[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/injuries-from-dog-bites-in-florida\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/injuries-from-dog-bites-in-florida\/","headline":"Injuries from Dog Bites in Florida","name":"Injuries from Dog Bites in Florida","description":"Dogs are favorite pets for most Americans. However, they can also become their worst enemies whenever they bite. The possibility of a dog bite is something no one wants to deal with. This is because even small dogs can cause serious injuries when they attack a person. According to the Veterinary Centers of America Inc....","datePublished":"2020-12-21","dateModified":"2025-01-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/author\/zimmet\/#Person","name":"Zimmet & Zimmet","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/author\/zimmet\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3010bdac5ced5112b2840e84f5233c0b7d763a33cb3d5b6de07a5a4b44884d69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3010bdac5ced5112b2840e84f5233c0b7d763a33cb3d5b6de07a5a4b44884d69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Zimmet & Zimmet","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/footer-logo-blue.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/footer-logo-blue.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Zimmet-blog-post_dog-bite-injuries-scaled-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Zimmet-blog-post_dog-bite-injuries-scaled-1.jpg","height":1707,"width":2560},"url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/injuries-from-dog-bites-in-florida\/","about":["Personal Injury"],"wordCount":843,"articleBody":"Dogs are favorite pets for most Americans. However, they can also become their worst enemies whenever they bite. The possibility of a dog bite is something no one wants to deal with. This is because even small dogs can cause serious injuries when they attack a person. According to the Veterinary Centers of America Inc. (VCA):\u201cDog bites can cause significant injury to the skin and soft tissues. The dog\u2019s teeth and jaws are very powerful and the wounds they inflict can crush or tear muscles and skin, penetrate through the chest wall causing lung collapse, or cause serious or fatal damage to intestinal organs.\u201dThe VCA warns that because a dog\u2019s mouth is full of bacteria, a dog bite that punctures the skin can cause a dangerous spread of infections throughout the human body.\u00a0National statistics show that\u00a0\u201cApproximately 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States. Nearly 1 out of 5 bites becomes infected.\u201dDespite the risk of injury, dogs remain a popular choice of companion for many American households. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), nearly 40 % of American households include a canine companion (compared to 25% for cats and 2% for birds).And with the holiday season upon us,\u00a0animal shelter organizations are encouraging people to give the gift of companion animals\u00a0to their loved ones. If you\u2019re considering adopting a pet this year, keep in mind that just like many other states across the U.S., Florida has strict liability laws for lawsuits involving injuries caused by dog bites.Aggressive dog breeds & animal liability insuranceFlorida local laws ban or impose special restrictions for dangerous dog breeds including pit bulls and Rottweilers.Florida has not banned any specific dog breed at the state level. However, local ordinances can possibly ban specific dog breeds or have extra restrictions. For instance, it\u2019s illegal in Miami-Dade County to own or keep American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers,\u00a0according to the Miami-Dade County ordinance, Chapter 5, Sec. 5-17.Florida takes second place out of a list of 10 U.S. states with the highest estimated number and cost of dog bite injury claims in 2019: 1,268 claims with an average cost of $53,000 per settlement. Some insurance companies won\u2019t offer coverage for certain breeds of dogs categorized as dangerous, such as pit bulls. Others decide on a case-by-case basis. For example, once an owner\u2019s dog bites and injures someone, their insurance company might decide to charge a higher premium or simply exclude the dog from coverage.Below is a\u00a0list of dog breeds classified as dangerous and tend to increase their owners\u2019\u00a0animal liability insurance rates:PitbullStaffordshire terriersDoberman pinschersRottweilersGerman shepherdsChowsGreat DanesPresa canariosAkitasAlaskan malamutesWolf hybridFlorida personal injury claims for dog bitesKeep in mind that dog bite personal injury claims\u00a0have been growing in recent years due to increased medical costs to treat dog bite injuries and the size of insurance settlements given to dog bite victims. So if you\u2019re planning to adopt a dog this season, it\u2019s recommended to avoid the dangerous breeds listed above. If you must own any dog classified as dangerous,\u00a0take the necessary precautions\u00a0to reduce the risk of dog bites and\u00a0consequential injury lawsuits.In the event of a lawsuit,\u00a0animal liability insurance\u00a0functions as a form of third-party coverage that compensates victims for medical bills or the cost to repair or replace their property. If a victim decides to file a personal injury lawsuit against a dog owner, their animal liability insurance will also cover the financial compensation awarded to you for your injuries. It\u2019s important to know that Florida is a \u201cstrict liability\u201d state, so an owner can be responsible for injuries caused by a dog bite, even if they weren\u2019t aware of the aggressive nature of their dog breed.Florida dog bite laws\u00a0also don\u2019t require the victim to prove their injuries were a result of the owner\u2019s negligence. However, if the victim was negligent in their actions and this contributed to their dog bite injuries, then the compensation they receive may be reduced by a percentage of the blame they share for their own injuries.When dogs attack, call the Daytona Beach injury lawyers at Zimmet & ZimmetIf you\u2019ve suffered serious injuries from a dog bite, the personal injury attorneys at Zimmet & Zimmet can help you pursue maximum compensation for your damages. Whether this process includes filing a claim with the dog owner\u2019s insurance company or pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the owner, our Daytona Beach injury lawyers can guide you towards the best option to cover your medical bills, pain and suffering. Contact us online\u00a0or give us a call today at\u00a0386-255-6400\u00a0to schedule your free consultation.Have you been injured in an accident or fall? Do You have question and want to know your legal options. Call 386-255-6400 for a free consultation and remember there is NO FEE unless WE Win."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Injuries from Dog Bites in Florida","item":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/injuries-from-dog-bites-in-florida\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]