Dog Bite Injuries-What Are Your Rights And What Should You Do?
Dog Owners need to be aware of their potential liability for their pets. I represent many many individuals in Fort Myers, Port Charlotte and Naples who were bitten by dogs.
Florida Statute 767.04 states, "The owner of any dog that bites any person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owners' knowledge of such viciousness. However, any negligence on the part of the person bitten that is a proximate cause of the biting incident reduces the liability of the owner of the dog by the percentage that the bitten person's negligence contributed to the biting incident."
If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. It is also very important that you contact your local animal control office to report the incident. Lee County's animal control telephone number is (239) 432-2083. Animal Control will come to you and write a report and perform an investigation including determining if the dog that bit you is up to date on his shots and licenses. Lee County animal control's website states that "rabies . .. is transmissible to humans and is fatal once contracted. Therefore, it is imperative that ...all pets are vaccinated against this fatal disease."
If you have been bitten by a dog, please call us for a free initial consultation.
