Were you injured in a dog attack in Deerfield Beach, FL?
At Loshak Law PLLC, we help people injured by dogs in Deerfield Beach hold negligent owners accountable and pursue full compensation.
If you were bitten or attacked by someone else’s dog, our attorneys can pursue the compensation you need for medical care and recovery. A serious bite can cause deep wounds, infection, nerve damage, and permanent scarring. At Loshak Law PLLC, we identify the responsible owner, establish liability, and document the full extent of your injuries. Our Deerfield Beach, FL dog bite lawyer helps preserve evidence while the details are fresh. Our founding attorney has represented injured clients for more than 13 years. We offer a free consultation to review your claim and explain your options.
Dog Bite Lawyer Deerfield Beach, FL
A dog bite lawyer represents people injured by another person’s dog and pursues compensation from the owner or their insurer. Florida law generally holds a dog’s owner responsible for a bite, even when the animal had never shown aggression before. That makes these claims different from many injury cases, where the victim must prove carelessness.
Florida ranks second in the nation for the number of dog bite claims, and homeowners insurers pay out more than a billion dollars for dog-related injuries each year. An average of 43 people a year died in dog attacks nationwide between 2011 and 2021, according to federal injury data. These figures reflect how serious an attack can become.
Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Deerfield Beach
Dog attacks happen in a range of settings, and each raises different questions about who is responsible. We represent bite victims across the situations we see most often in South Florida.
- Attacks on children. Children are the most frequent victims; in fact, about half of bite victims are children, who often suffer bites to the face and neck. Their injuries can require years of treatment and follow-up surgery.
- Bites by a neighbor’s or friend’s dog. Many victims know the dog’s owner, which makes people reluctant to pursue a claim. Compensation typically comes from a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy rather than the owner’s own funds.
- Attacks in public spaces. Bites at parks, on sidewalks, and near stores often involve off-leash or poorly controlled dogs. We gather witness accounts and any available video to establish what happened.
- Landlord and third-party liability. In some cases a property owner or landlord who knew of a dangerous dog shares responsibility. We investigate every party who may owe compensation.
- Severe and disfiguring injuries. Deep punctures, torn tissue, and nerve damage can cause permanent serious injuries and scarring. We work with medical professionals to document the full impact.
- Infection and disease exposure. A bite can transmit bacteria and, in rare cases, expose a victim to rabies. Prompt medical care and reporting protect both the victim’s health and the claim.
- Delivery and service worker bites. Mail carriers, delivery drivers, and meter readers are common targets. These claims can involve both personal injury and workplace considerations.
- Emotional trauma. A dog attack can cause lasting fear and anxiety, particularly in children. Claims involving children may require court approval of any settlement. We treat these effects as a real part of a claim’s value.
Why Choose Loshak Law PLLC as My Dog Bite Lawyer in Deerfield Beach, FL?
A Founding Attorney With a Record of Results
Founding attorney Brandon F. Loshak has represented injured clients for more than 13 years and carries an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating for legal ability and ethics. He holds a law degree from St. Thomas University and a finance degree from the University of Colorado, and he is admitted to practice in Florida and Texas. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Broward County Bar Association. Our personal injury lawyer in Deerfield Beach, FL has the experience required to help with your bite claim.
Case Results in Injury and Premises Claims
Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients across a range of injury and premises claims:
- A $1,000,000 premises liability and negligence settlement
- A $500,000 slip and fall settlement
- A $100,000 bicycle and pedestrian accident settlement
Past results do not guarantee a particular outcome, but they reflect the preparation we bring to serious injury cases.
What Is Important to Understand About a Dog Bite Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Dog Bite Cases
Compensation in a dog bite claim covers both the immediate and lasting effects of the attack. Economic damages account for money spent and lost, while non-economic damages address pain, disfigurement, and emotional harm. Liability centers on the dog’s owner, though other parties can share responsibility. Payment most often comes from the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. That policy’s limits and exclusions can affect the size of a recovery.
Florida’s approach to owner responsibility is broad. In most cases the owner is liable for a bite that occurs in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property, whether or not the dog had bitten anyone before. This differs from states that require proof the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Florida’s strict liability approach can make recovery more direct, though insurers still contest these claims, and where and how the bite happened matters.
Recoverable damages often include:
- Emergency care, reconstructive surgery, and future treatment
- Lost income during recovery
- Pain and suffering, scarring, and emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
Because scarring and nerve damage can be permanent, projecting future costs is central to valuing these claims. Careful damages calculations help guard against an early, undervalued offer. Florida reduces a recovery under comparative negligence when a victim provoked the animal or was somewhere they had no right to be, and a person found more than 50 percent at fault recovers nothing. We prepare each claim to withstand that argument.
What Are Important Aspects of a Dog Bite Case?
Several early steps can determine the strength of a dog bite claim.
- Medical care. Bites carry a high risk of infection, so prompt medical treatment supports both recovery and documentation.
- Reporting. In Florida, a bite should be reported to the county health department, which handles rabies assessment and any quarantine of the animal.
- Identifying the owner. Recovery usually depends on locating the owner and their insurance, which becomes harder once the scene clears.
- Rabies and exposure. A bite can raise questions of rabies exposure and post-exposure treatment, which affect both health and the claim.
- Evidence. Photographs of the injuries and the dog, together with the names of any witnesses, become difficult to obtain once time passes, so gathering them early is important.
What Is the Dog Bite Case Timeline?
The timeline depends on the severity of the injuries, though most claims follow a similar path. We do not value a claim until treatment, including any reconstructive care, is well understood. Injuries that require reconstructive surgery generally extend the timeline, because the final value depends on the completed course of treatment.
- Medical care and our investigation begin immediately
- We identify the owner, the dog, and the applicable insurance
- We gather records, photographs, and witness statements
- We present a demand once the injuries are documented
- We negotiate, and file suit if the insurer’s offer is inadequate
Florida’s statute of limitations generally gives a bite victim two years to file a lawsuit, and this filing deadline applies to most dog bite claims.
What Should You Bring to Your Dog Bite Consultation?
Please gather whatever information you have about the dog and the attack. We can proceed with limited details, though the following help us evaluate your claim.
- Photographs of your injuries and the location
- The owner’s name and address, if known
- Any bite or incident report you filed
- Medical records and bills to date
Notes that document your injuries and your recovery are also useful. The consultation is free, obligation-free, and we will use these materials to explain your options.
Reach Out to Loshak Law PLLC to Schedule a Consultation
If you were hurt in an attack, our Deerfield Beach dog bite lawyer can review your claim and pursue the compensation you are owed. Loshak Law PLLC represents injured clients on a contingency fee, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to schedule a free, confidential case review, during which we will explain your options and answer your questions. Our attorneys are available to respond to your inquiry.
