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Our firm handles a number of personal injury cases that involve somewhat unusual causation and circumstances. Our attorneys will consult with you free of charge if you or a loved one has suffered serious injury or loss in a manner that does not neatly fit into the other areas of practice described in our web site. Some examples of these unusual cases are:

• Dog Bites
• Horse & Carriage Crashes
• Golf Cart Crashes
• Drownings

Dog Bites

Pet owners are responsible for ensuring that their pets do not inflict harm on others. If pet owners allow their pets to bite, scratch, maul or cause injury in some other way, the victim can take action. The attorneys at Coker, Schickel, Sorenson & Posgay are here to help you take that action. We are here to help you pursue justice - the full, fair and complete compensation you deserve to cover:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost income and potential earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Disability

Overview Of Dog Bite Law

American dog bite law consists of civil and criminal law, found in state statutes, county and city ordinances, and court decisions. The laws vary widely among jurisdictions.

The key issue in a dog bite case is the extent to which the jurisdiction follows the old English "one bite rule." This ancient law shields a dog owner or harborer from liability, civilly and criminally, until he has a certain degree of knowledge that his dog is dangerous or vicious. When he has this knowledge, however, criminal laws may impose serious consequences on the dog owner or harborer, such as jail time or a fine, animal control laws may impose euthanasia or conditions for retaining the dog, and the civil justice system makes the owner or harborer strictly liable for all losses and damages resulting from the bite.

Thirty states (the "strict liability states") and the District of Columbia have statutes which either eliminate or substantially modify the one-bite rule, making dog owners (and sometimes harborers and keepers) civilly liable for all or most dog bites as long as the victim neither trespassed nor provoked the dog. In some states, such as Florida, liability can be automatic, while in others there are conditions for or limitations upon it. Likewise, criminal laws and animal control laws may impose consequences upon the dog and its owner or harborer in a number of situations where the dog did not previously display viciousness toward people.

Whether or not a state follows the one bite rule, liability can result from the negligent handling or confinement of a dog or the violation of a leash law or other animal control law intended to protect against bodily injury to people. Injuries caused by negligence make a dog owner, harborer or keeper liable in almost every state.

Horse & Carriage Crashes

Although they seem to be a charming reminder of by-gone days, horse and carriage rides carry some risks. Employed primarily in tourist locations, such as St. Augustine, Florida, horse and carriages must share the roads with modern automobiles. If there is a collision, an open carriage traveling at a leisurely pace, usually absent seat belts, is little protection against the tons of metal and the higher velocity of a car or truck. Passengers are at risk from such unfortunate circumstances from being crushed or ejected from the carriage and suffering serious head or spinal injuries or broken limbs. Our attorneys at Coker, Schickel, Sorenson & Posgay have represented several clients who have sustained serious injury while traveling as a passenger in a horse and carriage ride.

The danger from what seems such a pleasant form of experiencing a piece of the past is becoming more widely recognized. There has also been a growing outcry from animal activists about the danger that carriage rides pose to horses. Currently, several cities in Florida have now banned the use of horse-drawn carriages including, Palm Beach, Key West, Deerfield Beach, Panama City, Pompano Beach and Treasure Island.

Attorneys at Coker, Schickel, Sorenson & Posgay know that injuries related to horse and carriage crashes can be serious or catastrophic and that financial losses due to such injuries can be a devastating blow to any family. Our goal is to obtain prompt, just, fair compensation for all of our client's losses, including the recovery of medical expenses, lost wages and related financial losses, the cost of future care, and compensation for physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Golf Cart Crashes

As golf carts are used in more settings off the golf course, thenumber of injuries is rising. According to an article in the July 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, from 1990 until 2006, the injury rate rose more than 130 percent. During this period, nearly 150,000 golf cart-related injuries were recorded in people as young as 2 months and as old as 96 years.

As indicated in the article referenced above, the number of golf cart--related injuries increased steadily and significantly over the study period, from an estimated 5772 cases in 1990 to an estimated 13,411 cases in 2006, an increase of 132%. For cases in which the location of the injury was documented, the majority (70.3%) occurred at a sports or recreational facility. Injuries that occurred on the street, however, more often resulted in concussions and were more likely to require hospitalization than injuries that occurred in other locations.

Falling or jumping from a golf cart was the most common cause of injury for both adults and children (38.3%). However, children were at greater risk than adults were for falls from a golf cart. Injuries caused by falls were more than twice as likely to result in injury to the head or neck, and more than six times more likely to result in concussion than injuries due to other causes.

Golf carts have become much faster and more powerful - some can reach 25 mph and travel over 40 miles on a single battery charge. Golf carts are now routinely used for transportation purposes at sporting events, hospitals, airports, national parks, college campuses, businesses and military bases. In many gated and retirement communities, golf carts have become the primary means of transportation. Most golf carts are not subject to federal regulation, and state and local regulations for golf carts vary widely by region.

Our firm has successfully handled a number of injury and death claims arising out of golf cart crashes. At Coker, Schickel, Sorenson & Posgay, we employ a team of experts that includes our firm’s Investigator to uncover the exact facts of what happened related to a golf cart crash and determine which individual or company was at fault and liable. Our legal team also works closely with medical professionals to assess our client’s medical injuries, both those immediately observable and those that are likely to progress or deteriorate over time. Our attorneys and staff apply the full force of their combined experience, skills and commitment to a client injured in golf cart crash needed compensation through a fair settlement or in a courtroom.

Drownings

Every year thousands of children and adults suffer serious injury or die in swimming pool accidents, recreational park accidents, diving accidents and spa-related accidents. Most swimming pool accidents are the result of badly designed or constructed pools, improper pool maintenance, and failure by property owners to install proper fences around a pool or cover them.

Property owners with swimming pools in homes, apartment complexes, hotels and resorts, even public recreation centers, are expected to provide a safe swimming area for adults and children. When they fail, they can be held legally responsible under premises liability laws for any swimming pool injuries or fatalities. Swimming pool owners may be found negligent for failure to properly secure a pool or spa, or for neglecting to post adequate warnings about water depth or clearly indicate easy-access pump shut-off switches.

If you or a family member is the victim of any type of swimming accident, diving mishap or drowning the experienced personal injury trial attorneys of Coker, Schickel, Sorenson & Posgay can help. Our attorneys have effectively represented clients injured in many types of drowning cases, with no two being the same. These include unique rip-current drowning accidents and swift current tidal pool drowning accidents. In a swimming pool accident case, we can help you prove that the property owner was negligent, their negligence caused your injury, and your injuries resulted in suffering or loss. We can also assist victims and their families in pursuing claims against swimming pool and spa manufacturers.

To view representative Unusual Injury Cases our firm has handled, please click here.