Animal Bite Lawyer Tampa, Fl

Animal Bite Lawyer Tampa, Fl

Dog and other animal attacks can be terrifying. Injuries from a dog bite can be serious, even severe. When this occurs, you need an animal bite lawyer Tampa, FL families trust to find out what your legal options are against the owner of the dog. Florida has strict liability laws for animal owners, and you may be entitled to financial compensation for the pain and suffering the attack causes you.

Dog attacks can leave facial disfigurement and scarring that requires extensive reconstructive surgery. If the bite is deep enough into the skin, the victim may suffer severing of a nerve. Bites can leave a victim with damage to the eye that can even cause blindness or life-threatening internal organ damage.  

According to statistics from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are more than four million victims bitten by dogs every year in the U.S. A dog bite lawyer Tampa, FL clients recommend knows that while most of these bites are not fatal, many of these injuries can be severe. Some of the most common injuries dog bite victims suffer include:

•  Facial injuries: When a victim is attacked by a dog and suffers facial injuries, the long-term effect on victims can be devastating. There is often severe scarring and disfigurement that requires multiple reconstructive surgeries. This disfigurement can have a catastrophic impact on the victim’s self-esteem and confidence. Injuries to the eyes can leave the victim with limited sight or blindness. Injuries to the mouth can cause difficulties for the victim to speak or eat.
• Limb injuries: Many dog bites are to victims’ limbs, especially legs. Arm or hand bites often occur if the victim is attempting to pet the dog or trying to protect themselves when the dog attacks. Depending on the severity of the attack, the victim can suffer nerve damage from the bite. There is also a high risk of infections, including MRSA, Pasteurella, and even rabies if the dog is not up to date on their shots.
• Neck injuries: Children are particularly susceptible to neck or head injuries. Tragically, these bites can end up being fatal because of the excessive bleeding and other trauma that happens when the dog’s teeth punctures through the neck. There is often a high risk of nerve damage to vocal cords which can leave the victim unable to speak.

Legal Recourse

Every Florida municipality makes its own regulations regarding the oversight owners have on their dogs and what type of history a dog has that would classify them as a danger. Some towns may have a one-bite rule where the owner isn’t expected to know the dog is aggressive until they bite someone. Other towns have strict liability rules where the owner is responsible for the dog’s behavior whether there has been a prior history of aggression or not. If you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog, contact Jeff Murphy Law to speak with a Tampa, FL animal bite lawyer to find out what financial justice you may be entitled to.