Win Your Legal Case with Our Lake City Dog Bite Lawyer
It doesn’t matter whether you were bitten by an overeager puppy or a grouchy, white-muzzled canine; if you were bitten by a dog and suffered serious injuries, you have legal options. Through a claim or lawsuit, you could recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Yet, you might not know where to start.
A Lake City dog bite lawyer from Meldon Law can serve as your advocate. We have more than 50 years of experience pursuing damages for injured people, and now, we extend a helping hand to you and your family. You don’t have to struggle through this complicated ordeal. Instead, you can explore your options when you call (352) 373-8000.
How Can a Lake City Dog Bite Lawyer Recover Damages?
At Meldon Law, we aim to provide invaluable legal advice and support throughout the entire claims process. More specifically, our Lake City personal injury attorneys serve you by:
- Collecting evidence, such as medical bills, police reports, photos, and video surveillance footage
- Interviewing witnesses to the incident
- Collaborating with expert witnesses, such as animal behaviorists and forensic consultants, who specialize in dog bites and attacks
- Proving liability
- Identifying your losses and calculating their values
- Handling negotiations
- Arguing your case at trial
Our lawyer manages every case-related task on your behalf. You don’t have to worry about anything other than healing and moving forward.
We Offer These Legal Services and More on a Contingency-Fee Basis
In the aftermath of a dog bite, you shouldn’t have to worry about paying our attorney’s fees. So, we offer help on a contingency-fee basis. In this arrangement, you don’t pay anything for us to get started on your case. We finance your case’s consulting and filing costs from beginning to end. We also take payment for our help from the payment we secure for you.
Meldon Law is eager to break ground on your Lake City dog bite injury case. We can start advocating for you without requesting a dime.
We Intend to Hold the Dog’s Owner Liable for Your Losses
Florida Statutes § 767.04 notes that dog owners are strictly liable for the injuries their pets cause. Even if the dog had never acted aggressively before, its owner must still offer fair compensation. Compensable damages in your case could include:
Medical Expenses, Current and Future
You may have concerns about affording medical care in the aftermath of a serious dog bite. You shouldn’t forgo a single aspect of your treatment plan. That’s because the at-fault party could be financially responsible for any necessary:
- Emergency medical services
- Hospitalization
- Reconstructive surgeries
- Rehabilitation
- Diagnostic tests
- Medication
- In-home medical equipment
Lost Income
Severe injuries often require taking time off work to recover. Your absence can adversely affect your financial stability. If you lost income, tips, bonuses, or commissions because of the dog attack, we can pursue those losses.
Diminished Future Earning Capacity
Your condition may permanently affect how much money you can make. For instance, the dog bite may have resulted in scarring that affects your mobility. Here, you could recoup the cost of any income you would’ve earned but could not because of your condition.
The Cost of Anything You Spent Out of Pocket
You may have spent some of your own money out of pocket while awaiting compensation from the liable party. You shouldn’t have to shoulder those costs. With our lawyers’ help, you can recover costs associated with:
- Childcare
- Temporary transportation arrangements
- Lawn care and household maintenance
- Veterinary costs (if your pet was hurt in the attack)
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is a subjective loss that doesn’t come with bills or invoices. Instead, its value depends on your quality of life and injury’s severity. Florida is one of many states that doesn’t cap how much compensation you can seek for pain and suffering in a dog bite case.
Scarring and Disfigurement
You can recover compensation for any noticeable skin scarring or disfigurement. Like with pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement don’t come with inherent dollar values. Your situation dictates how much you can recover.
Wrongful Death-Related Expenses
Dog bites and their aftermath can prove fatal. Meldon Law extends its deepest, most heartfelt condolences if you lost a loved one. While we can’t undo what happened, we can provide total legal support during this challenging time. We can seek a settlement or court award that accounts for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- End-of-life care expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium, household benefits, and parental guidance
These are just some of the losses we can recover following a dog bite in Lake City. During your free case review, we can discuss other compensable losses, along with your legal options.
Our Lake City Dog Bite Lawyers Adhere to All Deadlines
The statute of limitations defines how long a person has to bring a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. According to Florida Statutes § 95.11, you generally have two years from the date of the injury or your loved one’s passing to file.
While two years may seem like a significant amount of time, it doesn’t leave much room for error, considering the time that goes into building a solid case. For this reason, we encourage you to consult our team immediately. With prompt notice, we can uphold your case’s deadline and protect your right to legal action.
What Should I Do After a Dog Bite in Lake City?
You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after a dog bite. Even if the wound itself seems minor, you don’t want to risk contracting an infection. That could prove more life-threatening than the wound itself. In addition to consulting a doctor about your condition, you should also consider:
Taking Photos of Your Condition
You want as much evidence as possible to support your injury claim. That involves taking photos of the dog bite throughout your recovery period. This does several things, such as:
- Connects your injury to the dog bite
- Demonstrates the severity of your condition
- Asserts the value of your pain and suffering
- Bolsters your claim
Be sure to take photos from multiple angles, being sure to include any open wounds, inflammation, and stitches.
Refusing to Give a Recorded Statement
The liable party may ask that you give a recorded statement in the aftermath of the dog bite. Giving an on-the-record statement does not benefit you in any way. Instead, it gives the other party reasons to deny, discredit, or jeopardize your claim. Only you and your lawyer need to know about your case’s inner workings.
Limiting What You Share Online
This consideration is in the same vein as the point listed above. You don’t want to give out more information than necessary about your case. Even posting a picture of yourself online could cause the claims adjuster to doubt the severity of your condition. While you don’t have to stop using social media altogether, you should limit your comments, posts, and photos.
What Injuries Allow Me to Seek Damages in a Dog Bite Case?
Dog bites can lead to numerous physical and psychological effects. Their severity can vary depending on the dog’s size and strength, the location and depth of the bite, and the promptness of appropriate medical treatment. We advocate for our friends and neighbors after they’ve suffered:
- Puncture wounds: Dog bites can inflict puncture wounds that can damage underlying tissues, blood vessels, nerves, and even organs.
- Lacerations: Many bites can result in cuts or lacerations, leading to bleeding and potential scarring.
- Tissue and muscle damage: A dog bite can result in damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues.
- Infections: Dogs’ mouths contain bacteria, and bites can lead to infections such as tetanus, cellulitis, abscesses, sepsis, and, less commonly, the rabies virus.
- Nerve damage: Bites near nerves can potentially cause neurological damage, resulting in pain, loss of sensation, or weakness in affected areas.
- Fractures or broken bones: The force of a dog bite can cause bone fractures in severe cases, particularly if the victim attempts to defend themselves or is knocked to the ground.
It’s okay if you don’t see your specific condition listed above. If you suffered a serious injury that required medical attention, we want to learn your story and advocate for fair compensation.
Consult With a Lake City Dog Bite Lawyer From Meldon Law Today
Being injured by a dog bite can feel painful, traumatic, and life-changing. You should not have to bear the weight of accumulating financial losses or go uncompensated for all of the physical and emotional trauma you’ve suffered. If you or a loved one was injured by a dog, our Lake City lawyers are here to support you.
Contact Meldon Law today for a free case review. We promise to never back down, and there’s no challenge we can’t overcome. Call (352) 373-8000 to get started.
