While watching the Jacksonville news last night I was incredibly impressed with 9 year old Melinda Miller, a little girl horribly bitten by a friend’s dog. The dog bit her so badly on the face that she needed 200 stitches. While driving to the hospital her father, Putnam County Sheriff’s Detective Elton Miller, was so upset that little Melinda had to calm him down enough to drive. Melinda bravely went thru 3 hours of surgery by a plastic surgeon.
As a father who has had to take one of his children to the ER I can relate to Detective Miller’s feelings.
What was disturbing was that the dog was one that had never bitten before or been aggressive. Most states including Florida have laws meant to hold dog owners responsible for serious injuries resulting from dog bites. In some states, including Florida, owners are “strictly liable.” This means that even if a dog has no prior history of biting, an owner may be held liable for the injuries that a dog inflicts.
If you or a family member has been bitten by a dog make sure to call a dog bite injury attorney. Our office has helped victims of dog bites for 16 years. You can always contact us at (904) 387-6101.