St Petersburg Dog Bite Attorneys

If you’re the victim of a dog bite, the experienced team at Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys can help you get the compensation that you need and deserve. Dog bites often cause severe physical injuries. A dog bite injury can be extremely painful, frightening, and frustrating. It can disrupt your life for weeks, months or even years.

Florida law allows dog bite victims to recover for their injuries in many cases. Our St. Petersburg dog bite lawyers can help you review your case. If you qualify for compensation under Florida law, we can prepare your claim and help you pursue the compensation you need to you rebuild your life.


Florida Law Has Strong Laws for Dog Bite Victims

As experienced dog bite attorneys, we know that there are a lot of misconceptions out there about dog bite laws in Florida. Many people think that you have to prove that the dog has a previous bite history to recover. People also believe that you can’t bring a claim for recovery unless you can show that the dog’s owner acts negligently or recklessly in a way that causes the dog to bite. Typically, this isn’t the case.

It’s important not to make assumptions before you speak to an attorney. Florida law aggressively protects the rights of victims to recover when they experience a dog bite. In most cases, you don’t have to prove that the dog owner acted negligently or otherwise allowed the dog to bite to recover for a dog bite injury in St. Petersburg. The law shifts the blame to dog owners to compensate innocent victims when they’re hurt.

Collecting From Your Own Insurance

You may have the option to collect from your own insurance. When you purchase your no-fault policy, the insurance company must offer you additional coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorists. This is insurance that pays you if you’re in a crash with someone who lacks sufficient coverage. Although it’s not mandatory in Florida, you can carry this type of insurance in addition to your required no-fault coverage.

When you think the at-fault driver in your case may be uninsured or underinsured, you can look at your own insurance policy to see if you have coverage for this exact situation. If you do, your insurance policy pays for your damages. Your own insurance company covers your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages just like you would claim from the other driver’s insurance if they had it.


What Can I Recover After a Dog Bite Claim?

If you’re the victim of a dog bite, you deserve compensation for both your financial losses and your pain and suffering. Your financial losses include all of your medical expenses, the costs of replacement services if you need help with household tasks, and lost wages if your injuries keep you out of work. You can claim lost wages even if you have variable wages or you’re self-employed.

We make sure that our clients know the full extent of the value of their claim. There are many categories and subcategories of damages that you can claim in a dog bite injury case. In addition to physical injuries, your pain and suffering also deserve financial compensation under Florida law.

Victims often don’t realize the full extent of their claim. One of the ways our legal team helps victims is by making sure to explore the total value of each claim. Once we identify the damages available to you, we gather the evidence to prove your claim. Finally, we pursue your case aggressively under Florida law.

Emotional Injuries in a St. Petersburg Dog Bite Claim

Dog bites don’t cause physical injuries alone. A dog bite is a sudden traumatic event. It can leave you fearful and anxious far into the future.

When we advocate on behalf of victims, we often find that the mental suffering and emotional pain can be as traumatic as the physical injuries themselves. You may develop a fear of dogs or fear of all animals. You may have anxiety doing simple things like walking in your neighborhood or going to the park.

Emotional injuries can be a significant problem after a dog bite. That’s why Florida’s dog bite laws allow you to seek compensation for mental and emotional injuries as well as for your physical injuries. It’s important to identify these injuries, determine their value, and include them in your claim. Our team of dog bite attorneys makes sure that we help you include compensation for physical and emotional injuries in your claim for recovery.


Are There Any Defenses to Dog Bite Claims?

In Florida, dog bite owners have limited defenses. The owner may claim that you did something to provoke the dog. They might argue that you trespassed on their property. These are the only defenses that are possible in dog bite cases in St. Petersburg. In all other cases, the dog owner must compensate the victim for their losses.

Even if the dog owner claims provocation or trespassing, it may not be enough to relieve them of legal liability for your dog bite injuries. In most circumstances, Florida law requires dog owners to compensate victims when their dogs bite. Contact our St. Petersburg injury attorneys to review your case and determine what your rights are under Florida law.

What Do I Do to Bring My Claim for Recovery?

When we represent a client, we help them with every aspect of the case. To win your claim for recovery, you must file a legal complaint for compensation in the appropriate court. You must state what happened to cause your injuries. It’s essential to value your losses accurately and include them in your claim.

Filing a legal claim includes determining which court has jurisdiction over the case. You must find and serve the opposing party with notice of the claim. The opposing party has time to respond, and then you build the evidence to prove your case and prepare for trial. Along the way, you have the opportunity to negotiate for a non-trial resolution with the dog’s owner.

We complete and file legal paperwork on your behalf. We speak to witness and the opposing party. Finally, we speak on your behalf in court and present your case. Our team is eager to advocate for your best interests in every aspect of the case. Let us put our expertise to work for you as we work together to help you after a dog bite in St. Petersburg.


How Can We Help Dog Bite Victims?

We know that a dog bite can leave you hurt, angry and lost. We’re here to represent you. The team at Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys can help you review your claim to understand your rights under Florida law.

We want to answer all of your questions so you know what your options are. If you have a claim for recovery, we advocate for your best interests and seek a fair recovery under the law. Contact us today for an immediate consultation about your case. There is no fee unless we win.

Tampa Car Accident + Personal Injury Lawyers

Jack Bernstein Personal Injury Attorney

For more than 40 years, personal injury lawyer Jack G. Bernstein has protected the rights of individuals who have been injured in a variety of circumstances. Throughout his career, Bernstein has been a strategist thoroughly dedicated to the idea of protecting the rights of his clients. Mr. Bernstein is a member of the Florida State Bar Association, the Hillsborough Bar Association and the Clearwater Bar Association.

Mr. Bernstein has the experience and expertise to handle a wide range of injury cases. Among the types of plaintiffs Mr. Bernstein represents are individuals involved in car accidents caused by drunk drivers or other exhibiting negligence, medical complications resulting from carelessness caused by a physician or a medical facility, including brain injury, bicycle, motorcycle, moped and truck accidents, admiralty law and cruise ship accidents, accidental drownings, all types of wrongful death lawsuits, along with most injury, catastrophic occurrences and legal malpractice issues.

Our firm handles every type of personal injury and accident case, using negotiation and litigation tactics effectively. We handle cases throughout Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, FL. With a staff of approximately 40 people, including six lawyers and 34 support personnel, we have the legal resources to get the justice you deserve and the maximum recovery for your losses. Schedule your free consultation today; we are always here to help.

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