Legal Question in Personal Injury in Florida

Dog bites child twice

While walking home from bus stop on 5/14/04 my 7 year old was bitten twice by the neighbors dog. This dog has chased my kids in our own yard and has even in the past has tried to bite my husband in our yard. Animal control and ourselves have asked the pet owners to please keep the dog chained or in a pen, but they have refused to comply. After a trip to the E.R. I sent my 20 year old son to ask them for their homeowners insurance info so we could take care of this and they refused to give us any information. What should we do???????? Thanks.


Asked on 5/15/04, 11:43 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Steven Meyer CPLS, P.A.

Re: Dog bites child twice

In Florida, a dog owner is strictly liable for the injuries caused by a dog bite. This means that there is no defense. You should have a lawyer contact the dog owners to get their homeowners' insurance information. If they refuse to give it, you may have to file a lawsuit. I would be happy to discuss the situation with you at no charge to you. You can reach my office at (888) 529-3542.

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Answered on 5/15/04, 11:54 am
Douglas R. Coenson, Esq.

Re: Dog bites child twice

Keep all written records of the incident, including medical bills and costs for prescriptions. I strongly recommend you consult an attorney in your area. Many will work on a contingency basis, meaning you don't have to pay attorney fees unless you recover damages. If you do retain an attorney based on a contingency arrangement, be sure to go over the fee arrangement in detail to see what fees you will be responsible for up front (i.e. filing fees).

Should you have further questions or require additional assistance, please feel free to contact me directly via email or phone at (407) 353-4728.

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Answered on 5/15/04, 4:57 pm


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