Dog Attacks & Dog Bites

Dog owners in Florida and Georgia have a duty to prevent their dogs from causing harm to other people. In fact, when a dog causes injuries to a person, Florida courts automatically impose liability, and the plaintiff must only prove that the dog bite or attack was unprovoked, that it caused the plaintiff’s injuries and the amount of plaintiff’s damages. In Georgia, the dog owner must have some knowledge that the dog has dangerous propensities. But evidence that the dog was lunging, growling, or knipping before a bite or attack in front of its owner, even if only moments before the bite or attack, is likley enough to prove knowledge.

Moreover, plaintiffs can even recover for injuries caused by a dog in situations where the dog does not touch that person. For instance, a Florida court upheld liability upon a homeowner whose dog charged up to a fence barking and growling, which frightened children and caused one of them to run into the street where she was subsequently struck and killed by a car.

Dog attacks are traumatic events that can change a person’s life in an instant.

Overview

If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Scott & Wallace to set up a free consultation in Florida or Georgia.