Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers located in Tampa, FL

St. Petersburg Dog Bite Lawyer

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St. Petersburg Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites can be catastrophic. if you’ve been attacked by a dog in St. Petersburg, Florida. Our St. Petersburg dog bite lawyers can help you fight to recover compensation from the dog’s owner and other responsible parties. Make Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers your first call. Give us a call at (727) 314-5988.

Since 2001, we’ve helped victims of vicious dog and animal attacks stand up, tell their stories, and make their voices heard. Our award-winning Florida trial lawyers have 119+ years of combined experience, and together we’ve won millions on behalf of clients like you for their St. Petersburg catastrophic injuries, premises liability cases, pedestrian accidents, negligent security cases in St. Petersburg, worker’s compensation cases, and more.

Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Don’t let the dog’s owner off the hook for the trauma you’ve endured. Contact our St. Petersburg law office to arrange a free consultation to discover how we can help you fight to make things right.

How Our St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Bitten By a Dog

How Our St. Petersburg Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Bitten By a Dog

When you’re bitten by a dog in Florida, the consequences can last a lifetime. Often, dog bites happen because owners fail to take appropriate care of their animals. Other times, property owners, landlords, and other parties can share responsibility for a dog’s harmful actions.

The dog’s owner (and other liable parties) must be held accountable – and our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers are here to make that a reality for you.

As experienced and respected litigators, we know the challenges you’ll face on your road to recovery. We know that the dog’s owner will try to say you provoked the animal or downplay the extent of your injuries. Our law firm is ready to take a stand, invest our resources, and fight to make sure that you are justly compensated for the full extent of the trauma you’ve experienced.

While you focus on getting better, our St. Petersburg dog bite attorneys will:

  • Determine if the dog has a history of aggression or viciousness
  • Identify how the dog bite or attack could have been avoided
  • Gather evidence to build your case, including medical records, clothing, photographs, police reports, witness statements, and expert testimony
  • Prepare to defend against any allegations that you share fault for your dog bite injury
  • Enter settlement negotiations with the facts, evidence, and persuasive arguments needed to obtain a fair deal
  • Prepare to bring your dog bite case to a jury in Pinellas County, if necessary

At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, our legal team works on a contingency fee basis. You pay absolutely nothing upfront to get our respected law firm to fight for you. We only get paid if we win or settle your dog bite injury case.

We also offer a free consultation, which gives you the opportunity to learn about our lawyers and discover why you’ll want us to fight for you. Call our personal injury lawyers in St. Petersburg to arrange a time for yours today.

Are Dog Bites Common in Florida?

According to the Florida Department of Health, roughly 600 people are injured in dog attacks annually. At least two Floridians die due to the severity of their dog bite injuries.

Many of these victims are children. In fact, children between the ages of 6 and 14 are most likely to suffer dog bite injuries in Florida.

Does Florida Have a One-Bite Rule?

When it comes to dog bite cases, Florida does not have a one-bite rule. Dog owners are liable if their dog bites another person, regardless of that dog’s history.

It doesn’t matter if the dog has never shown a tendency for aggression or bitten anyone in the past. When a dog bites a person who is on the premises lawfully, the owner is on the hook for damages.

How Does Comparative Fault Affect St. Petersburg Dog Bite Injury Claims?

Florida’s dog bite statute provides that a dog’s owner is strictly liable if a dog bites another person.

However, it continues on to state that “any negligence on the part of the person bitten that is a proximate cause of the biting incident reduces the liability of the owner of the dog by the percentage that the bitten person’s negligence contributed to the biting incident.”

Simply put, if your own negligence or actions contribute to the dog bite, your damages will be reduced.

Florida operates under a modified comparative negligence system. The only bar to recovery is being 51 percent fault (i.e., mostly responsible for the dog bite). So, you can recover compensation even if you’re 50 percent or less responsible for a dog bite injury. However, your financial recovery will be reduced in direct proportion to your degree of fault.

If you’re 50 percent responsible for a dog bite, your damages would be cut in half.

Be ready for the dog’s owner to point fingers, shift blame, and say that you provoked the animal or put yourself in harm’s way. If you don’t fight back against these allegations, you could watch well-deserved compensation slip away.

Our St. Petersburg dog bite attorneys will be ready to defend against these types of strategies. We’ll evaluate the situation, gather evidence to counter these arguments, and work to dismantle claims of shared fault before they can make an impact.

What’s My Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?

No two dog bites are the same. It follows that no two dog bite injury cases are the same, either. Many factors will dictate the amount of money you might be able to recover in a related claim for damages.

  • The size and breed of the dog
  • The location of the injury
  • The type and severity of the dog bite injury
  • Your ability to continue working
  • How your earning capacity has changed since you were bitten by the dog
  • Whether the dog bite caused permanent impairment, disfigurement, or disability
  • Your age
  • The extent to which you’ve experienced emotional or psychological trauma
  • Steps you took to mitigate the dog bite injury

The more your life changes after you’re bitten by a dog, the more you can generally expect to recover in a dog bite injury lawsuit.

Don’t underestimate what your case might be worth. Reach out to the experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorneys at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, to discuss the specifics of your dog bite injury case today.

Common Dog Bite Injuries

Dogs are powerful animals, and their bites can pack a punch. This is particularly true for young children and elderly victims.

At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent dog bite injury victims who have suffered:

  • Puncture wounds
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Cuts and lacerations
  • Infection and disease
  • Vision and hearing loss
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Back and neck injury
  • Nerve damage
  • Amputation
  • Catastrophic injury

In some instances, dog bites can be fatal. Our wrongful death attorneys in St. Petersburg will be here if your family has suffered the devastating loss of someone you love because of a dog bite.

What Damages are Available to Florida Dog Bite Victims?

Both economic damages and non-economic damages can’t be awarded to dog bite victims in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Economic damages are paid to make dog bite victims financially whole.

Examples include:

  • Hospitalization
  • Surgery
  • Medication
  • Ongoing medical treatment
  • Medical devices and equipment
  • Lost wages
  • Lost her job opportunities
  • Nursing assistance

While physical wounds may heal over time, the emotional scars of a dog bite can last a lifetime. Non-economic damages are awarded to make up for these types of losses that don’t have a standard financial value.

Examples include:

  • Chronic physical pain
  • Disfigurement
  • Scarring
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of consortium
  • PTSD
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Pain and suffering

Punitive damages can also be awarded if there is clear and convincing evidence that the dog’s owner displayed a conscious disregard for your safety or intentionally instructed the dog to bite you.

How Long Do I Have To File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in St. Petersburg, Florida?

Florida law provides a two-year statute of limitations for dog bite injury lawsuits. You may have longer under some circumstances, such as if your claim is based on strict liability.

If a dog bite is fatal, families also have two years to file a wrongful death action against the dog’s owner and other liable parties.

While there may be limited exceptions to this rule, you do not want to allow the statute of limitations to run out. Once the deadline passes, you will have given up the opportunity to recover the compensation you need and deserve on your road to recovery.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Petersburg Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

Were you or your child recently bitten by a dog in St. Petersburg, Florida? Do not hesitate to reach out to the respected legal team at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate assistance. The dog’s owner should be held legally accountable for the harm you’ve suffered, and our St. Petersburg dog bite lawyers are ready to help you maximize your recovery.

We provide a free initial case evaluation to all prospective clients. Call our St. Petersburg law office to set up a time to discuss the details of your dog bite injury case today.

Our personal injury law firm in St. Petersburg, FL also provides:

Karla Rogers
Karla Rogers
1695770121
Best lawyer ever! I had an accident gave them a call and like three months later, case Settled and full payout... Excellent service!
Lenette Montalvo
Lenette Montalvo
1695641293
Christopher from Winter and Yonker was amazing. Very nice person to talk to, listen to what I had to say, and even gave his opinion when needed. From start to finish I felt very important and I was impressed by this law firm every one i spoke to made me feel safe and comfortableto. My accident has done a lot of damage to me, and knowing I had an attorney from Winters and Yonker on my side made me feel great. My compensation for my accident is amazing and it will help me in my life. Thank you very much I will definitely recommend this law firm.
coleman vera
coleman vera
1694712772
I went to Winter & Yonker Law Firm for my Tampa car accident case I was involved in. My case manager throughout the process and she took care of me from start to finish. The process was very seamless, I received the medical treatment that I needed immediately and at the very end, concluded with a very rewarding settlement. I've worked with a few law firms from prior accidents and none can compare to the service OR expertise I received from Mr. Yonker.👉 If you're seeking help for an injury related case, I would definitely recommend working with him and their amazing legal staff at Winter & Yonker Firm in Tampa. I will always use this firm for all my Personal Injury Claims! If you are l@@king for an Attorney to give you Top Notch legal help and the MOST money for your Pain & Suffering then take it from me I'm a paralegal and this firm continues to OUTSHINE them all!
Meredith Wilson
Meredith Wilson
1694489029
This was my first personal injury experience. I wanted to choose a law office I could trust. A friend of mine recommended the law offices of Winters & Yonker, Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa. Through the entire process Attorney Marc Yonkers was helpful and communication was stellar. I never felt out the loop. I felt confident throughout entire process. Which this month (Sept. 2023) they were able to settle my accident case successfully and to my 100% satisfaction. I cannot recommend Winters & Yonker and or Marc any higher. In short they are firm, fair, aggressive, responsive, super smart and know the numerous ins and outs of Personal Injury cases (which can be quite complicated). Upon hiring them you get a law firm that will leave you confident that your case will be handled expertly and with your interests front and center.
Geneva Ramirez
Geneva Ramirez
1694089126
Winters and Yonkers has been a legend of the Tampa Bay personal injury Attorney community for a long time. I was in a car accident recently with my husband, we suffered back and neck pains after two days and thought to get someone’s help. I found Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers through a google search and called them right up. The same day Mr. Winters contacted both of us, listened, and was compassionate to our situation. He helped us through the entire process including getting me seen by a Doctor so we could heal our injuries correctly, and we got our medical bills reduced! Bill Winters, my case manager, and the entire staff were very knowledgeable and exceptional at their work. We would like to express my sincere gratitude to them and recommend them without any hesitation to anybody who needs help, don't try and fight the at fault's insurance on your own. If you're injured and need someone to protect your rights you won't find a better Attorney than Bill Winters at Winters & Yonkers!-Geneva, Tampa FL#personalinjurylawyer #caraccidentlawyer #tampainjuryattorney
Shelley Torres
Shelley Torres
1694088835
Bum Boi
Bum Boi
1693705250
My wife and I are work in Mediation and Arbitration but know nothing about personal injury cases. When a young delivery Truck driver who was distracted by his phone hit us at full speed and rear-ended us as we were stopped in traffic on Wesley chapel. We knew we needed to hire the best lawyers with PI experience and expertise in the Tampa legal community that we could.From our first phone call with Bill Winters and then all the way through Trial preparation then Trial, we never felt any bad about our case because we knew Bill and the entire staff at Winters and Yonker would take care of us.Their dedication, innovation, motivation, reliability, unparalleled intellect, and exceptional skill as trial lawyers make them extraordinary individuals. My experience working with them was nothing short of exceptional. Experiencing a car accident is an ordeal that encompasses fear, trauma, and frustration. It's a life-changing event in anyone's life. There was no amount of money that could ever make me alright, because I would give any amount of cash to not have to go through the nightmare that the car accident was and continues to be.It took almost 2 years from the time of the car crash to go to trial, but ultimately the jury verdict that Bill Winters got for my family was worth fighting for. There were so many times over the course of the three years that we actively realized how amazing it was that we felt no anxiety or concerns or worries about our case, because Bill is truly outstanding!If you or anyone you know gets hurt in a car accident, call Winters and Yonkers RIGHT AWAY! And then rest assured that you, your family, or friends are being cared for by the ABSOLUTE BEST legal team in Tampa Bay. Thank you, Winters & Yonker!
Glenda Litimco
Glenda Litimco
1693536170
Winters & Yonker law firm did excellent work with my injury case. Luckily, I was referred to Winters & Yonker from a good friend after I was injured in a car accident. I did some initial research about injury lawyers near me, but the reviews for this office really stood out to me in Tampa. I decided to call and after a single phone conversation, the choice was easy to make! Not only was everyone extremely professional, they made the entire process smooth and clear. I was at ease with each step of the way because they were always there to answer my questions and keep me informed of what was happening. All expectations were met and my settlement was exceeded. I got much more than I thought was even possible from the insurance company. I highly recommend the Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, and their team in Tampa to anyone in need of help after a car, truck, or motorcycle accident. You'll be in good hands!
Dandrea Ikner
Dandrea Ikner
1693513818
This is the best lawyer in town
Nicky Warner
Nicky Warner
1692997375
Max was amazing! He kept me updated throughout the whole process and was extremely easy to talk with. He also explained everything so I can completely understand it. It was an amazing experience. Thank you, Max!
Erika Smith
Erika Smith
1692795764
I had a great experience with them! They truly care about you!! Thank you so much🤗
Jonathan Clem
Jonathan Clem
1692661489
I was injured in a car crash here in town. Since it was essentially a "he said she said" accident case the opposing insurance claimed it was a 50/50 fault. Even though it clearly could not have been my fault. However, Bill worked diligently to get me everything I was needed to get my life back. He worked to get me access to all the doctors I needed and medical treamtment for my neck and back. Plus, a large settlement amount. Bill even took the time to calm me down when I saw the initial amount and cost for seeing my medical bills piling up! He even managed to get them to reduce their bills significantly! Plus, I received as much as possible. Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers in Tampa provided a great legal service. They were strait forward and honest about the approach, and communicated every aspect of the process. The firm took care of everything. I would 100% without a doubt recommend him if I knew someone that need a personal injury attorney. Given the circumstances of our introduction I hope I never have to, BUT Bill Winters will definitely be my first call if I'm ever injured again!
marie silvers
marie silvers
1692107771
They are the Best! They care about you as a person!
jorden reagan
jorden reagan
1692106640
Everyone on their staff is amazing! Chris and Sara won my case and helped me out with an accident that occurred a few months back. They made the entire process so easy! They called with case updates but not too often where it was constant phone calls. It was just enough to know what was going on the whole time without being bombarded. Thankful for Tayler on their staff who helped inform me on why Winters and Yonker was the best choice to go with!
Kimberly Rushton
Kimberly Rushton
1691849813
Yes, I would highly recommend winners in Yonkers. I worked with Trevor and Trevor was the best. I recommend anyone that ever needs a lawyer to go to them. They are the best.
Pat Pawelkop
Pat Pawelkop
1691761083
Highly recommend. Bill Winters and his staff took time to answer my questions, and handled my case in a timely and professional manner. I almost didn't contact a lawyer over my "small" injury case because I feared it would be so difficult and stressful. But he got me the settlement that my insurance company owed me, and I would never have been able to do that on my own. And with less stress that I anticipated. I'm glad I called them.
Amysway Barton
Amysway Barton
1691599586
Always available
Certified Soul
Certified Soul
1691535470
Winters and Yonker is who you want to go to when you get in a car accident because they will take care of you and won’t let you get low balled on your settlement. I got in a car accident where my back and shoulder was injured and I was referred to a attorney named Trevor. I appreciate Trevor for handling my case and keeping me informed with all the information I needed.
Sean S
Sean S
1687270653
One of the best law firms in Tampa. My family was involved in a serious car accident. We went to that other personal injury firm with the two M's they were trying to make us settle the case quickly and they we're not listening to us with the arrogant attitude that they were the experts and we were just ignorant. We promptly fired them and then hired Winters & yonker. Our settlement was 5 times higher than what the MM wanted to settle for.I would like to thank Winters and Yonkers entire staff for a wonderful experience. They were all very knowledgeable and walked us through the whole process. We really felt like they cared, unlike the other firm.
Linda Robinson
Linda Robinson
1686789803
I’m giving Winters & Yonker a shout out. My mother fell in Winn Dixie afew months ago. Her first choice wasMorgan & Morgan; however, after theinterview with them they decided not to take the case. My perception was that it was not a big enough case for them. I knew that she deserved to be compensated for her injuries, and I had mad faith in Winters & Yonker from using them in the past. They not only took the case but settled it in record time. Thanks Winters and Yonker, and I like to send a special thank you to Christopher Smith, who was never to busy when I needed answers. I would recommend your law firm to anyone. I found you to be ethical, professional, and respectful to my family, but most of all you will fight for the little guy. Much love and respect. God bless you all and your families👏👏👏👏
Reuben Rodriques
Reuben Rodriques
1686354543
Other said it couldn't be done called your law firm and immediately you got on it impressive shocking furthermore you showed integrity did what you had to do though you didn't have to do it and I was shockingly pleased thank you you surprised me had I to choose any other law firm I would not hesitate to call you or share my experience with my friends thank you once again from me and my family amen
Hameed Owens
Hameed Owens
1684355539
PATRICK IS THE GOAT 🐐 I WAS INJURED ON A PROPERTY THAT CLAIM THEY DIDN'T COVER MY INJURY PATRICK SAID BE PATIENT & LET HIM WORK!:& HE DEFINITELY DID JUST THAT!!!: HE CHANGED MY LIFE 🐐💯
Enrique
Enrique
1684002987
Myrtle Graham
Myrtle Graham
1683896002
I was searching for a local car accident lawyer near me after I was rear-ended by someone earlier this month. I was being pushed around by the at-fault driver's insurance company and needed some legal help.I found Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers through Google Maps and decided to get a free consult. I called the Tampa office of this firm and talked to them about my options. I briefly told them of my situation and was connected to Bill shortly after. He was extremely informative and was very professional. By the end of the same day he had me meet with a private investigator and referred me to a chiropractor nearby. Great customer service, and I look forward to how well my settlement will turn out. I know I am in good hands!
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