Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
A woman who was attacked by four dogs while on a walk in her neighborhood talked to reporters about her experience after the last of the animals was found and captured.
The attack happened on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 17, near a home on Northwest 145th Street and 11th Court, according to reporting from CBS News. Much of the attack was caught on camera and involved four terrier mixes.
The dogs, which allegedly belong to the homeowner’s ex-husband, were staying at the home when they escaped the property with some jumping the fence and at least one going underneath it. The homeowner told CBS News that she tried getting the shelter to pick up the animals but alleged that they “didn’t want to pick up the dogs.”
The news outlet noted in their reporting that they did not confirm her previous contact with Animal Services.
The woman who was attacked spoke to reporters from The Miami Herald and said that she was terrified and “very concerned as I was laying in the grass dying,” with neighbors complaining that they had reportedly told the homeowner about the danger previously.
Neighbors helped get the dogs away from her and she was taken to a hospital for treatment.
When deputies attempted to contain the dogs back in the yard following the attack, they acted aggressively towards police. One officer discharged his service weapon, causing the dogs to flee, CBS News reported.
The Miami Herald reported that the final dog was captured on Thursday, Sept. 24.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners 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 & Partners 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 & 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.
