Jacksonville Dog Bites: What you need to know
As a Jacksonville dog bite lawyer I have helped many victims of animal attacks. There are a number of things that every Floridian needs to know when and if they experience an adverse encounter with a dog. Florida adheres to a strict liability statutory framework for imposing liability on dog owners when their pets become unruly. Liability is established by showing that 1) the defendant is the true owner of the dog, and 2) the attack occurred while the victim was in a public place or was lawfully in a private location. So, trespassers are excluded from the potential pool of victims afforded protection by the dog bite statute. However, depending on the circumstances surrounding each individual attack, there may have been an implied invitation sufficient to defeat the trespasser defense. Furthermore, potential recoveries will be reduced by any comparative negligence committed on the behalf of the plaintiff. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a Jacksonville dog bite please call the Law Office of Henry Gare at (904) 387-6101 for a free consultation.