Florida Dog Bite Law

Dog bites not only cause physical injuries, but mental pain as well. Children are most often the victims of dog bites in Florida and attacks can leave emotional scarring on the victims. After a dog bite, many children develop a fear of dogs that can impact their lives. For example, they may become too fearful to go to a relative’s house who owns a dog or they may be too afraid to go the park, as there may be a dog roaming around. Florida has laws that hold dog owners responsible for bites. There are also specific ordinances in cities, towns and counties within Florida. If you or a family member has been the victim of a dog attack, you need to find out your legal rights.

The Florida law regarding dog bites states that the owner of any dog that bites a person in a public place or a private place (if that person was allowed to be there) is responsible for damages suffered by the dog bite victim. This liability applies no matter the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s tendency to be vicious.

Florida dog owners are responsible the very first time their dogs bite and injure another person. However, if the person who was bitten by the dog did something to provoke the animal, the dog owner’s liability could be reduced. According to the Florida Statute, “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.” For example, if the victim is found to be 50 percent responsible for antagonizing the dog, which led to the attack, he or she would only receive 50 percent of the amount awarded by the jury. A dog owner in Florida can also reduce liability by posting a sign that says “Bad Dog” on his or her property.

If you or a family member has been bitten by a dog that resulted in injuries, you may be able to receive compensation. You may be able to recover monetary damages that include pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, mental anguish and other costs associated with the dog bite injury. Contact William K. Saron, an experienced Florida dog bite attorney, at (727) 345-4566 or (866) 836-4947 to review your case. He will help you determine how much your case is worth and will work hard to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.