In many situations, if you are bitten by a dog or other animal, you can hold the owner of that animal responsible for your injuries. Given the fact that animal teeth can be very dangerous weapons, one can receive rather substantial and debilitating injuries from such bites. Serious lacerations may develop, leading to the need of in incurring extensive plastic surgeries. Otherwise, one may sustain disfigurement and permanent scarring. From an emotional prospective, this can have a devastating effect especially on children and women. Another possible injury from animal bites can be serious infection, from either germs or rabies of the animal.
If you have fallen victim to an animal bite, the first thing to do is to clean the wound the best that you can and seek immediate medical attention. After seeking your first medical attention, seek the advice of a knowledgeable attorney who handles these kinds of cases. It is also important to determine the name and address of the animal’s owner. Under Florida law, the owner is held to be strictly liable for the animal’s actions. Thus, typically the only issue is damages, i.e., the extent of your injuries, your out of pocket medical and wage loss expenses, and your future medical outlook. In many situations, the homeowner’s insurance, if any, of the animal’s owner will apply to pay your damages, unless there is an exclusion for such animal bites. Uncovering all possible avenues of insurance to help pay your damages is one of the initial responsibilities of your lawyer early in the claims process.