Most animals are either kind to people or they are contained so that they do not injure anyone. However, there are times when a dog or other animal can turn on a person and cause very serious injury or death. The unfortunate fact is that there are many times when these accidents are the result of owner or caretaker negligence.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an animal attack due to another person’s negligence, you may have a personal injury claim against the owner. With the help of an experienced Boca Raton personal injury lawyer, you can learn if you have a case and what the next steps need to be toward securing the compensation you deserve.
Holding Negligent Pet Owners Accountable
There are different ways in which pet owners can be responsible for their pet attacking another person. Perhaps they didn’t keep the pet confined and let it run loose or they did nothing to stop or prevent an attack. Nonetheless, there are certain factors that have to be in place in order to hold a pet owner accountable:
- The animal must attack without being provoked. Provoking even the nicest animals can result in them resorting to abnormally violent behavior. This means that the animal should not have been hit, kicked, or provoked in any other way.
- The person attacked must not have been trespassing on the animal’s property. If the animal was properly confined and a person is attacked because they were entering property they were not allowed to enter, the owner may not be held liable.
- The animal attacked while on someone else’s property.
- The animal attacked a person permitted to be on the property (utility workers, guests, etc.).
Helping You Move Toward Recovery
The injuries sustained in animal attacks can be very serious. They can range from serious lacerations and amputations to permanent disability and even death. Disfigurement is also a very common lifelong consequence.
While monetary compensation will not take away the injuries or the physical and emotional pain, it will help you focus on getting well rather than worrying about how you are going to pay the bills. When injured in an animal attack, you have medical bills, lost time at work, and other expenses. You deserve to be compensated for those losses and that is what Ronald M. Zakarin will fight for. From working to achieve a meaningful settlement to taking the case to trial if it must, you will have a powerful advocate next to you every step of the way.
Contact A Florida Personal Injury Attorney
Animal attacks can be tragic and, many times, they are the result of a negligent owner. If you or a loved one has been injured in an animal attack that was the direct result of negligence, you may have a personal injury claim against the owner or other person responsible for the animal. To learn more about your rights and options, call the Law Offices of Ronald M. Zakarin at 561-338-5297 to schedule a free consultation.