Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Nearly three years after a 5-year-old girl was attacked by a dog in a Fort Lauderdale park, the city has adopted an ordinance that limits who can be at playgrounds.
The ordinance designates playgrounds within city parks as “exclusive children play areas,” meaning adults are not permitted unless they are with a child, according to reporting from the Miami Herald. At least 44 parks will be equipped with signs that outline the ordinance.
The decision comes after the parents of the child at the center of a horrific 2023 dog attack. The incident happened while the child was with her mother at the playground of Hortt Park, located at 1700 SW 14th Ct. The two were allegedly approached by another woman and a 60-pound dog. While the two adults were talking, the animal suddenly attacked the child, according to previous reporting from the Miami Herald. Reporters noted that, according to a police report, the dog owner attempted to hold the animal back but was unable to when the dog’s “leash or collar broke.”
The two adults were able to get the animal away from the child and rushed the girl to the hospital. As a result, the child suffered injuries that required over 50 stitches and staples to close wounds on her face, shoulders, back and scalp.
Shortly after the attack, the dog was picked up by Broward County’s Animal Division. It is unclear whether the animal was euthanized though an official with Broward County told reporters at the time that it was “likely.”
Leesfield & Partners
In 2023 insurance claim data, Florida was recorded as the state with the second-highest for dog bite incidents in the U.S. behind California. The dog bite claims recorded for that year were 1,532 in Florida. Children, especially boys, between 1 and 9 years old are at the highest risk for dog bites. These children are more likely to be bitten on the head or neck, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries.
An average of two Floridians die annually and 600 others are hospitalized from dog bite injuries, according to the Florida Department of Health.
In Florida, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries their dogs cause to other people. This means an owner can be held responsible even if the dog has never shown aggression or bitten anyone before.
Premises liability law also requires property owners to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition for lawful visitors. This duty includes taking reasonable steps to protect invitees from dangerous conditions — such as pets — on the property. If a dog bites or injures a guest, then the property owner may be held liable. This is particularly true if they knew or should have known that the dog posed a risk.
Leesfield & Partners, a personal injury law firm with a history of securing record verdicts and settlements for injured clients, has nearly five decades of experience handling these sorts of cases. In that time, the firm has become among the top personal injury law firms in the country. Our skilled trial attorneys work tirelessly to ensure they achieve the best possible outcome on behalf of every client.
Whether a client was injured in a premises liability accident,, motor vehicle crash, cruise ship incident, negligent security or animal attack, our attorneys approach every case with the diligence and compassion necessary to achieve the best possible result.
Previous Cases
Trial Attorney Eric Shane recently obtained a confidential result for a client who was attacked by a neighbor’s pet at their Monroe County condominium.
One case involving a dog bite resulted in a $1.5 million recovery for a 77-year-old client. In that case, the elderly woman was walking from her front door to check the mail while walking her leashed dog, a 20-pound Welsh terrier. A neighbor was walking by the home at the same time with their dog who lunged so forcefully at the terrier that the neighbor lost control of the leash.
In an effort to protect her pet, our client stepped between the animals, causing the larger dog to maul her arms. Injuries sustained by the woman in the attack included deep wounds to her forearms and right elbow and broken bones in her left hand. A passerby stepped in to stop the attack.
Leesfield & Partners handled a case in which a woman who was walking down a neighborhood sidewalk in front of the home of an aggressive animal was attacked. The woman was passing by an unlocked gate when a large Chesapeake Bay Retriever who mauled her right arm and shoulder while a dog sitter refused to intervene. Thankfully a passing driver stopped and called 911.
The firm previously represented a therapist making house visits who was attacked by a large dog who bit her in the stomach, its jaws ripped through her hand and tore off an index finger.
In another case, our client was horrifically mauled by a dog who jumped out of the window of its owner’s parked car while the owner, a neighbor, was speaking to our client. Injuries sustained in that case were wounds to her forearm and leg.
In a case involving a dog bite and an animal rescue organization, Leesfield & Partners recovered $800,000 for the injured client.
How to Protect Yourself
Although dogs have been given the affectionate title of “man’s best friend,” it is important to remember that they are still animals and caution should be used if they express any sort of aggression towards humans.
If you are attacked by a dog, your first priority should be your immediate safety. Call emergency services and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
If you are able, gather the names and contact information of the dog’s owner and any witnesses. In today’s world — where many homes are equipped with Ring cameras and other surveillance systems — it may also be helpful to ask nearby residents whether their cameras captured the incident. Be sure to file a police report and request a copy of your records. Photograph all injuries and property damage, as well as the location of the incident and the animal involved.
Finally, never sign or accept any documents or insurance settlements without consulting a personal injury attorney first.
If you were involved in an animal attack in Florida, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today at 305-854-4900.
