In Florida, a tragic dog bite incident changed the dynamics of relevant regulations. In 2022, a pet dog landed a level 4 bite on a postal worker. The PIL prompted case after the dog bite compelled the court to pass the Ram Rock Act. This is the primary applicable Florida dog bite law.
The same act now holds dog owners more accountable for any unwanted incidents involving their dogs. Legal professionals say that the risk of future attacks has substantially reduced after the law was passed.
However, the actual figures say otherwise. As of 2025, there have been 15,000 dog bite events in Orlando, with Florida accounting for the majority of them. What’s more tragic is that a lot of children have been exposed to level 2 and 3 bites.
The bottom line is that it is indispensable to have detailed knowledge of your legal rights regarding dog bites.
Understanding Florida’s Dog Bite Laws: A Crucial Step in Protecting Your Child and Seeking Compensation
To know the Florida dog bite law in detail, you need to understand the liabilities of dog bites as discussed in the Florida Statutes Section 767.04. The statute establishes a strict liability standard to encourage dog owners to monitor their pets’ actions closely.
The upgraded statute says that a few things would become irrelevant now:
- Whether the dog owner was aware of the pet’s unscrupulous or abstract behavior would be considered irrelevant
- The court would consider the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s diseased state or whether it is under treatment, irrelevant
Key Aspects of Dog Bite Law After The Change
These steadfast parameters have been applied to Florida’s dog bite law, after the changes applied to Section 767.04:
- Strict Liability
You have to pay for damages suffered by anyone bitten by your pet dog. The same rule applies even if you were not aware of the dog’s recent aggressive behavior.
- Location of the Victim
The liability applies to you as the owner, even if the dog was in a public place or lawfully on someone else’s property.
- Comparative Negligence
If the victim instigated the dog to bite, your liability as an owner would be reduced. However, it might vary with the severity of the dog’s bite.
- Flagging a “Bad Dog”
If your dog is showing vicious signs recently, hang a “Bad Dog” poster on your property. It can reduce your liability in the event of a dog bite to some extent.
- Lawful presence
If you invite someone inside your premises, the person would be deemed lawfully present there. After that, you would be held 100% liable if your dog bites someone on your premises.
- Dangerous Dogs
You have the right to update the authorities about your dog’s unwarranted, vicious behavior. You may also appeal for your dog’s quarantine, confiscation, etc., to eliminate all chances of a potential bite.
Compensation Available For Your Child(ren) Bitten By A Dog
The dog bite injuries result in crucial physical damage. A level 4 or 5 bite can be fatal as well. Florida dog bite law offers the victim appropriate compensation for various categories of dog bite incidents:
Cost for Covering Medical Expenses and Recovery in the Long Term
Your Florida dog bite law attorney can secure compensation for all medical treatments regarding your dog bite. It includes emergency care alongside hospitalization after the attack.
The compensation also covers any surgical procedure your child might have to go through, in the follow-up of the dog bite.
The attorney can also claim any ongoing expenses, including prescription medicines, therapies, rehab service costs, and psychological counseling to address trauma.
In critical cases, your dog bite attorney will ensure that the medical needs are also counted in the compensation package.
The Effect of The Bite on Career and Income
You may be required to miss work and lose your salary during the recovery phase. This may also create unwarranted financial pressure on you and your family. That includes depriving your children of opportunities for academics or extracurricular activities.
Your personal injury lawyer can document all the economic issues and file a lawsuit for comprehensive compensation from the dog’s owner.
Non-financial Damages for Trauma and Suffering
After a dog bite, you will suffer several challenges. Not all challenges are financial or related to money. If a dog bites your children, they will go through excruciating pain and will be petrified for a long time.
The combined impact would be debilitating for them. In the long run, they might also suffer from PTSD and anxiety in dogs. Your attorney can sue the owner and file claims for all such intangible effects of the dog bite, as per Florida dog bite law.
Unusually, children have nimble skin and bodies. Therefore, dog bites can cause scars and unexpected disfigurements on the body. It may also affect their quality of life. If you wish, your dog bite attorney can also file charges for these.
Steps To Take After The Dog Bite
Proper documentation and evidence collection are vital components in building a strong legal case following a dog bite incident. Immediately after the incident, gathering detailed incident reports is important. After that:
1. Immediate Medical Attention: A Crucial Step in Assessing the Severity of the Bite and Initiating the Legal Process
2. Evaluate the emotional impact promptly if your child has been bitten. Ask your Dog Bite Lawyer in Orlando for suggestions. Seek compensation for the psychological support your child would need.
3. Create a safe ambience where your child feels secure. Firstly, you can avoid taking them to the location of the bite. Secondly, try to communicate openly with your child to help them overcome their fear.
There are more steps in the follow-up:
Seeking Professional Help
Seek Professional-behavioral therapy (CBT) Help: A Key Aspect of Your Child’s Emotional Recovery and the Compensation Process
Building Emotional Resilience
Addressing the psychological aftermath of a dog bite involves more than immediate therapeutic interventions; it also consists of fostering long-term emotional resilience in the affected child.
Determining Liability and Potential Defenses
In evaluating liability for dog bites in Orlando, the focus often centers on the dog owner’s responsibility, including whether they failed to control their pet or violated local leash laws.
Owner Responsibility Factors
Determining liability in dog bite cases in Orlando hinges on the concept of owner responsibility, a critical factor in these legal proceedings. Owners are expected to manage their dogs responsibly, ensuring they do not pose a threat to the public or other animals.
Common Defense Strategies
You have to understand the nuances of dog bite liability in Orlando when filing your claims. Firstly, you have to list the immediate measures taken to avert further prolongation of the effect of the bite.
For example, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Secondly, check if the child prompted or provoked the dog into biting them.
Thirdly, make a copy of the doctor’s statement about the short and long-term consequences of the bite, too. Finally, check if your child was unlawfully occupying a premise when the dog bit them. If so, then your claims would be invalid.
Navigating Insurance Claims and Compensation
Understanding the intricacies of insurance claims and compensation is vital for victims of dog bites in Orlando. Victims should begin by reviewing their insurance policy to understand the coverage limits and obligations.
Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies often cover dog bite liabilities, yet each policy is unique. Maneuvering these claims requires precision to guarantee rightful compensation.
Your Legal Guide: Consulting With a Legal Professional for Guidance
After the dog bite incident, you have to make your insurance claim, in line with Florida dog bite law. With a firm claim, you can get the right compensation amount. However, there is one more step. After a dog bite event in Orlando, you have to seek statutory legal consultation.
The two local statutes that you need to follow in this regard are 767.04 and 761.04. They outline the legal obligations that a dog owner must fulfill.
If the dog bites your child, you have to include the emotional and psychological claims also. In the US, 89% of the children facing early trauma develop PTSD after some years.
That haunts them for 20 or 30 years in their lives. The attorneys can claim valid compensation to cover such unprecedented issues in the long run. The bottom line is that you need to book a child advocate today.
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