A Florida two-year-old boy is reportedly in stable condition following a vicious dog attack in Port Orange Tuesday afternoon.
The boy and his parents were apparently visiting relatives when the boy was mauled on the porch of the home shortly before 4 p.m.
The boy was first taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach and then transferred
to Florida Hospital Orlando.
According to Port Orange police, the dog, a pit bull mix, was seized by the Halifax Humane Society and is supposedly under quarantine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.7 million Americans suffer from dog bite attacks each year. An estimated 800,000 of the total dog bites recorded cause serious injuries that require medical attention. Due to these facts, Florida statutes hold dog owners strictly liable for any injuries or damages their dog inflicts on others, regardless of the dog’s history of violence or prior biting episodes. The state of Florida recognizes that a dog’s behavior is always the responsibility of its owner. If a dog bites someone, the owner is potentially liable for the dog’s actions despite the dog’s breed. A dog’s owner cannot shirk liability by attempting to prove that he or she did not realize a dog would bite because the dog has never behaved that way before.
There are a few steps to follow if you or someone in your family has been attacked or bitten by a dog or any other type of animal. As always, the Florida Dog Bite Injury Attorneys encourage you to seek out the proper medical attention needed before taking any other steps.
• Always obtain a medical evaluation, even if you feel it is not needed.
• Get the contact information of the dog owner. This includes their name, phone number, address, etc. It is pertinent to find out the dog’s information as well, such as the dog’s age, what breed it is, if the dog has any diseases and if it is up to date with its vaccinations.
• Get the name and contact information for any witnesses.
• Report the injury to the police and request a copy of the incident report.
• Take photographs of the dog, area of attack and your injuries, if you can.
• Save any clothing that was damaged by the dog.
• Contact the Florida Dog Bite Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton right away.
• Do not accept any amount of settlement from a dog owner’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
If you or someone you care for has been injured as the result of a dog bite or animal attack in Florida, contact the Florida Dog Bite Lawyers at the Law Offices of Whittel & Melton, LLC online or call us statewide and toll-free at 1-866-608-5LAW (5529).