Liability For Dog Bites
If you are bitten by a dog, who pays for your injuries? By law in Florida, the owner or person in control of a dog is responsible for injuries caused by their pet. The liability or responsibility for the injuries caused is regardless of whether or not the dog has any prior history. The person who owns or is in control of the dog is obligated to pay even for the 1st time the dog bites someone.
Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies generally covered these types of incidents in the past. However, insurance companies, in their never -ending attempt to avoid paying legitimate claims, have obtained permission from the state to excluded injuries caused by pets from home insurance policies. Today, most homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies exclude coverage for dog bite injuries. The policies require that the dog owner have a separate rider on their policy to provide such coverage.
Since the owner of the dog is still responsible, even if there is no insurance, it would be wise for any dog owner to purchase the additional rider. Absent coverage, however, the victim of the dog bite is often left without recourse. Even if the victim sues the dog owner and obtains a judgment, collecting anything may be very difficult if not impossible. Once a judgment is obtained, it would then be necessary to determine where the dog owner works or what assets he may own. The dog owner’s wages can be garnished or his assets seized, as long as the owner does not file bankruptcy. In any event, the dog owner’s home is generally protected from attachment in the State of Florida.
In any case involving a dog bite, or any injury caused by someone else, it is important to speak to a lawyer to get proper advice. This should be done as soon after the injury as possible so that any evidence can be obtained and preserved. The professionals at Fetterman and Associates are always available to answer your questions about dog bite and other injury cases.
