Seminole Dog Bite Attorney
Every year, dogs bite millions of Americans. Most of these incidents cause serious physical and emotional injuries. The physical injuries usually include deep, puncture wounds which pierce internal organs, as well as severe tearing lacerations which usually require skin grafts and other advanced care. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other emotional injuries are especially common among child victims.
These victims have multiple options in the Sunshine State. Florida has a strict liability law, but it only applies to bite injuries. It does not apply to broken bones, head injuries, and other knockdown-related injuries. Victims may also use the scienter (knowledge) rule to obtain compensation for all their injuries, but this rule only applies if the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Other possible theories include ordinary negligence, which is basically a lack of care, and negligence per se, which is basically a violation of a safety law.
Whatever theory best fits the facts of your case, you can count on a diligent Seminole dog bite attorney at The Reep Law Firm to build a solid, evidence-based case from the ground up. With this strong foundation in place, we are well-positioned to obtain maximum compensation for your serious injuries. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Why Should We File an Injury Claim?
Obtaining the compensation you need and deserve is only one reason to work with a lawyer in an injury case. Additionally, legal actions force pet owners to take responsibility for the injuries their pets cause.
The average injury-related medical bill is over $100,000 in Florida. Typically, group health insurance companies refuse to pay injury-related costs, for liability purposes. Moreover, most serious injury victims cannot work for several weeks or months as they recover. Most families live from paycheck to paycheck. Therefore, a brief income interruption, coupled with massive unanticipated expenses, are often financially crippling.
Compensation is the name of the game in this area. Civil claims don’t “blame” anyone for an injury. If Tim knocks over his neighbor’s mailbox as he pulls out of his driveway, Tim should pay compensation (the price of the mailbox). If Tim’s dog injures his neighbor, Tim should pay compensation. Since his neighbor is worth a lot more than a mailbox, a Seminole dog & animal bite attorney can obtain the additional compensation mentioned above.
How Do We Find the Right Seminole Dog & Animal Bite Attorney?
Any one of the thousands of lawyers in Florida could probably handle a basic dog bite claim. However, only a few have the right combination of:
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Accessibility: Big firms often have significant resources. However, lawyers at big firms often delegate most or all of the work on a case to inexperienced associates or even non-lawyer paralegals. Moreover, your lawyer should be close to your home or office. Driving across town just to meet with your lawyer gets really old really fast.
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Dedication: Many attorneys handle a few injury claims on the side, mostly for friends and family. These attorneys often miss important details that are the difference between maximum compensation and settling for less. Furthermore, only a dedicated lawyer is committed to individual legal and financial rights.
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Experience: Law school only teaches students so much. Therefore, years of experience may be the most important measuring rod. However, years of experience can also be misleading. Many lawyers practice personal injury law for many years yet they have almost no trial experience.
Choose wisely, but don’t take too long. You have a limited amount of time to act in a personal injury case.
Reach Out to a Dedicated Pinellas County Attorney
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Seminole dog & animal bite attorney, contact Reep, Coleman & Stubbendorff. Attorneys can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no money or insurance.
