Practice Areas Personal Injury Dog Attacks

Florida Dog Bite Laws

Florida is a “strict liability” state, which means an owner can be held liable for a dog bite, even if the dog has never shown any visible signs of aggressiveness. Further, the law does not require the victim to prove their injuries were a result of an owner’s negligence. A dog owner can be held at fault for injuries if the plaintiff shows that the dog bit the victim and that that victim was either lawfully on private property or in a public space. Speak with a Boca Raton dog bite lawyer at The Grife Law Firm to see if your dog bites meet the statutory rules.

About Child Dog Bites in Boca Raton

Dog attacks are particularly damaging to a child, as the physical and emotional trauma are generally much greater. However, one defense dog owners may raise is that they posted an adequate warning regarding the dangers of approaching a dog. For example, if a sign is posted clearly on the property that says “Beware of Dog”, the owner may not be liable for any injuries caused by the negligent act or omission by the owner if the person comes onto the property unless the victim is a child under six years old.

Our Boca Raton Dog Bite Lawyer Helps Injured Delivery Workers 

If you deliver packages to homes, you are at particular risk for a bite or an attack. Food delivery drivers are at an even higher risk than package drivers because a food order often needs person-to-person interaction while a package can be left by the door. The food delivery creates a chance for a dog to run out past the owner and attack. Further delivery drivers are most often independent contractors rather than employees, which means they’re not likely to get any help from the company you work for.

Florida places a limit on the amount of time you have to file a dog bite claim. In Florida, the time limit is usually four years from the date of the attack. Still, you should contact a dog bite attorney at The Grife Law Firm as soon as possible because evidence goes stale; for example, witness memories of the incident begin to fade and critical documents tend to “get lost.”

Talk to a dog bite lawyer, such as a Boca Raton dog bite lawyer at The Grife Law Firm, as soon as possible to begin building your case. A good dog bite lawyer will only charge you for their services if you win (this is what we do), which gives them a huge motivation to develop an airtight case for compensation.

Other Types of Animal Attacks in Florida

Bears, panthers, gators, snakes: all have found comfortable homes in Florida, and are generally very protective of their environment and their young in particular. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida had the third most fatal wild animal attacks on humans in a 20-year span. The Sunshine State had 247 deaths attributed to wild animals behind No. 1 Texas with 520 and No. 2 California with 299 from 1999-2019, according to the report from the website Outforia, which gathers and reports news and resources for those who want to enjoy the outdoors.

Among Florida’s wild animal attack deaths, the majority come from alligators. There have been 16 fatal alligator attacks from 1999-2019, according to data from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

Potential Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bite injuries can range from mild to severe. As discussed above, children are especially at risk for severe injuries because their faces, necks, and heads are at roughly the same height as a dog’s mouth. The elderly are also at an increased risk because they can easily be knocked down, resulting in further injuries. Aside from children and the elderly, anyone who is attacked by a dog is at risk for the following injuries: 

• Broken bones
• Concussions and other head and neck injuries
• Puncture wounds
• Deep lacerations
• Torn tendons, ligaments, and muscles

In addition to physical injuries, many victims of animal attacks suffer severe emotional and psychological trauma, such as Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Speak with a Boca Raton dog bite attorney at The Grife Law Firm for more information