Dog bite attorney Palm Beach Gardens

Palm Beach Gardens dog bite cases we handle

Dog bites happen in neighborhoods, parks, apartment complexes, private homes, sidewalks, shopping areas, and other community spaces. Our injury lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens handle many types of dog bite claims:

• Bites in public places: Sidewalks, walking paths, parking lots, parks, and other public areas where the victim has every right to be present.
• Bites on private property: A guest, worker, tenant, delivery driver, or invited visitor may have a claim if bitten while lawfully on someone else’s property.
• Attacks on children: Children are often bitten on the face, head, neck, arms, or hands because of their height and natural curiosity around dogs.
• Delivery driver injuries: Delivery drivers, postal workers, utility workers, and other lawful visitors may be bitten when a property owner fails to secure a dog.
• Unleashed dog attacks: A dog that isn’t properly restrained can cause serious harm in residential areas, parks, parking lots, or shared community spaces.
• Dangerous dogs: Some cases involve dogs with a known history of aggression, prior bites, complaints to animal control, or repeated threatening behavior.
• Multiple-dog attacks: When more than one dog is involved, injuries tend to be more severe, and liability can be more complicated.
• Knockdown injuries: A dog may chase, lunge at, jump on, or knock someone down, causing broken bones, head injuries, torn ligaments, or other trauma.
• Infected bite wounds: Dog bites can push bacteria deep into the skin and tissue, leading to serious infections that sometimes require IV antibiotics or surgical debridement.
• Scarring and disfigurement: Deep bites, facial injuries, torn skin, and crush wounds may require stitches followed by plastic surgery and long-term scar care.

Whether your injuries seem minor or severe, it’s worth speaking with a Palm Beach Gardens dog bite lawyer before accepting money from an insurance company.

Common types of dog bite injuries in Palm Beach Gardens

Common injuries from a dog attack vary depending on the dog’s size, the victim’s age, where the bite occurred, and how long the attack lasted. Many Palm Beach Gardens victims seek emergency care at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center or Jupiter Medical Center after a serious bite.

Common dog bite injuries include puncture wounds, lacerations, infections, nerve damage, tendon and ligament damage, broken bones, facial injuries, eye injuries, crush injuries, and psychological trauma. A dog bite injury attorney Palm Beach Gardens residents trust can help connect these injuries to the compensation available under Florida law.

How does dog bite law in Palm Beach Gardens work?

Florida does not follow a “one free bite” rule. In most dog bite cases, the victim does not have to prove that the dog had bitten someone before or that the owner knew the dog was aggressive.

Florida’s strict liability rule for dog bites

Florida is a strict liability state for dog bites under Fla. Stat. § 767.04. The owner is liable for damages if the bite happened in a public place or while the victim was lawfully on private property, regardless of whether the dog had bitten anyone before or whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous. The main questions in a typical case are whether the bite occurred, whether the defendant owned the dog, whether the victim was lawfully present, and whether any statutory defense applies.

Defenses that dog owners may raise

Dog owners and insurance companies may try to reduce responsibility by claiming the victim provoked the dog, ignored warnings, entered a restricted area, or acted carelessly.

One common defense is trespassing. The legal question is whether the victim was lawfully present on the property when the bite occurred. Florida considers a person lawfully present when they’re invited by the owner, performing a duty required by state law, carrying out federal postal regulations, or on the property by express or implied permission. Delivery drivers, mail carriers, meter readers, and invited guests typically qualify.

Florida also provides a “Bad Dog” sign defense under Fla. Stat. § 767.04. If the owner has displayed an easily readable “Bad Dog” sign in a prominent place on the property, that can be a defense to liability. Two important exceptions: the sign defense does not apply if the victim was under age 6, and it does not apply when the owner’s own negligence proximately caused the bite.

Comparative negligence in dog bite claims

Florida applies modified comparative negligence under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, as amended by HB 837 in March 2023. If the victim is found 50% or less at fault, damages are reduced by their share of fault. If the victim is 51% or more at fault, recovery is barred. Insurance adjusters may try to assign comparative fault by arguing the victim provoked the dog, ignored warnings, entered a restricted area, or contributed to the situation. A lawyer can push back with photos, witness statements, animal control reports, and medical records.

Dangerous dogs in Florida

Florida has separate laws that address dangerous dogs under Fla. Stat. § 767.11 through § 767.16. If an owner knew a dog posed a risk and failed to take proper steps to protect others, that can strengthen the victim’s claim. Our dog bite injury attorneys investigate prior complaints, animal control reports, leash violations, neighborhood concerns, and earlier attacks involving the same dog.

Types of compensation in a dog bite injury case

A dog bite injury can affect your health, appearance, work, and daily life. When filing dog bite claims, our lawyers look at the full impact of the injury. Compensation in a dog bite injury case may include:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Hospital bills
• Doctor visits
• Stitches and wound care
• Surgery or plastic surgery
• Medication and antibiotics
• Rabies shots or testing
• Physical therapy
• Counseling or trauma therapy
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Future medical care

Dog bite injuries involving children often require special attention. A child may need future scar revision, counseling, additional medical care, or treatment for psychological trauma as they grow. Our team can help make sure the claim accounts for future needs before reaching any settlement

Florida’s statute of limitations to file a claim

Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including most dog bite cases, is two years from the date of the injury under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(a), as amended by HB 837 in March 2023. Anyone bitten before March 24, 2023 may still be subject to the old four-year deadline. Cases that occurred after that date fall under the two-year window.

If you miss the deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation in court. Acting quickly can also help preserve evidence, including medical records, animal control reports, witness statements, and insurance information.

What to do after a dog bite

Get medical care first. After that, the most important steps usually happen in the first few days:

1. Identify the dog and the owner. Get the owner’s name, address, phone number, and any contact information you can collect at the scene. If the dog ran off, document what you can about its appearance and where you last saw it.
2. Photograph the injuries and the scene. Take photos of your wounds in the first 24 to 48 hours, then again as they heal. Take some photos of the location of the bite, the dog, if you can do so safely, and any property condition that contributed (broken gate, missing fence, no leash, or visible warning signs ignored).
3. Report the bite to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. Florida law requires bite reports, and the resulting report can become important evidence in your case.
4. Don’t give a recorded statement to any insurance company before talking to a lawyer. Statements made in the first days are often used later to argue fault or downplay injuries.

Talk to a Palm Beach Gardens dog bite lawyer today

Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath represents injured people throughout Palm Beach County. We can investigate the attack, identify available insurance coverage, communicate with the carrier on your behalf, and pursue the compensation available under Florida law. If you need a dog bite lawyer in Palm Beach Gardens, call (561) 655-1990 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Frequently asked questions about Palm Beach Gardens dog bite injuries

What should I do after a dog bite?

Get medical care right away, even if the wound doesn’t look severe. After that, identify the dog and owner, take pictures of your injuries, report the bite to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, save your medical records, and avoid giving a recorded statement to the insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.

Do dog bite cases go to court?

Some dog bite cases settle with the insurance company. Others need to be filed in court if the insurer denies responsibility, blames the victim, refuses to offer fair compensation, or drags out negotiations past the statute of limitations.

How much does it cost to hire a dog bite attorney in Palm Beach Gardens?

Our lawyers handle dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay attorney’s fees upfront, and our fee comes out of the recovery if the case is successful. Separate costs may apply.

What if the dog owner is a friend or neighbor?

In many cases, the dog owner’s homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy handles the claim, so the owner’s personal finances aren’t directly involved. That’s usually a relief for everyone, because it means the relationship doesn’t have to take the financial hit.

Can I bring a claim if a dog bit my child?

Yes. A parent or guardian can usually pursue a claim on behalf of an injured child. Child claims often involve future scar revision surgery, counseling, and other ongoing care, so it’s worth talking to a dog bite attorney before signing anything from the insurance company.