Were you or a family member bitten by someone else’s dog in Jacksonville, FL? You may be entitled to recover damages from the dog’s owner. A knowledgeable Jacksonville dog bite lawyer can help you recover money for medical bills, lost income, pain, trauma, and any other losses you have suffered.
Our team at Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers is prepared to use our extensive experience to your advantage. Since we opened our doors, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
If you were bitten by a dog, Contact or call our law firm at 904-356-6071 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Dog Bite Injury in Jacksonville
Dog bites in Jacksonville, Florida can cause extensive and serious injuries. The trauma of the experience can haunt you for years to come. You obviously can’t hold the dog accountable, but you have the right to seek compensation from the dog’s owner.
Unfortunately, not all dog owners want to take responsibility for their dogs’ actions. You’ll likely be forced to deal with their insurance company, which can only make matters more complex and stressful.
An experienced Jacksonville personal injury attorney at Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers can handle the fight on your behalf. Among other accolades, our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers and the National Trial Lawyers for our exceptional legal representation.
When you hire our law firm, you’ll have an advocate who can:
- Compile evidence to build your claim for compensation
- Identify all sources of compensation
- Calculate the value of your damages
- Defend against allegations that you provoked the dog
- Negotiate with the defense team and insurance companies on your behalf
You can learn more about your legal options by scheduling a free case review with our Jacksonville personal injury attorneys today.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover By Filing a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Jacksonville?
In addition to proving liability, you’ll also have to establish the value of your personal injury case. No two dog bite injury cases are exactly the same.
The value of your compensation award will depend on several issues, including:
- The severity of your injury
- Whether you will suffer from a long-term disability
- The amount of your medical bills
- Whether you’ve lost income during your recovery
- How the injury will impact your future
- Damage to your emotional wellbeing
- Physical pain and trauma
The dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy may cover your claim. However, even when insurance is available, insurance companies aren’t known for handing over fair settlements. In fact, they may go to great lengths to downplay your injuries.
Our experienced Jacksonville dog bite attorneys know how to make the insurer take your case seriously.
How Common Are Dog Bites in Florida?
Approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States each year. On average, around 800,000 of those injuries are serious enough to require medical care.
Florida ranked second in the nation for dog bite injury compensation claims. According to the Insurance Information Institute’s research, insurance companies in Florida paid $68 million to settle dog bite injury claims in a year.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Injury Victims in Jacksonville?
Compensatory damages in Florida are broadly classified based on whether they compensate a victim for economic damages or non-economic damages. Dog bites can be expensive to treat, and recovery can be difficult.
Your economic damages might include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages during recovery
- Rehabilitation
- Reconstructive surgeries
- Long-term disability
Dog bites can also result in significant trauma. You can seek compensation for all of your non-economic damages, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD and fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Lost quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Chronic pain
Don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced lawyer who can help you identify and prove the specific losses you suffered because of the animal attack.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to Handle a Dog Bite Claim in Florida?
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. You only pay our attorneys’ fees if we actually do recover compensation in your case. That’s how confident we are in our ability to recover the money you deserve.
After we receive compensation, you’ll pay a percentage of your settlement or verdict to cover attorneys’ fees.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for My Dog Bite Injuries in Florida?
Provocation is one of the most common defenses in dog bite injury cases. The provocation defense is actually built into the Florida dog bite law.
Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you will lose your right to compensation if you were more than 50% responsible for the dog bite. If it’s found that you provoked the dog, your damages will be reduced according to your proportion of fault.
Our Attorneys in Jacksonville Will Fight to Recover Fair Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bite injuries can be extensive, especially when the victim is smaller. Dogs can attack and push the victim to the ground. This can lead to injuries that are much more extensive than the wound itself.
Our team at Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers has the skills to handle any injury claim, including those involving:
- Deep puncture wounds and torn skin
- Broken bones
- Chest injuries
- Back injuries
- Concussions
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Eye and facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Fractures and ligament injuries
- Organ damage
- Amputations caused by severe infection
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
If you were bitten by a dog, it’s important to report the bite to animal control. The local animal control agency can conduct an investigation and determine whether the dog has been properly vaccinated.
It’s also important to seek medical attention quickly. Dog bites can easily become infected–and many do not heal properly on their own.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation After a Dog Bite Injury in Florida?
Several different legal theories may be relevant to your dog bite injury claim. Most dog bite cases are based on Florida’s strict liability law. Depending on the circumstances, your claim could also be based on negligence or negligence per se.
Florida’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
All states have different laws regarding dog bite liability. Florida has a strict liability law. You can recover damages from the dog’s owner even if they weren’t negligent and had no knowledge of their dog’s vicious tendencies.
To recover compensation, you must prove:
- You were legally on private property or public property
- The dog bit you
- You suffered injuries or damages
There are, however, important exceptions to the strict liability law. The dog’s owner can avoid liability if they can prove:
- You were trespassing at the time of the dog bite
- You did something to provoke the dog to bite you
If any of these defenses apply, it may still be possible to recover compensation if you prove the owner was responsible.
Negligence Theories in Dog Bite Injury Cases
Negligence is a failure to exercise reasonable caution under the circumstances. If you can prove the dog owner was negligent, they can be held responsible for the resulting damages.
The elements of a negligence claim include:
- Duty of care (all owners have a duty to take reasonable steps to keep their animal under control)
- Breach of duty, meaning that the owner did not exercise due caution
- Causation, meaning that the owner’s breach directly caused your injuries
- Damages, or the losses you suffered
A “reasonable person” standard applies in these cases.
Negligence Per Se in Dog Bite Injury Cases
The negligence per se theory holds dog owners liable if they violate a law designed to protect others and someone is injured as a result.
For example, if the dog’s owner violated Jacksonville’s leash law and allowed the dog to roam freely, they can be liable if the dog injures someone.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Florida?
The statute of limitations in personal injury cases is two years. Under Florida law, you will likely lose your right to damages completely if you wait any longer to take legal action.
Contact a Skilled Jacksonville Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation Today
If a dog bites you or your child, our team at Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you fight for compensation. The dog’s owner should be held responsible for the animal’s attack. Call an experienced Jacksonville dog bite lawyer today to learn more about your legal right to compensation. You can visit our law office in Jacksonville, FL, for immediate assistance.
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Visit our Dog Bite Law Firm in Jacksonville, FL
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers
136 E Bay St #5438
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 356-6071
Highly Rated Emergency Rooms in Jacksonville, FL
- Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Emergency Room – 1 Shircliff Way, Jacksonville, FL 32204
- Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville Emergency Room – 800 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207
- Memorial Hospital Jacksonville Emergency Room – 3625 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32216
- UF Health Jacksonville Emergency Room – 655 W 8th St, Jacksonville, FL 32209
- Wolfson Children’s Hospital Emergency Room – 800 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
Additional Jacksonville Dog Bite Resources
- Dog Bite Injuries – American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
- Rabies Prevention Program – Florida Department of Health in Duval County
- Dog Owner’s Liability for Damages to Persons Bitten – 2024 Florida Statutes
- Rabies – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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