Dog Bites

personal injury

In the US, the most common injuries caused by animals are dog bites.

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, contact aggressive and experienced attorney, Ramsey Smathers. It is very important to understand your rights and the damages you may be entitled to recover for both your physical and emotional scarring.

The Law Offices of Ramsey Smathers, P.A. is committed to keeping this community safe from unsupervised and dangerous dogs. To learn about the legal services we offer to dog bite victims, contact our offices at 407-478-2225.

Dog Bites and Florida Law

The state of Florida holds pet owners legally responsible for damage their pets may do. This damage includes personal injury, property damage, or injury to other pets or livestock. Pet owners are expected to train their pets and keep them safely confined to their own property.

Tips Following a Dog Bite:

• Make sure animal control is called and a report is generated.
• It is important to give your description of how the dog bite occurred to animal control. Often times the dog owner may have a different version of what transpired.
• Obtain as many names and phone numbers as possible of witnesses to the dog bite.
• Attempt to find out the name and address of the dog owner and/or the home where the dog resides.

An Important Note about Children

Children under the age of 6 are not legally considered capable of making safe choices around animals. If a child of this age provokes or hurts an animal, he or she will not be considered responsible for his or her injuries. The responsibility will once again rest with the animal’s owner. If a child over 6 provokes an animal, the court will rule on whether the child can be considered responsible.