Pembroke Pines Dog Bite Lawyer

A dog doesn’t have to exhibit vicious behavior to be dangerous. Most animal attacks happen suddenly, leaving the injured victim with very serious consequences. If you were injured in a dog attack, you may be entitled to compensation from the dog owner or their insurance company.

A Pembroke Pines dog bite lawyer at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can analyze your case and determine if you have a valid claim for damages. Through a no-cost, no-obligation case review, a member of our team will listen to your case’s facts and explain how we can assist you in your pursuit of fair compensation.

A Pembroke Pines Dog Bite Attorney Can Help You Seek the Money You Deserve

A personal injury lawyer at our firm will fight relentlessly for your fair and full compensation. A dog attack can ravage a human victim, leaving the person disfigured, infected, and fighting for their life.

A 7 News Miami report describes a Massachusetts college student mauled by a pit bull on a visit to the Everglades. The dog owner stood by as the dog viciously sunk his teeth into the woman’s arm and ripped it apart. After friends forced the dog off, the owner and canine fled the scene, leaving the woman with an infection and pieces of her arm hanging off. Her injuries required at least two surgeries.

This victim was undoubtedly responsible for extensive medical bills and suffered emotional damage. And like many others, this attack was entirely preventable. Negligent dog owners must be held accountable for their actions. Our firm will seek justice for you by demanding the negligent dog owner pay you for the damage their animal caused.

Seek Money to Take Care of Your Dog Bite Expenses

In a Pembroke Pines dog bite case, you may be able to receive damages such as:

• Medical bills for emergency care, reconstructive surgery, or other treatments
• Lost wages due to missing work
• Reduced ability to earn
• Emotional counseling
• Medical equipment and first aid supplies
• Medication
• Emotional distress, such as fear or panic attacks
• Physical disability caused by your injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Lost quality of life
• Other pain and suffering

The medical expenses for treating a dog bite can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars due to extensive surgeries and physical therapy. Our dog bite lawyers serving Pembroke Pines will fight to recover every dollar you need and deserve.

How Our Pembroke Pines Personal Injury Lawyers Will Handle Your Dog Bite Case

We will collect evidence and documentation proving your injuries and financial and emotional losses. Types of evidence we collect may include:

• Photos and video of your dog attack injuries
• Medical records detailing your physical injuries, surgeries, and treatments
• Eyewitness testimony from others present during the attack
• Complaints and witness testimony from people who have been attacked or witnessed an attack by the same dog in the past
• Veterinary and vaccination records
• Bills, receipts, invoices, or bank statements showing expenses incurred due to the dog bite
• Expert testimony from medical professionals, life-care planners, or veterinary specialists

Dog Owners Are Financially Responsible for Dog Attacks in Florida

Many states operate under the “one-bite rule.” This old common-law rule states that a dog bite victim must prove that the dog was vicious and the owner knew about it to receive compensation from the dog owner.

Often, this is done by showing that the dog had bitten at least one person in the past. Without proving a dog has a history of vicious behavior, many victims are left without a recourse to recover the money they are rightfully owed.

Fortunately for Pembroke Pines dog bite victims, Florida is a strict liability state. Under Florida Statute §767.04, a dog owner is liable for damages suffered by anybody their dog bites regardless of whether or not the owner knew the dog was vicious or the dog had bitten someone in the past. In other words, the dog owner is responsible for paying you as long as two conditions are satisfied:

1. You were out in public or lawfully visiting private property when the attack occurred.
2. The dog owner did NOT have a sign displaying “Beware of Dog” or a similar warning in a prominent place to warn you of the potential danger.

How Can I Recover Compensation for a Dog Bite in Pembroke Pines?

First and foremost, our Pembroke Pines dog attack lawyers will evaluate any insurance policy the dog owner or liable party may have. Sometimes dog owners have homeowners’ or renters’ insurance that will cover dog attacks. If that is not an option, we will look into other sources of compensation.

Filing a Premises Liability Claim

The dog owner may be renting from a landlord who failed to enforce dog safety rules on the property or neglected to fix defective fixtures, such as a broken gate that allowed the dog to run free in the neighborhood. Under those circumstances, we may be able to file a premises liability claim against the landlord.

Filing a Claim Against a Negligent Third-Party

If someone other than the owner was responsible for controlling the dog at the time of the attack, you could pursue compensation from them in a personal injury claim, citing negligence as the cause.

Suing the Dog Owner

Filing a lawsuit against the dog owner is also a legal option.

Our Lawyers Have Won Victories for Pembroke Pines Dog Bite Clients Just Like You

However we pursue compensation on your behalf, rest assured that we will demand every dollar you deserve. Jason and Debi Chalik, our founding partners representing you, will work diligently to build a strong case that brings you results. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for personal injury victims throughout Florida. Some examples of cases we’ve settled and won for clients include:

• $22 million for a client who suffered a catastrophic injury due to a defective product
• $6.5 million for a catastrophic injury victim after settling their case in federal court
• $200,000 for a medical malpractice case involving a lumbar surgery
• $95,000 for a client struck by a security gate at an apartment building

Did a Dog Bite You in Pembroke Pines? Let Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Fight for You

A Pembroke Pines dog bite lawyer can help you seek the money you need for your medical expenses and the compensation you deserve for your anguish. Dog attacks are all too frequent in Florida, with over 1,400 dog bites occurring in 2021, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Don’t let another negligent dog owner get away with it. Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can help you fight. Schedule your free consultation with us today.