Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
A Miami-Dade County pet owner surrendered her pit bull to Animal Services on Thursday. Oct. 22, while the teenage girl who was attacked by the dog remained in the hospital.
The dog, a 5-year-old pit bull named Diablo, was missing until Thursday morning but was later returned to his owner, CBS News Miami reported. He was turned over to Animal Services before 5 p.m. Thursday.
The owner told reporters that “she was heartbroken but believed surrendering Diablo was the right decision.” Though CBS News Miami reported that the woman told them she did not consider her dog to be aggressive, she said she did not want to “take the risk.”
The attack occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at an efficiency behind a home on Northwest 66th Street, CBS News Miami reported. Neighbors called 911 and a deputy with the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office allegedly tried to use a taser to subdue the animal, but it ran away.
The girl, whose age and name have not yet been released by authorities, suffered multiple bite wounds and underwent surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital. A relative told reporters that the girl was recovering well.
Leesfield Shapiro
Leesfield Shapiro has 50 years of experience handling personal injury cases throughout Florida. In that time, the firm has become among the top personal injury law firms in the country, regularly securing record verdicts and settlements for injured clients and grieving families. Our attorneys are skilled in product liability claims, boating injury cases, cruise ship injuries, medical malpractice, car accidents and animal attacks.
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 Shapiro has handled multiple cases in which our clients were bitten and/or attacked by dogs and other pets and who have suffered severe and painful injuries as a result.
The firm is representing the family of a 9-year-old boy who was viciously attacked by several dogs while on the beach at the Bimini Cove Resort & Marina in July. He was rushed to a local hospital before doctors concluded his injuries were so severe that he required transport to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
That case is being handled by Partner Justin B. Shapiro and Trial Attorney Eric Shane.
“Despite undergoing six surgeries over the course of a month in the hospital, Beau continues to inspire us all with his remarkable positivity and courage,” Mr. Shapiro said. “The compassion and support pouring in from our South Florida community has also been extraordinary. We look forward to working tirelessly to achieve every bit of justice Beau deserves.”
Previous Cases
It should be noted that dogs aren’t the only pets prone to attacking people and causing serious injuries. 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 Shapiro 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 Shapiro recovered $800,000 for the injured client.
