As a parent, you may do everything in your power to shield your child from harm. But you may be out of your element when a dog unexpectedly and violently attacks them. Obviously, you may feel guilty about this, even though it was not your fault. However, you may channel this energy toward achieving justice for your child and holding the responsible party accountable for their wrongdoing. With all that being said, please continue reading to learn what you should do after a dog bites your child and how an experienced Broward County dog bite lawyer at The Finizio Law Group can protect you and your child at all costs.
What should I do immediately after a dog bites my child?
Immediately after your child’s dog bite or attack, you may go into fixing mode. That is, you should rush them to the emergency room for immediate and professional medical attention. This is because you cannot know for certain whether the dog is current on their rabies vaccinations, despite what their owner may tell you at the scene. Even if this is cleared, a small puncture wound on your child’s body may easily manifest into serious scarring, nerve damage, or infection.
Once you are confident your child is in good hands with competent medical professionals, you may turn your attention to reporting the dog-bite incident to local animal control and health departments. For one, this allows officials to confirm whether the dog should be quarantined for rabies observation, which is crucial information for your child’s doctors when administering treatment. But also, this is your due diligence in protecting others in your community from a similar attack if authorities believe that the dog poses an ongoing risk.
What are my rights after my child’s dog bite accident?
As a parent or legal guardian of a child who gets bitten by a dog, you may file a lawsuit on their behalf. That said, Florida law enforces strict liability against owners when their dog bites someone in public or lawfully on private property. This applies regardless of whether their dog has a known history of aggressive behavior. Of note, an owner cannot use the defense that their child provoked their dog if they are under six years old, as the court presumes they are incapable of doing so at such a young age.
Your child may be eligible to file on their own once they reach the legal age of majority (i.e., 18). However, by this time, the evidence necessary to prove their case may have disappeared or been forgotten. This is why we may encourage you to take matters into your own hands. While we do not encourage you to linger at the scene of the accident instead of taking your child to emergency medical treatment, we do recommend that you take a moment to secure key evidence (e.g., contact information, photos, videos, etc).
The bodily injuries and financial damages your child is facing may just underscore the importance of obtaining strong legal representation. For this, look no further than a skilled Broward County personal injury attorney from The Finizio Law Group. Our team looks forward to collaborating with you.
