Serving all of Florida
Florida Dog Bite Lawyer
I spent nearly two decades defending insurance companies in injury cases. Now I use everything I learned to fight for you.
— Emanuel Galimidi, former insurance-defense attorney
Main Office Miami · In person or by video, anywhere in Florida
Who pays if a dog bit me in Florida, and does it matter that the owner is a friend or neighbor?
In Florida, the dog's owner is responsible for a bite. Period. Florida is a “strict liability” state for dog bites (§ 767.04). That means you do not have to prove the owner was careless, or that the dog had ever bitten before. If the dog bit you in a public place, or while you were lawfully on private property (as a guest, a delivery driver, a mail carrier), the owner owes you for your injuries. You usually have 2 years to sue (§ 95.11(5)(a)), so don't wait.
The money almost never comes out of the owner's pocket. It comes from their homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, which is exactly what that policy is for. So a claim against a neighbor, a relative, or a friend is really a claim against an insurance company, not against them. That matters, because dog bites are not small injuries: puncture wounds, torn tissue, infection, nerve damage, permanent scars, and, for children especially, lasting fear.
The insurer's main defenses are that you provoked the dog, that you were trespassing, or that a “Bad Dog” sign was posted. If you were partly at fault, your payment is reduced by your share (§ 767.04). And if the dog hurt you without biting, say it knocked you down or chased you into the street, a separate law (§ 767.01) still makes the owner responsible.
Florida dog bite — the facts that matter
- Deadline to file
- 2 years from the bite (§ 95.11(5)(a))
- Who is liable
- The owner, no proof of carelessness needed — strict liability (§ 767.04)
- Who actually pays
- Usually the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance
- What it costs
- Free case review · no fees or costs unless we recover for you
What they do
How insurance companies fight a dog bite claim
Strict liability makes fault hard to dodge. So the adjuster attacks from other angles.
‘You provoked the dog’
Petting it, walking past it, reaching for your own child — they will call almost anything provocation, because it's their only way to shift blame onto you.
‘It’s only a scar’
They treat scarring, nerve damage, and a child's fear of dogs as cosmetic. Florida law lets you claim for all of it, including future plastic surgery.
The quick, low offer
A fast check before the wound has even healed. Bite injuries often look worse months later. Once you sign, the file is closed.
Next steps
After a dog bite in Florida
Get treated & photograph
See a doctor right away — bites infect fast. Photograph the wounds now and as they heal.
Identify the dog and owner
Get the owner's name, address, and the dog's rabies vaccination record. Get witness names too.
Report the bite
Report it to Miami-Dade Animal Services or your local animal control. It creates an official record of the incident.
Talk before you give a statement
Don't give the owner's insurance company a recorded statement before you get advice.
Florida dog bite law
The rules that decide your claim
Strict liability (§ 767.04)
The owner is liable for a bite “regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness.” There is no “one free bite” in Florida. You only need to show the dog bit you and that you were in a public place or lawfully on private property.
Non-bite injuries (§ 767.01)
A separate law makes owners liable for “any damage done by their dogs to a person.” A dog that knocks you over, pulls you off a bike, or chases you into traffic can be the owner's responsibility even though it never bit.
Your share of fault
If your own negligence helped cause the bite, the owner's liability is reduced by that percentage (§ 767.04). Provoking the dog is the classic example. The insurer will also try to invoke Florida's 50% fault bar (§ 768.81). That's why the “you provoked it” story has to be answered early and with evidence.
The “Bad Dog” sign and trespassers
An owner may escape strict liability if a readable “Bad Dog” sign was prominently displayed — but not for a child under 6, and not if the owner's own carelessness caused the bite. Trespassers are not covered by the statute. And a 2-year deadline generally applies (§ 95.11(5)(a)).
A recent result
Their offer wasn't the real number.
Fall on private property · their first offer: $20K
One of several recent recoveries by the firm. Each case is different and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more results →Client reviews
What clients say
“I never once felt like just another file; my well-being was his priority. We achieved the maximum possible outcome for my case.”
— Luciana Neves · Google“His long experience working for the other side — the insurance companies — is absolutely invaluable when negotiating a payout.”
— Victor · Avvo“They were very helpful, professional and always kept me updated throughout my case. They made the whole process easy and were always available to answer my questions.”
— Lana · Google“Emanuel not only helped me win my case but helped me understand all the processes and procedures you need to go through when dealing with a claim. He’s an expert in his field and I highly recommend his services.”
— Alexander Siriani · GoogleIndividual results; outcomes vary by case. Reviews are from the firm’s Google and Avvo profiles.
Questions people ask
Florida dog bite FAQ
Do I have to prove the dog was dangerous or had bitten before?
No. Florida is a strict-liability state for dog bites (§ 767.04). The owner is responsible even if the dog had never shown any aggression. You do not need to prove the owner was careless.
The dog belongs to a friend or family member. Do I really want to sue them?
In almost every case, the claim is paid by their homeowner's or renter's insurance, not by them personally. That is what they pay premiums for. Most claims settle with the insurer without a lawsuit ever being filed.
What if the insurance company says I provoked the dog?
Expect it. That is their main defense. If you were partly at fault, your payment is reduced by your share (§ 767.04). Witnesses, photos, the animal-control report, and the dog's history all help answer it.
My child was bitten. Is the claim different?
Yes, in important ways. Children are bitten on the face and neck more often, scar more visibly, and often develop a lasting fear of dogs. The “Bad Dog” sign defense does not apply to a child under 6. A parent brings the claim on the child's behalf, and larger settlements for a minor usually require court approval.
Can I claim for scarring and future plastic surgery?
Yes. Permanent scarring, disfigurement, nerve damage, and the cost of future revision surgery are all part of the claim, along with medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. We often wait to settle until a plastic surgeon has given a real opinion on the scar.
Does it matter what breed the dog was?
Not for liability. Florida law makes the owner responsible for a bite regardless of breed, and since 2023 Florida no longer allows local breed bans (§ 767.14). What matters is the bite, your injuries, and the insurance available. Some policies exclude certain breeds, which is one of the first things we check.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Florida?
Treat it as 2 years from the bite (§ 95.11(5)(a)). Evidence disappears much faster than that: the dog gets rehomed, witnesses move, and wounds heal before anyone photographs them. Call early.
Does a pre-existing condition hurt my case?
Not by itself. If the bite made an old injury or condition worse, Florida law says the person responsible owes you for that. What does hurt a case is hiding the old injury. Be honest with your lawyer and your doctors.
Tell me what happened. The case review is free.
You'll talk to me, a senior attorney who spent nearly two decades working for the insurance companies. Not a case manager. No fees or costs unless we recover for you.
Call 786-442-2873