Damages in Clearwater Dog Bite Cases
When someone has been attacked by a dog, they may want to file a claim to recover damages for their injuries as well as their emotional pain. Damages in Clearwater dog bite cases are either settled out of court or by a jury in court. To ensure that you are getting the compensation you deserve following your accident, it may be in your best interests to contact an experienced lawyer. A lawyer could fight for you throughout the process to make sure you are able to get the recovery you need.
Damages Available to Recover
There are three types of damages in Clearwater dog bite cases that an injured person may be able to recover. Economic damages are scientific, they are the medical bills that a person had in the past, the medical bills they will have in the future, the lost wages they had in the past, the lost wages they will suffer in the future, and then the lost earning capacity that the person may have in the future. Non-economic damages are pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Punitive damages are in place to punish a wrongdoer for gross negligence or heinous activity that they may be engaged in to deter anybody else similarly situated from acting in a similar nature.
Calculating Damages
Economic damages can be calculated by adding up all the past medical bills and past lost wages of the injured person. Plaintiff will have to calculate future economic damages of missed income or medical expenses as well. Calculating non-economic damages can be done through witness testimony about the pain and suffering and the loss of enjoyment of life from the injured person. A seasoned lawyer will have experience in dealing with these cases and can guide the injured person throughout the case. For more information about calculating damages in Clearwater dog bite cases, call an attorney.
Demonstrating Calculation
The way that a person can demonstrate non-economic damages in front of a jury is first with witness testimony. Then an individual can have diagrams or charts made up to show exactly what these damages look like in the future. The plaintiff’s testimony itself will calculate the medical treatment they had to go through, how much it all costs, and the emotional distress, and the loss enjoyment of life. An attorney could hire an economist who could explain to the jury the impact the dog bite injuries has had on the plaintiff.
Contributory Negligence
When attempting to calculate damages in Clearwater dog bite cases, it is important to remember that Florida is a contributory negligence state. That means that more than one person can be assigned a percentage fault for the incident. A plaintiff’s claim may be reduced if they are partially responsible for the dog bite. If the plaintiff is over 50 percent at fault for their own injuries, then their claim is completely barred.
If you have been bitten by a dog and suffered an injury, contact a dedicated lawyer who is knowledgeable about calculating damages in Clearwater dog bite cases.