Were you bitten by a dog in New Port Richey, FL? Call Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, at (863) 999-9000 for a free consultation. Our New Port Richey dog bite lawyers can help you fight for the compensation you need to pay for your medical treatment and cope with your trauma.
For decades, Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, has been assisting victims of catastrophic dog bites and their grieving families. With over 25 years of experience, we help our clients stand up to powerful corporations and demand justice in the wake of tragic accidents. Our efforts have resulted in millions of dollars recovered in settlement agreements and jury awards.
Don’t let a dog’s owner, their insurance company, or a negligent property owner off the hook after a devastating dog attack. Trust our top-rated legal team to help you demand justice.
Why Choose Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, to Help Me With My Dog Bite Claim in New Port Richey?
Parents and victims of catastrophic dog bites choose Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, because our New Port Richey dog bite attorneys are reliable, transparent, and successful civil litigators with a proven track record of success. Recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers, our attorneys are known for going above and beyond to achieve the best possible case results for our clients.
Our New Port Richey personal injury lawyers can offer the resources needed to fight the dog owner’s insurance company and leverage the compensation required to make you whole.
Focus on recovering from your dog bite injuries and count on our award-winning litigators to take care of the rest. We offer a free consultation, so contact our law office in New Port Richey, Florida, today.
Is Florida a One-Bite State?
No, Florida does not have a one-bite rule for dog bite cases. In a one-bite state, dog owners are not automatically responsible for damages when their dog bites another person. Instead, the first bite is effectively free because the dog’s owner lacked knowledge that their dog might be aggressive.
Under Florida law, owners are strictly liable for injuries or deaths caused by their dogs, regardless of the dog’s history of aggression and/or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s temperament.
Strict liability means that you, as the victim of a dog bite, don’t have to prove that the dog has bitten anyone before or that the dog’s owner was negligent in any way. The owner is automatically responsible for your damages, as long as you didn’t provoke the animal.
How Much Is My Dog Bite Case Worth?
A lot goes into determining how much money you will be able to recover after being bitten by a dog.
As a general rule, the severity of your physical injuries will have the greatest impact on your dog bite claim’s value. The more severely you’re injured, the more your life is likely to change.
Your injuries can affect:
- The type of medical treatment you’ll need to recover
- How long you’ll need to be hospitalized or receive outpatient medical care to reach maximum medical improvement
- Whether you’re going to be diagnosed with a permanent impairment or disability
- Your ability to work, both now and in the future
- Your overall earning capacity
- The need for personal care assistance and/or nursing care
- Rehabilitation and therapy needs
- Disfigurement and scarring, which can adversely affect your mobility and/or quality of life
Factors other than your injuries, such as your age, life expectancy, and comparative fault, must also be taken into account.
It’s critical to have a ballpark idea of what your dog bite injury case might be worth. When approached with a settlement offer during negotiations, you’ll want to know right off the bat if it’s legitimate or an attempt to lowball you.
Working with an experienced dog bite attorney in New Port Richey can give you the information you need to maximize your recovery.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to New Port Richey Dog Bite Victims?
You have the right to ask for two types of compensatory damages after you’re bitten by a dog in New Port Richey: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages help you deal with the objective costs and monetary losses related to your dog bite, such as:
- Emergency room care, hospitalization, surgery, medication, and other current medical bills
- Reasonable and necessary costs of future medical treatment
- Nursing assistance
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost wages and benefits
- Temporary and/or permanent disability
- Diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages help you deal with the trauma and life changes that are more subjective, such as:
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
We will coordinate a thorough investigation into your case, collaborate with trusted expert witnesses, and work to understand exactly how your life has changed because of the dog attack. You can count on us to build a powerful personal injury claim that holds the dog’s owner and other parties accountable. If they refuse, we will be prepared to bring your dog bite lawsuit to a Pasco County jury.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney?
Our New Port Richey dog bite attorneys represent clients on a contingency fee basis. You’ll pay nothing to hire our law firm unless we’ve won compensation for you.
If we win, our attorney fees will simply be deducted from the settlement or jury award we’ve obtained on your behalf. This way, nothing comes out of your pocket, and there’s no risk in asking for the help you need after a traumatic event.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
If you file a dog bite lawsuit against the animal’s owner, you have to prove the following:
- The dog was owned by or under the control of the defendant;
- The dog bit you without provocation while you were lawfully on the premises and caused physical and/or emotional harm; AND
- You’ve suffered damages.
You can also potentially bring a dog bite claim against a negligent third party. Some dog bite cases are a matter of premises liability. This is relevant when you’re attacked by a dog in public, on someone’s private property, or at a local New Port Richey business.
In Florida, property owners have a duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. If the owner knows or should know that a dangerous dog is on the premises, they have a duty to take steps to prevent that animal from biting an invited guest or visitor. If the owner fails to take precautions or provide warnings, they can be liable if the dog attacks someone on their premises.
We’ll Help You Fight for Compensation for All Your Dog Bite Injuries
Victims of dog bites – especially children and the elderly – tend to suffer serious physical injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Crushing injuries
- Nerve damage
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Chest injuries
- Leg injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Infection and disease
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Paralysis injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Eye injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Every year, more than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs. Many need prompt medical treatment in the emergency room, and others suffer wounds so severe that hospitalization is required. Roughly half of these dog bite victims are children.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, it’s critical that you document your injuries and get to the closest hospital to you in New Port Richey. These steps will be essential for your health and for any future legal claims you decide to pursue.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Florida?
Typically, dog bite victims have up to two years from the date they were bitten by a dog or suffer the wrongful death of a loved one to file a lawsuit for damages in the state of Florida.
If a dog bites a child, the statute of limitations can potentially be tolled until adulthood. That’s true, as long as a parent or guardian doesn’t file a lawsuit on their behalf before that.
You’ll likely lose the right to hold the dog’s owner accountable if you miss the filing deadline.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced New Port Richey Dog Bite Lawyer
If you’ve been bitten by a dog in New Port Richey, FL, you have rights, including the ability to take legal action against the dog’s owner, their insurance company, or another liable party. Our New Port Richey dog bite attorneys are prepared to help you maximize your monetary award.
We offer 25+ years of legal experience and a proven track record of success. Trusted by clients for decades, we’re ready to invest in your story, your dog bite case, and your future.
Your initial case review is free, so contact Thomas C. Grajek, Attorney At Law, today. We will answer your legal questions, walk you through the legal process, and provide you with compassionate legal support.