We are dog lovers here at Sammons Injury Law. However, sometimes for reasons unknown, canines can get aggressive and cause injuries to people when proper steps have not been taken by dog owners to prevent this unfortunate scenario. Whether you’re an Amazon delivery driver, an unlucky pedestrian, or the local mailman, you might have encountered a terrifying experience with a dog resulting in an injury. That injury may have been caused by the dog itself, such as a bite, laceration or scratch, but it also may have been the result of your attempt to retreat to safety from the dog, such as injuries to the extremities such as the knees, ankles, shoulders, elbows or even broken bones. After medical help, it is critical to seek legal help from Sammons Injury Law immediately following such an incident. We can help you preserve evidence and take the actions necessary to secure your legal claim against those responsible for the injuries you suffered from the attack.
What do I do after a dog bite or animal attack?
If a dog or some other animal has attacked and injured you through a bite, scratch, etc., you should immediately seek medical assistance, especially if you are unsure of the dog’s vaccination status. After that, you call Sammons Injury Law.
Once the dog or other animal has been secured and you are safe, you should exchange information with the dog’s owner (or whomever is handling the dog), including their name, phone number, address AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE INFORMATION (Name of insurer and policy number). Many homeowner’s insurance policies provide coverage for dog bites even if the attack does not occur on the owner’s home premises. There is no database for obtaining a person’s homeowner’s insurance info so getting this information is usually essential to your claim against the animal’s owner!
You will also want to contact your local animal control department, as their investigation can help document who owns and/or is responsible for the dog involved in your attack. They will also be able to inquire into the vaccination status of the animal and their investigations can also prevent a dog from repeatedly harming others. If you are unable to file a report at the scene, you will likely still be able to file a report after the fact. For Hillsborough County Animal Control you can call (813) 744-5660.
Additionally, you will want to document everything, including photographing the wound(s) and all injuries, both immediately and consistently throughout the healing process. If possible, you should take photographs and videos at the scene of the attack to document as thoroughly as possible. Once the parties have left the scene, it can be difficult to obtain crucial evidence which may disappear or no longer be available for one reason or another.
Contact Sammons Injury Law immediately so we can help guide you through this traumatic situation. While the animal, whether it be a dog, cat, or other type of animal, can’t be held liable, Florida is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bite injuries, so their human owner likely can be. As long as you were not trespassing or provoking the dog, it is likely that the dog’s owner could be held responsible for your injuries. Contact Sammons Injury Law at (813) 565-1000 so we can assist you immediately.