A lawyer who knows § 767.04 strict liability
Florida law can hold a dog owner liable for a bite regardless of the dog’s prior viciousness or the owner’s knowledge of it. Adjusters routinely misstate this rule, and we hold them to the statute.
Dog bite lawyers holding owners
strictly liable under Florida law.
Florida Statute § 767.04 can make dog owners strictly liable — regardless of the dog's prior history. We force homeowner's and renter's carriers to pay what scarring, surgery, and trauma are really worth.
Millions+
Recovered for Clients
5,000+
Individuals Helped
4.9
Google Rating
Strict liability. Real recoveries.
Built for dog bite cases.
What sets a dog bite claim apart — Florida's strict liability statute, homeowner's insurance, and scarring damages valuation.
01
25+
Years of experience
02
$Millions+
Recovered
03
No Fee Unless We Recover
Promise
What to do after a
dog bite in South Florida.
Dog bite claims live or die on the wound documentation, the animal control report, and the homeowner's insurance information. The first 24 hours decide what your case is worth.
- 01
Get immediate medical care and document wounds
Dog bites carry serious infection risk — Pasteurella, MRSA, even rabies. Get to the ER the same day, and make sure every puncture, laceration, and bruise is photographed and charted before treatment begins.
- 02
Report the bite to animal control or police
A formal report creates the official record carriers and courts rely on. Dog bite reports help with rabies surveillance and create a record of the dog's identity, owner, and the incident.
- 03
Get the owner’s identity and insurance information
Names, address, phone, and the homeowner's or renter's insurance carrier. The owner's policy — not the dog — is where compensation comes from. Never let the owner walk off without identifying coverage.
- 04
Photograph the wounds and the scene
Photographs of every bite wound, taken daily during healing, are the single strongest evidence of scarring and disfigurement damages. Also photograph the location, any fence breach, and the dog if possible.
- 05
Contact a dog bite attorney before signing anything
Homeowner's insurers move fast with low early offers and recorded statements that can sink a claim. Florida's strict liability is powerful — but only if you don't hand the carrier a defense first.
— The wound photos are decisive
Lock it down today.
Why hire a dog bite
attorney in South Florida.
A dog bite claim is not a regular injury claim. Strict liability, statutory defenses, scarring valuation, and child-victim issues all change the rules. Hiring counsel built for those mechanics is how victims actually get paid.
Defeating the limited statutory defenses
Section 767.04 addresses comparative negligence and a limited “Bad Dog” sign defense, with special protection for children under six. We dismantle each one with the right facts and documentation.
Identifying the right homeowner’s policy
The dog owner's homeowner's (HO-3) or renter's (HO-4) policy is often the source of recovery. If the owner is a tenant, landlord coverage may also be in play. We chase down every available policy.
Trial-tested scarring and disfigurement valuation
Dog bite cases turn on scars, nerve damage, and trauma — especially in children. Insurers chronically undervalue these. Our courtroom record on disfigurement claims forces realistic offers.
What damages are available
in a dog bite claim?
Dog bite claims unlock the full range of personal injury damages — medical bills, lost wages, and the scarring and emotional harm that often outlast every physical injury.
Medical & reconstructive surgery
Emergency care, wound closure, infection treatment, plastic surgery, and ongoing reconstructive procedures. Facial bites and child injuries frequently require multiple revisions across years — all recoverable.
Scarring, disfigurement & pain
Florida treats visible scarring and disfigurement as a distinct non-economic damage. Combined with pain and suffering and emotional distress, this is often the largest component of a dog bite recovery.
Lost wages & future care
Lost income during recovery, reduced earning capacity, and the cost of future medical care — including PTSD therapy, which is common in dog bite victims, especially children. We document all of it.
How we help you
win your dog bite case.
Dog bite claims demand careful sequencing — report and insurance first, then medical, then demand. Our four-stage process is built around exactly that.
01
Investigation & Insurance Identification
The first 72 hours
We secure the animal control report, identify the dog and its owner, confirm the owner's homeowner's or renter's policy, and lock down witness statements. Strict liability is meaningless without the right defendant and the right carrier.
02
Medical Documentation
Building the injury record
We coordinate with treating physicians, plastic surgeons, and mental-health providers to document every laceration, scar, nerve injury, and trauma symptom. Photographs of the healing wounds become the spine of the demand.
03
Demand & Negotiation
Forcing the carrier’s hand
We prepare a strict-liability demand with full medicals, future-care projections, and scarring documentation. Florida § 767.04 leaves the carrier limited defenses — we use that pressure to drive realistic offers.
04
Trial-Ready Litigation
When the offer doesn’t match the harm
Homeowner's insurers track which firms file suit and try dog bite cases. Decades of South Florida trial experience translate into measurably better offers, even when trial isn't necessary.
Hold the owner strictly liable. Get the carrier to pay.
Start your free case reviewMost dog bite cases turn
on Florida’s strict liability statute.
Unlike most states, Florida does not require proof that the owner knew the dog was vicious. Section 767.04 imposes liability the moment a bite happens to a person lawfully on the property or in a public place — the carrier's defenses are narrow.
01 — Statute
Fla. Stat. § 767.04
Florida's strict liability statute. Owners are liable for dog bites regardless of the dog's prior history, subject to limited statutory defenses and comparative negligence.
02 — Statute
Fla. Stat. § 767.01
Broader owner liability for damage caused by a dog to persons, domestic animals, or livestock. Reaches non-bite injuries — knockdowns, falls, and secondary harm a dog causes.
03 — Statute
Fla. Stat. §§ 767.12 and 767.13
Florida law governs dangerous-dog classifications and imposes additional penalties when a dog already declared dangerous attacks or bites. Strengthens both civil claims and the demand for full policy limits.
04 — Statute
Comparative Fault
Florida's modified comparative-fault rule applies. Carriers will argue provocation or trespass — documentation of lawful presence defeats that quickly.
Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 767.04) can make owners strictly liable for dog bites — we make sure that statute is honored.
Every kind of
dog bite case we handle.
We handle the full range of dog bite cases in South Florida — child victims, delivery worker bites, neighbor bites, attacks in public places, and complex multi-defendant claims.
Who Was Injured
Dog bite victims come from every walk of life — but children, delivery workers, and neighbors are the most common. Each scenario raises distinct legal issues.
Child Dog Bite Injuries
Children are more likely than adults to be bitten by dogs, and the “Bad Dog” sign defense in § 767.04 does not apply to children under six. Facial scarring claims are substantial.
Postal & Delivery Workers
USPS, Amazon, UPS, and food-delivery drivers are bitten on lawful business. Delivery workers are generally lawfully on the property when making authorized deliveries, and homeowner's coverage may apply.
Neighbors & Invited Guests
Bites in a neighbor's home, yard, or shared common area. Strict liability applies, and the homeowner's or renter's policy is normally the source of recovery.
Complex Cases
Some dog bite cases involve multiple defendants, breed exclusions, or secondary injuries. Strategy and procedure change accordingly.
Attacks at Parks & Public Places
Bites in dog parks, sidewalks, beaches, or condo common areas. The owner is liable under § 767.04, and sometimes the property owner shares fault for inadequate control.
Multiple-Bite & Maul Incidents
Serious attacks involving multiple bites or pack behavior. A multiple-bite or mauling incident can lead to a dangerous-dog classification under Florida law and may support a demand for full policy limits.
Landlord & Breed-Exclusion Disputes
When the dog owner is a tenant, the landlord may share liability for permitting a known dangerous dog. Some carriers exclude specific breeds — we find every available policy.
— No matter how complex your case is
We're ready to help.
What are common injuries
in dog bite cases?
Dog bite injuries reach far beyond the surface wound. Scarring, nerve damage, infection, and trauma can last a lifetime — and every one of them belongs in the claim.
01 — Injury
Facial Lacerations & Scarring
The most common — and most consequential — dog bite injury, especially in children. Permanent facial scarring is a distinct non-economic damage with substantial value.
02 — Injury
Nerve Damage
Deep bites to the hands, arms, and face routinely sever nerves. Loss of sensation, motor function, and chronic pain are recoverable on top of medical bills.
03 — Injury
Infections
Pasteurella, MRSA, capnocytophaga — and rabies risk. Even “minor” puncture wounds can drive serious hospital stays and long-term treatment.
04 — Injury
Puncture & Crush Wounds
Deep punctures from canine teeth and crush damage from a powerful bite. Often more serious than the surface wound suggests, with deep tissue and bone involvement.
05 — Injury
Tendon & Ligament Damage
Hand and forearm bites frequently sever tendons, requiring microsurgical repair and months of rehabilitation. Permanent loss of grip and function is common.
06 — Injury
PTSD & Emotional Trauma
Children especially develop lasting fear of dogs, nightmares, and anxiety. Florida recognizes emotional distress as a recoverable element of dog bite damages.
What compensation
can you recover?
Florida treats scarring and disfigurement as a distinct head of damages on top of pain and suffering. Built correctly, a dog bite claim recovers far more than the surface medical bills suggest.
The bills you see today.
Immediate, calculable losses in the weeks after the bite.
- Emergency room and hospital bills
- Reconstructive and plastic surgery
- Lost wages during recovery
- Cosmetic procedures and scar revision
The cost that lasts.
Future losses and life-changing effects belong in the claim too.
- Future medical care and ongoing treatment
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- PTSD therapy and emotional distress
- Reduced earning capacity and quality of life
Find out what your dog bite case could be worth.
Speak with a lawyer about recovery— Florida Statute § 767.04
Strict liability for dog owners — no prior viciousness required.
Five reasons
to hire OneCallLegal.
Dog bite claims demand a firm that knows the strict-liability statute cold, can value scarring properly, and stands up to homeowner's carriers. That's what we've built in South Florida.
- 01
Strict liability expertise
Florida § 767.04 is often misunderstood by most adjusters — and misused against victims. We know exactly how the statute reads, what it does and doesn't require, and how to enforce it.
- 02
Scarring & disfigurement valuation
Insurers chronically undervalue scars, especially on children and visible areas. Our trial record on disfigurement damages translates into measurably higher offers and verdicts.
- 03
Child-victim experience
Children are more likely than adults to be bitten by dogs. The Bad Dog sign defense doesn't apply under six, future medical care projections matter, and some minor settlements require court approval. We handle all of it.
- 04
Every homeowner’s policy identified
Owner's HO-3, renter's HO-4, landlord coverage, umbrella policies — we chase every available source. Carriers will not volunteer coverage information; we find it.
- 05
Defeating improper provocation defenses
Adjusters invoke “provocation” against children and lawful visitors who did nothing wrong. We document the facts, push back hard, and don't let the carrier rewrite history.
Find out what your dog bite case is really worth.
Request a free consultationInsurance Impact
How insurance can
impact your dog bite claim.
Dog bite recoveries often come from the dog owner’s insurance — usually not the dog owner's pocket. A standard homeowner's policy (HO-3) and renter's policy (HO-4) typically cover dog bites, but some carriers exclude specific breeds and some attempt to deny coverage outright.
When the owner is a tenant, landlord coverage may also apply if the landlord knew about a dangerous dog. We map every available policy — including umbrella coverage — before negotiating.
HO-3
Homeowner policy
HO-4
Renter policy
All
Coverage layers
How long do you have
to file a claim?
In Florida, claims under the strict-liability dog bite statute (Fla. Stat. § 767.04) generally carry a four-year statute of limitations for actions on statutory liability under § 95.11(3). Negligence-based claims arising from the same incident are generally subject to a two-year limitations period under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a).
The practical deadline is much shorter. Animal control reports, wound photographs, and witness memories all degrade quickly. Getting counsel involved in the first week is what locks the case down.
4yr
Statutory claim limit
2yr
Negligence claim limit
Sooner
The Better
David Stuart Seltzer
Managing Partner
Millions+ recovered for dog bite clients.
— A track record across South Florida courts
Why choose OneCallLegal
for your dog bite lawyer.
— Built for strict-liability claims. Trusted by the courts.
Homeowner's carriers settle hardest with firms that know § 767.04 cold, value scarring properly, and file suit when offers fall short. Four reasons clients trust us with their dog bite claims.
- 01
Strict Liability Expertise
Deep familiarity with Fla. Stat. § 767.04 and the limited defenses carriers try to invoke.
- 02
Resources To Document Scarring
Photographers, plastic surgeons, and life-care planners on day one.
- 03
No Fee Unless We Recover
You don’t pay attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
- 04
Trial Record, Not Just Settlement
A documented record of taking dog bite cases to verdict.
Speak with a dog bite
attorney today.
Have you or your child been bitten by a dog in South Florida?
Contact our team for immediate legal assistance. We'll secure the animal control report, identify the homeowner's policy, and hold the owner strictly liable under Fla. Stat. § 767.04. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, scarring, lost wages, and emotional distress.
The consultation is free. We come to the hospital, your home, or wherever works for you. Call now — before the carriers' adjusters get to you first.
Free
Consultation
No
Obligation
24 / 7
Available
Frequently asked
questions.
Plain-English answers to the questions dog bite clients ask most often in their first call with us. If yours isn't here, the consultation is free.
Yes. Under Fla. Stat. § 767.04, the owner of a dog that bites another person is liable for damages regardless of the dog's former viciousness or the owner's knowledge of it. The bite must occur in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property.
No. Florida does not follow the “one bite rule” that applies in many other states. The owner can be liable from the very first bite, even if the dog had no prior history of aggression. Adjusters who claim otherwise are misstating the statute.
Provocation is a recognized defense, but it is a narrow one and the owner carries the burden of proof. Simply reaching to pet a dog, walking past it, or being near it does not automatically establish comparative negligence. We document the facts to defeat improper provocation arguments.
Yes, typically. Homeowner's and renter's policies typically include liability coverage for dog bites. Some carriers exclude specific breeds, and some may wrongfully deny coverage; we push back on both.
Children are more likely than adults to be bitten by dogs, and young children can face particularly serious injuries. Florida’s “Bad Dog” sign defense in § 767.04 does not apply to children under six, giving young victims an important statutory protection. Minor settlements may require court approval, which we handle when required.
Statutory strict-liability claims under § 767.04 carry a four-year limitations period under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3). Negligence-based claims arising from the same incident are generally subject to a two-year limitations period under Fla. Stat. § 95.11. Acting quickly preserves both options.
It depends on the severity of the bite, the presence and location of scarring, age of the victim, medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. Facial scarring on children frequently drives substantial settlements. We'll give you an honest assessment in the free consultation.
Bring whatever you have. We'll subpoena the rest.
- Animal control or police report
- Owner’s insurance information
- Medical records & bills
- Photographs of wounds & scene
— Still have questions?
Speak directly with a dog bite attorney. Your consultation is free.
We also handle
these cases.
Many dog bite clients have claims that overlap other practice areas. We handle them all in-house, so your case never gets handed off.
Premises Liability
Property-owner negligence claims, including failure to control known dangerous dogs.
Learn more
Wrongful Death
Fatal attacks and other tragedies under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act.
Learn more
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians injured by drivers, owners, or other negligent parties.
Learn moreSlip & Fall
Falls caused by dog incidents, hazardous conditions, or negligent owners.
Learn more