Dogs are often considered as man’s best friend, providing unwavering
companionship and loyalty to their owners. Unfortunately, our canine companions
also have the propensity to bite or attack people. If you suffered a serious
injury caused by a dog bite in Florida, you may hold the dog’s owner
liable for your injury.
According to Florida dog bite law, a dog owner is liable for injuries inflicted
by their dog if:
- The dog bites another individual
- The individual is on public property or is lawfully in a private place
Strict Liability vs. Negligence
Florida’s dog bite law is a “strict liability” statute,
meaning that it doesn’t matter if the owner knew that their dog
was likely to bite another person. Furthermore, it doesn’t matter
if the owner took reasonable steps to prevent the dog bite, such as keeping
the dog on a leash or placing a fence around the dog’s area of the yard.
However, if the dog causes injuries that did not occur from a bite –
such as a dog jumping and knocking a person down with their body –
then strict liability does not apply. Instead, the injured person needs
to prove negligence against the dog owner for failing to use reasonable care.
The statute of limitations requires an injured party must have their lawsuit
filed in Florida’s civil court system within four years of the date
of a dog bite.
If you suffered an injury from a dog bite or attack in Florida,
contact our Dunedin personal injury lawyer at
Paulsen Law Group and schedule a
free consultation today.