Florida Dog Bite Lawyer

Steps You Should Take Following a Dog Attack

A dog attack can leave you scared, shocked, and overwhelmed. Most people aren’t prepared for what comes next. You might assume you can rest at home and recover — but even minor-looking bites can carry serious medical risks. Knowing the right steps to take is critical for your health and for protecting your legal rights.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Don’t wait to see if the bite gets better. Dog saliva carries dangerous bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections. Go to the hospital immediately — only a doctor can properly assess the wound and provide the necessary care, including rabies and tetanus shots.

2. Follow All Recommended Treatments

Your recovery doesn’t end at the ER. Return for follow-up care, complete imaging tests, get stitches if required, and take all prescribed medications. Strictly follow your doctor’s orders — doing so not only aids your recovery but also strengthens your legal case.

3. Be Aware of Long-Term Effects

Dog bites can cause permanent damage. Torn muscles, nerve injuries, and scarring may require surgery or long-term rehab. Don’t stop treatment early. Gaps in care could weaken your case and impact your ability to recover full compensation.

4. Keep All Medical Records

Save every medical bill, report, and appointment summary. These records prove the extent of your injury and are essential when negotiating with insurance companies. A clear treatment timeline helps establish the true cost and impact of your injury.

5. Hire an Experienced Florida Dog Bite Lawyer

Don’t face this battle alone. The legal process can be complex, and proving fault in a dog bite case requires skill and experience. At Zoeller Law, our Florida Dog Bite Lawyers know what it takes to win. We’ll gather evidence, investigate the dog’s history, and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Leave the Investigation to Zoeller Law

The Florida dog bite injury attorneys of Zoeller Law know what it takes to investigate a dog attack thoroughly. When you hire us, we will use all the resources at our disposal to obtain evidence and create a strategy to try to reach your desired results.

The evidence we need will depend on the circumstances of the incident, but could include:

1. Documentation from animal control
2. Police reports
3. Eyewitness statements
4. Video surveillance of the attack
5. Medical records and bills
6. Copy of the dog owner’s insurance policy
7. Pictures of visible injuries
8. Prescription drug costs, bank statements, and other documents showing out-of-pocket expenses

In some instances, an insurance claim is enough to cover the losses a dog bite victim suffered. However, if the insurance company denies the claim or offers a low settlement, it might be necessary to file a lawsuit. We can prepare all the legal documents we need to initiate the case in civil court and submit the evidence we found.

Florida Laws for Dog Bites

Florida follows a strict liability statute in dog bite cases. That means the owner becomes liable if their dog bites a person who is lawfully in a private place or on public property. It does not matter if the dog exhibited prior viciousness or the owner was aware of the dog’s viciousness before the attack. If you suffered losses from the injury, the owner should be financially responsible.

If a dangerous dog bit you, the owner could face criminal charges. State law defines a dangerous dog as a dog that has:

• Inflicted severe injury on a person on private or public property, or aggressively bitten, endangered, or attacked someone;
• Caused severe injuries or killed a domestic animal more than once in an area other than the owner’s property; or
• Without being provoked, approached, or chased someone on the sidewalk, street, or another public place menacingly or with behavior indicating an attack that the appropriate authority investigated, and one or more people provided sworn testimony.

This is a first-degree misdemeanor, and the owner could receive up to a one-year jail sentence and a $1,000 fine.

If you were trespassing at the time of the attack or the owner of a dangerous dog posted warning signs on their property, you might not be able to hold the dog’s owner liable for your injury. However, specific circumstances could allow you to pursue compensation for your losses.

Different counties have different laws for restraining or leashing dogs. For example, Orange County requires owners to use a leash under six feet long on their dogs at all times when they’re not on their own property, unless at a designated dog park. If someone breaks these leash laws, they could face fines and other punishments under the county ordinances.

Common Injuries Suffered in Dog Attacks

When a dog attacks someone, the victim could sustain various injuries. The initial bite isn’t the only problem. An infection could develop and have fatal consequences. Additionally, if the person falls to the ground, they could suffer a head injury, lacerations, and subsequent injuries.

Untreated injuries could lead to a range of complications. The most common are:

• Rabies – This viral infection can spread from a dog’s saliva throughout someone’s body from an open wound caused by the bite.
• Sepsis – Sepsis occurs when the body responds too aggressively to an infection.
• Pasteurella – Pasteurella is a common type of bacteria found in animal saliva. When a dog bites someone, the bacteria enter the body and can cause an infection.
• Amputation – If doctors can’t treat an infection, they might need to amputate a limb or extremity to prevent further spread.
• MRSA – Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a severe bacterial infection. The infection can develop if the wound becomes contaminated.
• Tetanus – A dog can transmit tetanus to a human through a bite wound. A doctor might need to administer a tetanus shot if the victim hasn’t had one in over ten years.

Dog bite victims can also suffer disfigurement and permanent scarring. A deep wound will require stitches and might not heal entirely. Sometimes, disfiguring injuries to the face or hands alter a person’s appearance. The visible reminders of what happened to you could result in mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. Many victims become fearful of all dogs and can never be around them again.