West Palm Beach Dog Bite Attorneys

Being attached by a dog can be a terrifying and traumatic experience. Such an attack can leave in its wake severe injury, both physical and psychological, particularly in the case of a child victim. Many states hold the owner of the dog strictly liable for the dog’s behavior, granted that the attack is unprovoked; that is, the victim did nothing to encourage or cause the attack. The location and whether or not it is the first attack for the dog in questions makes no difference. States have slightly different laws, in effect granding a dog “one free bite” efore enforcing strict liability on the owner.

As an owner, take these steps to minimize the possibility of your dog attacking:

• Spay or neuter
• Do not teach rough play to your dog
• Keep vaccinations up to date
• Enroll your dog in obedience classes
• Avoid leaving babies and small children with a dog without supervision
• Do not allow it to roam

Basic safety tips:

• Leave strange dogs alone
• Never approach any dog while it is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies
• Allow any dog to see you and smell you before attempting to pet it
• Never leave children alone with a dog
• Do not be aggressive, stare any dog in the eye, or run from any dog
• If a dog does attack, stay still
• If you are knocked down by a dog, roll into a ball to protect yourself

If you are attacked, seek help quickly. Try to find out who the owner is, but seek medical help first.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo at (561-659-6366) or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.