The recent deadly dog attack on a Florida mail carrier highlights the responsibility of pet owners, regardless of whether an attack occurs on a pet owner’s property. According to news reports, the mail carrier was on her delivery route when her vehicle broke down in Putnam County. She was attacked…
So it’s COVID and it’s Christmas and you’ve decided to get a dog. While man’s best friend can bring years of love and enjoyment for single older adults and families alike, dogs are highly individualistic, and have certain breed characteristics that make them more or less suitable to a particular…
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a significant increase in the number of fostered and adopted pets in Southwest Florida. The New York Times reports animal shelters across the country are seeing increased interest in pet fostering and adoption. From a practical standpoint, spending weeks working from home can be a…
Florida has the second-highest rate of dog bite injuries in the nation, according to State Farm insurance data. Dog bite prevention week is April 7-13 and is a good time to talk to your family members about staying safe around dogs. Young children are at highest risk of dog bite injury.…
Dogs can be our best friends – but also the source of legal liability if they bite someone undeserving. Florida law establishes a system of strict liability when it comes to the responsibility of the owner to cover damages caused when their dog bites someone – even if the dog…
While nearly 10,000 dog bites every year in the U.S. require emergency medical treatment, only a small percentage are fatal. According to DogBites.org, at least 31 people died in dog bite-related incidents last year. In a recent wrongful death lawsuit before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the widow…
Florida’s dog bite injury statute, F.S. 767.04, indicates that people who own dogs or are responsible for controlling them may be liable if that person bites a dog – regardless of whether the dog had previously shown a propensity to bite or be vicious. However, every state has a different…
A boy in Connecticut was just 13 when he suffered severe and disfiguring injuries when a Labrador retriever allegedly attacked him without provocation three years ago while he was visiting a friend. Today, at 16, he has endured 10 surgeries and will likely need to undergo at least two more.…
Every year, homeowner insurance companies in Florida pay $7 million annually to victims of dog bite injuries. Some argue this is the work of overly-litigious personal injury lawyers. But the fact is, dog bites that result in lawsuits are generally not minor events. They cause severe and lasting injuries and scarring,…
Dog bites and attacks in Florida cost pet owners some $7 million annually, with Lee County Animal Services reporting approximately 1,400 individuals are hospitalized annually for dog bites here alone. Some of these injuries are severe and a few even end in death. F.S. 767.04 deals with a dog owner’s…