dog in the family or a neighbor’s dog.
According to Florida statues, dangerous dogs are covered under dog bite laws. The owner of a pup that bites a person, when they’re on allowable grounds, is liable for the damages that are suffered by the victim, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owners’ knowledge of such viciousness.
However, any negligence on the part of the person bitten that is a proximate cause of the biting incident reduces the liability of the owner of the dog by a corresponding percentage.
If a dog has already been deemed as a dangerous dog or has been involved in prior attacks and the dog acts out again, then the owner will face misdemeanor charges, the pup will be impounded for ten days in which time an owner may request a hearing.
It’s important to contact an experienced attorney when dealing with dog bite claims. These issues are complex. Contact and experienced attorney to help you to navigate your way through the system and to help you to fight for the compensation that you deserve!
Contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, today to learn more about how we will fight for your legal rights. Our Fort Myers injury attorneys have been focused on justice and have been since 1971. You pay us nothing unless we win. Call 1-800-Dial-BLS.
More Blog Entries:
Dog Attack in Fort Myers Worries Local Residents , Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, May 2, 2012
Dog Bite Accidents in Fort Myers Threatening Residents, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, April 3, 2012
