Dog bites vary from what can be cleaned and bandaged to catastrophic and sometimes deadly. Calculating the cost of your injuries is a crucial part of your settlement or damages award, and your attorney must get it right, or your financial strain will deepen.
These calculations are highly subjective and depend on the severity of your injuries and how vulnerable you are because of your age. Children are attacked and hurt the worst because a lot of dogs are the same size as they are, with canine teeth inflicting more damage on fingers, ears, and faces. The elderly have thinner skin that is more easily ripped by sharp teeth. If you have been attacked by a dog and suffered injuries, our practiced attorneys could explain damages in Inverness dog bite cases.
Typical Dog Bite Injuries
Some powerful dog breeds can exert a bite force almost as powerful as a lion’s, with the average dog having between 230 and 250 pounds per square inch (PSI), compared to a human’s bite force of about 162 PSI.
Dogs bite when they are fearful, protecting their human and canine families and territory, or are being annoyed. Some bites can be inadvertent and minor, but some are severe and require extensive medical care for which the owner should be held responsible. These injuries include:
- Loss of small appendages like ears, noses, and fingers
- Broken bones because of the force of a dog’s bite
- Paralysis, especially if a dog bites a child’s neck
- Amputation
- Psychological and emotional damages
Our attorneys understand the upheaval dog bites cause in our clients’ lives. We can be advocates that will fight for the largest damages award for an Inverness dog bite case.
Compensatory Damages
Dog owners are strictly liable for the injuries their pets inflict, which means they do not have to be negligent for a person to prevail and be awarded damages. Owners do have defenses, but if a person is not antagonizing a dog and is bitten, the owner must pay.
Juries in Inverness award compensatory damages for economic and non-economic losses after a dog bite. Economic losses are calculable expenses the injured person incurs, such as for medical care and lost wages. Non-economic damages assign a price to what the person has paid for suffering, pain, disfigurement, psychological trauma, and loss of the enjoyment of life.
Punitive Damages
Florida permits dog bite plaintiffs to seek punitive damages if the case meets certain criteria. An injured person must prove a dog owner intentionally sicced their dog on them or were grossly negligent in handling the offending dog. Punitive damages punish a defendant for egregious behavior.
Punitive damages are limited in Florida to the greater of three times the compensatory damages award or $500,000.
Damages for Wrongful Death
Families in Inverness of those who die of dog bites could be entitled to compensation for wrongful death if their loved one could have filed a successful personal injury lawsuit. Legal heirs could recover final medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost contributions to the family finances, and loss of companionship and guidance to family members.
An Attorney Could Seek Damages in Inverness Dog Bite Cases
Dog bites are traumatizing and debilitating. Our attorneys understand what you are going through if you are injured by one. The owner is responsible for a dog’s conduct if their dog bites you unprovoked. We can negotiate with insurers or file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. The dog owner should pay for your physical, financial, and emotional losses.
The attorney you meet at your consultation is the person who stands by you every step of the way, answering your questions and keeping you informed, unlike big city firms who pass you off to paralegals and consider you a number. Call today to learn what damages in Inverness dog bite cases might be available to you.
