Trinity Dog Bite Lawyer

Animal attacks can cause lasting injuries to victims. Most people suffer from physical, psychological, and emotional trauma. After a dog attack, you may not know your rights or your next steps. According to Florida law, dog owners are held accountable for injuries caused by their pets, notwithstanding if they had prior knowledge of their dog’s propensity to attack.

At Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, we have a team of experienced and qualified injury attorneys ready to help you with your claim. We go above and beyond to help our clients get the compensation they rightfully deserve for their injuries. Call today to book a free consultation with a qualified Trinity dog bite lawyer.

Trinity Dog Bite Laws

The state law holds dog owners responsible for any damages caused by their pet, including injuries suffered by someone invited to the property. According to Section 767.04 of the Florida code, a dog bite victim need not prove that the dog owner’s negligence caused their dog bite injuries. This means that the owner’s knowledge of their dog’s history of attacking people is irrelevant in this case.

According to state law, while the victim of a dog attack needn’t prove negligence, they must prove that the defendant owned the dog that bit them. Also, they have to verify that they had been invited to the dog owner’s property and weren’t trespassing. Note that the dog owner is not held responsible for injuries sustained by an intruder.

The Bad Dog Exception

Section 767.04 of the Florida code says that unless the victim of a dog bite was under six years, the dog owner could decrease liability if they displayed a visible Beware of Dog sign. This is called the bad dog exception. It partially allows the dog owner to waive liability for dog bite attacks on their property.

A dog owner’s negligence can create liability even with the “Bad Dog” sign displayed. An example of such a negligent action is letting a dog run free on the property when a guest arrives. Reach out to a seasoned Trinity dog bite attorney for more information.

Who Is Liable for Dog Bite Injury in Trinity?

Dog Owner

If a dog injured you, you can file a claim against the dog owner. The lawyer will sue the dog owner if the attack happened due to the dog owner’s negligence.

Even if the dog owner made no mistake, you could file a case against him. The reason is that Trinity laws state that the dog owner is lawfully responsible for the dog’s behavior. If such a thing happens to you, you can demand a compensation amount from the negligent party and sue them in court.

Property Owner

If the dog injures you on any private property, the property owner and the dog owner can be held liable for the attack. The property owner should legally make you aware of the bad behavior of the canine. If they don’t do so, you can sue both the negligent parties after the dog attack. The sooner you file your claim, the higher the chances of receiving fair compensation.

Statute of Limitations to File Against Dog Bite Attack in Trinity

In Trinity, you can file against the dog owner within two years after the dog’s attack. This is the statute of limitations or, in simple terms, the deadline for filing the legal case. If a dog attack has led to the victim’s death, you have two years to sue the party or receive the compensation amount.

Once the deadline passes, the plaintiff doesn’t have any legal right to compensation. This is why you need to choose the right team of dog bite lawyers in Trinity immediately after the incident. The Perenich Law Injury Attorneys are skilled enough to tackle the case and take action immediately.

How Perenich Law Injury Attorneys Can Help

At Perenich Law Injury Attorney, we know how physically, emotionally, and psychologically traumatic dog bites can be. While you may have the freedom to sue the dog owner yourself, you will face an uphill battle fighting the dog owner, their attorney, and the insurance company on your own. Our dedicated Trinity dog bite injury attorneys work hard to educate our clients on their rights and help them get the compensation they deserve.

We Offer You Legal Advice

The law is broad and significantly varies from state to state. It would be impossible for you to learn everything by yourself in the limited time you have. This is why hiring a Perenich Law attorney will save you a lot of time and help your case.

At Perenich Law, we offer the first consultation for free. During your first meeting, the personal injury attorney will evaluate your case and educate you on the damages you can claim. The knowledgeable animal attack lawyers in Trinity will further let you know how strong a case you have and advise you on your legal options.

We Help You Break Down Personal Injury Damages

It may be hard for you to identify all the losses you have incurred in your attack. In addition to your obvious current medical expenses, we help you calculate future medical expenses, both current and future lost income, and damages from pain and suffering.

At Perenich Law, we help our clients evaluate all their financial losses owing to an attack so that they can receive maximum compensation for their damages.

We Handle the Stress on Your Behalf

The dog owner and their insurance company will go above and beyond to frustrate and bully you into accepting a lower settlement than your injuries are worth.

At Perenich Law, we are aware of this, and that’s why we step in to fight for our clients. We will handle all negotiations for you so that you can only worry about your healing.

Recoverable Damages in a Dog Bite Case

Victims of dog bite injuries may get compensation for economic losses and intangible damages.

A skilled Trinity dog bite attorney could help you get compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Emotional torture
• Lost wages due to missed days at work
• Future medical expenses
• Trauma and emotional anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Physical therapy

Common Dog Bite Injuries

In most cases, dogs attack using their teeth and nails. Dogs are very strong animals, capable of causing fatal injuries. The following are some of the most common dog attack injuries:

Puncture wounds

While they may not look as serious as other dog bite injuries, puncture wounds are prone to infection. A bad infection can kill.

At other times, the puncture wounds can damage nerves, thus affecting your ability to perform daily tasks. Puncture wounds can also cause other serious medical conditions such as tetanus and blood poisoning. All these require extensive medical treatment, which strains your finances.

Eye injuries

If you have ever suffered an eye injury, you very well know how devastating the effects can be. This is not even taking into account the emotional trauma associated with a dog attack. In the worst case, you may lose your vision forever.

Head and neck injuries

Injuries to the head and neck can bring about trauma, especially if a dog attack caused them. In severe cases, you must go through multiple surgeries to heal. What is more, the effects of the attack will be stuck with you for a long time as you will be reminded of the fateful ordeal every time you look into the mirror.

Scarring

Dog attacks can leave you with serious scars, some needing years of corrective surgery. In addition to taking a significant toll on your finances, the scars can affect your self-esteem, especially when they are on visible areas such as your face, hands, and legs.

Broken bones

Dogs have very strong jaw muscles that can cause serious fractures or leave you with broken bones. The aftermath of such injuries can take a long time to heal or can be permanent. You may require multiple surgeries and therapy sessions to recover.

Rabies

Dog owners must fully vaccinate their pets against rabies. After being attacked by a dog, the first thing you should do is find out if the dog was vaccinated. However, if a stray dog has attacked you, seek medical attention as soon as you can.

Emotional trauma

Immediately you get attacked by a dog, you become more concerned about your physical health. You want to get treatment as soon as possible and believe that you are good to go about your normal life once you completely heal. However, this is very far from the truth.

Dog attacks are distressing events that can cause lifelong emotional scars. You may suffer extreme anxiety, depression, and in worst cases, post-traumatic stress disorder. This warrants compensation for your pain and suffering.

Watch out for these signs of PTSD:

• Frightening flashbacks of the scene
• Frequent nightmares
• Avoiding places that trigger memories of the attack
• Insomnia
• Extreme emotional reactions to any reminders of the attack

What Should I Do After a Trinity Dog Attack?

Take these steps after a dog bite injury:

Get immediate medical attention

If a dog has bitten you, seek medical attention before taking any other action. A medical professional will help determine the severity of your injuries. They may also establish whether you suffered less obvious injuries such as internal bleeding.

To help your case, you should keep all records of your injuries, diagnosis, and the offered treatment. This documentation will act as evidence, which will be crucial when pursuing compensation.

Document the attack

Once you have stabilized and are sure your life is out of danger, you should thoroughly go over the facts of the case. Make sure you document every detail of your incident. Also, get the contact information of all witnesses. If possible, have pictures of the dog that attacked you and any visible injuries you may have.

Call animal control

You should call your local animal control authorities to report your dog bite. Doing this will get you important information, such as the legal owner of the dog and whether the dog previously attacked another individual. Furthermore, you will play a role in preventing the dog from attacking another innocent person in the future.

Get in touch with a dog bite attorney

Contact an experienced dog bite attorney after a dog attack as soon as possible to evaluate your options. Your attorney will then guide you in pursuing compensation for your injuries.

Steps to Filing a Dog Bite Claim

If you want to file a dog bite claim, you should:

Hire an attorney

You may need to hire an experienced dog bite lawyer to pursue compensation. By hiring an attorney, you will understand your options for seeking compensation from the dog owner or their insurance provider. Your attorney will handle the claim for compensation on your behalf.

Investigation

Once you have hired an attorney, they will go over your case from the beginning, evaluating all aspects. During the investigation, your lawyer will gather all the needed evidence and interview any available witnesses. Finally, your attorney will go through your local and state laws to find out whether the dog owner went against other relevant statutes.

Negotiation

After investigating, your attorney will negotiate with the dog owner’s insurer. Note that the insurer will also have a team of lawyers determined to reduce your compensation as much as possible. Your attorney will present an offer and receive a counteroffer. The negotiations will go on until both parties reach a mutual agreement.

Trial

Your attorney may find it impossible to reach a satisfactory settlement. When this happens, they may decide to take the case to trial. Here, your attorney will present evidence in court and request maximum compensation for your injuries.

How Long Will It Take to Receive Compensation?

The time taken to receive compensation for a dog bite will vary from one case to the next.

These factors can influence the length of time:

• The severity of your injuries
• The amount of investigation required
• How strong your case is
• How successfully your attorney can negotiate a settlement.
• You may have to wait longer if your case goes to trial.

Let a Trinity Dog Bite Attorney Seek Compensation for You

After undergoing a traumatic event, your sole focus should be on your recovery journey. A lawyer can seek compensation on your behalf so that you can concentrate on healing, both physically and psychologically. Having a personal injury attorney by your side will increase your chances of receiving maximum compensation for your injuries.

At Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, we help our clients understand their right to compensation after a dog attack and help them get justice for their injuries. Contact us today for a free evaluation with a Trinity dog bite lawyer.