Local leash laws place obligations on an owner to properly secure their dogs and other animals when in public spaces. When owners violate Boca Raton’s leash laws, they not only face civil fines but can also be liable for the damages their dog causes to others or their property.
Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia is a personal injury law firm with experienced lawyers who help clients recover compensation after these devastating events. We handle the legal and administrative burdens of your case, so you can focus on your health and medical recovery after a dog bite attack. You can contact our office for a free case review.
Boca Raton requires dogs to be on a leash or otherwise secured when they are off their owner’s property. Dog owners are responsible for controlling their pets in public places, such as parks, government buildings, businesses, beaches, sidewalks, and other areas. Ordinance 5.32 considers dogs that are off-leash or uncontained to be running at large, which is a public nuisance and punishable by a fine of up to $100 for repeat offenders.
Dog owners are responsible for the injury and damage their pet causes to others in public under Florida Statute § 767.04. This liability can exist regardless of whether the dog was in violation of the leash laws in Boca Raton. The law also does not require the dog to have had a history of viciousness, or for the owner to be aware of it for them, to be liable for a bite injury.
However, the law also limits a dog owner’s liability in cases where the person bitten was also at fault because of their negligence. Complex issues of fault are possible in cases where a dog was properly on a leash when the bite incident happened. For example, the person bitten might be fault for their injury in cases where they entered the dog’s space or otherwise provoked the attack. The percentage of fault a jury assigns the person bitten for causing their injury will proportionally reduce the compensation they can recover from the owner.
A personal injury lawyer can file a lawsuit against a negligent dog owner for their role in causing or enabling a biting incident. The compensation recovered in a case will depend on the damages a person suffers from the attack. Common examples of the damages in a dog bite case will include the following:
The deadline to file a lawsuit in Florida is two years under Statute § 95.11 and begins to run on the date of the bite incident. You must timely file a claim within this period to preserve your right to recover compensation from a liable dog owner.
Yes, a dog owner can be liable in these cases if the person bitten had express or implied permission to be on the property.
The legal process can take anywhere from several months to over a year depending on the unique circumstances of the case.
The leash laws in Boca Raton exist for the safety of you and others, and dog owners can be liable for the injury their pet causes while off leash. We can help you pursue compensation for these injuries on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to worry about paying legal fees until after we resolve the case. Contact Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia today to schedule a free consultation.
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