What should I do in the event of a dog bite?

Get medical attention immediately. This is important so you can get proper treatment first and have the wounds tended to. Then, if the dog wasn’t yours, you should file a personal injury suit against the owner of the dog.

What breeds of dogs are likely to bite and attack?

While all dogs are capable of biting and attacking anyone, the most aggressive breeds include Rottweilers, Pit bulls, Huskies, Dalmatians, Alsatians, Doberman pinschers, and German shepherds.

Is there any law enforcement agency to report the dog bite to?

Right now, there’s no official law enforcement agency. If it’s a stray, the best you can do is call Animal Control to report the dog and ask them to come take the dog away from the area. The police can also remove the dog and send it to Animal Control.

Do I need to see a doctor?

Absolutely. Dog bites are not something to be joked about. While rabies is largely non-existent, the truth is that dogs carry all sorts of bacteria in their mouths.

When you get bit, some of those can be introduced into your bloodstream. Seeing a doctor will ensure that you not only get the wound treated but also get the necessary vaccinations to combat any alien microorganism.

How can I get compensation and how much are we talking about?

This will largely depend on the circumstances and who owns the dog. Legally, however, the owner of the dog is liable. But, if you were trespassing on the property while there was a clear warning sign that there’s a dog in the compound, then you might not get any compensation.

If it is ruled that you qualify for compensation, then that will be dependent on a number of puncture wounds, injuries, lacerations, emotional distress, disfigurement, lost pay, physical pain and so on. Your personal injury attorney will provide you with a ballpark figure –after proper investigation of course.

Are there specific treatments I can get?

Of course. Depending on the affected parts and the nature of the wounds, the treatments can vary from slight sutures to full on surgical procedures. This largely depends on the severity of the injuries sustained. Your doctor would have to proffer the best treatment option.

Can I sue if I was bit on my property by a neighbor’s dog?

Yes, Florida has strict liability laws on dog bites.

Do I have a claim if I was bitten by the owner’s dog whilst working on his property?

Yes, It is assumed that when the owner of a property invites you into his/her home, they would have taken all necessary measures to protect you from any harm, either by their pets or otherwise.

They are also obligated to inform you of the presence of the animal just in case it breaks free or wasn’t properly caged. So, if you get bit while working on someone’s property, you should be able to file a claim against the property owner as well as claim compensation from your employer.

If you still have some questions, get in touch with us at Heil Law and we’ll see how we can answer them as well as get you the necessary compensation that you deserve.

Call today for a free consultation 800-952-1622

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A dog is very much a part of the family. This goes almost without dissent. Any family blessed with one will tell you, very much, that they don’t just think of their dog as an object like a TV, or a strange hairy wet-nosed tenant who never pays rent. They are part of the social unit that makes up that household. So naturally this can create a certain amount of distress when the family finds it can’t keep their dog from biting people.

Now there has been a fair amount of discussion in the media every now and then about dogs, usually when a toddler is mauled by one. We can’t comment about whether certain breeds are more dangerous than others, or whether parents should pay more mind to how their kids approach strange animals. But we can offer to show some training techniques that can at least prevent unfortunate accidents.

You see, usually when a dog is prone to biting people, it’s not because the dog is necessarily aggressive. If anything, the dog may actually have been being playful and had no intention of causing harm. The problem thus arises when a dog doesn’t know the difference between rough play and actually causing injury.

Start Young

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The accuracy of that statement notwithstanding, it is easier to keep a dog from biting people if you start to train them early. Dogs quickly fall into habits as they grow older, much as humans often do, and it’s difficult for them to adjust their behavior later on. As such, if you want to prevent your dog from biting people, it’s very important you get started training them while they’re still puppies.

If you’re buying an older dog, for this reason it’s best to ask how the dog behaves with regards to biting. Should you find out later it does have a bad biting habit, you’ll find it very difficult to teach it to stop this behavior. Some dogs may never pick it up.

Discourage Possessiveness

Much like any other person, dogs can get attached to their things. This can be anything from a favorite toy, to a bowl of food, to even a person. As such, you should try to teach dogs not to be possessive of their things. One good way is to teach dogs how to leave things alone, including their toys. Meanwhile, get them used to people approaching their bowl and removing it. You can even add treats to the bowl, to teach them that people approaching it isn’t always a bad thing.

If you have children, it might be an idea to teach them not to approach the dog while it’s eating as well, or else enjoying themselves with a toy or treat.

Teach Limits in Play

Dogs will naturally bite and nip at each other during play. This is completely normal and not at all aggressive, and you’ll probably notice that they’ll nip you or take your hand into their mouths as well. Don’t be alarmed by this, but do take the opportunity to teach your puppy when it’s reached a line in play.

If, during the course of play, you find your puppy biting too hard or aggressively, make a loud yelping noise and back away for a moment. This is actually how dogs teach other their limits themselves, and the puppy will start to learn not to bite that hard in future. After a moment, resume play again. If the puppy continues biting, stand up and leave it alone for twenty seconds before resuming play. 

Repeat this behavior as much as necessary until your puppy has learnt how to play responsibly. You should also use this to learn when you are playing too hard as well. Try to do it no more than three times a day, though. Overdoing it will not send confusing messages to the puppy.

Encourage Gentle Play

Conversely, if a puppy is very gentle and affectionate during play, encourage this as well. Pet it and praise it whenever it licks or comforts you, and do the same if ever the puppy moves its mouth away from your hand or eases the pressure on its bites.

Get Them Used to New Things

If you expect your dog to come into frequent contact with other dogs or children, it’s important you get them used to those circumstances early. Have your children invite friends round frequently, and if you have any neighbors or friends with dogs then arrange to have them bring their pets over to be introduced to the puppy. Likewise, any other pets in the house should be carefully introduced to the puppy as well.

This is an important training technique, as your puppy is most likely to bite when frightened or nervous.

Wean Dogs Onto Toys

During your puppy’s training, try to move them from biting your hand and fingers to chewing on toys. Praise them whenever they favor nipping a chew toy rather than your hand, and encourage them to think that they should use their teeth on those things rather than other family members. You should also avoid playing with hands too frequently. Use other forms of play to teach your dog that hands are not the only way to have fun.

Dogs are highly intelligent creatures, especially working breeds such as German Shepherds, collies, and huskies. Make sure you vary the games you play with them to keep them from getting bored. At the same time, though, make sure the rules of those games are consistent as well, otherwise they’ll become confused.

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There are two primary statutes in Florida that hold the owners of dogs responsible for the actions of their dogs. You should also be aware that more and more homeowner’s policies in Florida are excluding coverage for dogs, and more have separate limitations on dog bites.

Florida Statute 767.01 states:

“Owners of dogs shall be liable for any damage done by their dogs to a person”

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.”

According to DogBite, the combination of molosser breeds, including pit bulls, curs, rottweilers, presa canarios, cane corsos, mastiffs, dogo argentinos, fila brasieros, sharpeis, boxers, and their mixes, inflict:

• 81% of attacks that induce bodily harm
• 76% of attacks to children
• 87% of attack to adults
• 72% of attacks that result in fatalities
• 81% that result in maiming
• Embody 9.2%+ of the total dog population

I would be happy to discuss your case with you, please call me so that I can further explain your rights.

Please contact me to further discuss your rights at 1-800-852-1622 or by email here.

Sources: http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics.php

The post When Dogs Bite: Orlando Dog Bite Attorney appeared first on David R. Heil P.A..

Legal Responsibilities of Animal Owners

It’s not only dogs that cause bites. Any animal with teeth could potentially cause an injury to a neighbor, guest or child that is visiting the household. Anyone who owns an animal is responsible for keeping it under control at all times when out in public. Whether the animal is kept on leash or in a type of pet carrier, the owner is responsible for maintaining adequate supervision of the animal at all times. The pet owner’s responsibility continues in their own home, with guests who may come to the home to visit. If your animal cannot be trusted around strangers or small children, you should put him in a separate room to ensure everyone’s safety.

Animal Bite Statistics

The American Humane Society states that 4.7 million dog bites occur each year in the United States. About 800,000 of these require medical care. Two-thirds of the bites happen on or somewhere near the owner’s property. About 50 percent of bite incidents involve children. Often, these incidents occur in children or even newborns. Insurance companies pay $1 billion in dog bite claims each year. Cat, ferrets and rabbits may also be involved in biting incidents, though at a lower rate than dog bites. Animals encountered in the wild also may be involved in biting incidences. Because some of these animals are at a high risk for rabies infection, it is important to get medical attention immediately. This advice also goes for your pet if bitten when wandering in the woods. Ensure that your pet is up to date on its rabies vaccination. If the animal is bitten, seek veterinary care immediately to protect your pet’s health.

Breed Specific Regulations

Many communities have enacted breed-specific legislation that excludes some breeds of dogs because of an idea that certain breeds are more prone to be involved in a biting incident. These laws are usually not based on any real statistics and are often just a reflection of peoples’ fears. These laws are expensive and difficult to enforce for these communities but may still cause difficulties with neighbors and civic officials. When looking for housing, research the regulations in the community to ensure that you will not be breaking any statute by having a pit bull, rottweiler or other targeted breed. Though any dog can bite someone, you can avoid running into legal trouble by complying with community standards. Your home insurance can also cost more if you have one of these breeds. Insurance companies often pay claims on dog bites and try to reduce their liability for certain breeds of dog.

Lawsuits Involving Animal Bites

If you or someone you know have been bitten by an animal you are entitle to file a lawsuit to recover expenses for medical care or other costs. If there are serious injuries, the animal may be put to sleep. This is why it is extremely important for dog owners to keep their pets under control at all times. Bites can cause serious damage to the facial appearance and can result in the need for expensive plastic surgery for which the pet owner will be liable.

Personal Injury Attorney David R. Heil P.A.

David R. Heil is an attorney with 29 years of experience in civil trial law. Your case will not be handled by an investigator, paralegal or case manager. He will personally meet with you to discuss your case at one of my offices, the hospital or your home. Legal information is available. His law firm representing dog bite victims throughout the U.S., is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with offices in Winter Park, and Deland. For more information about David R. Heil, please contact us at (407) 599-2100

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