Should I Call an Orlando Dog Bite Lawyer?
Posted on: July 30, 2026Most dogs are beloved members of the family. But when a dog bites or attacks someone, the injuries can be serious. The person who was hurt may be facing emergency care, follow-up treatment, scarring, emotional distress, missed work, and an insurance company that wants a statement before the full impact of the injury is clear.
An Orlando dog bite lawyer can explain how Florida law applies, identify available insurance coverage, preserve evidence, and deal with the insurance company while you focus on treatment. If you or a loved one was injured by a dog that was not your own, you may have the right to pursue compensation.
Dog attacks can cause physical and psychological injuries that take time to understand and treat.
In 2025 alone, there were more than 28,000 dog bite claims in the U.S., with an average cost of $65,000 per claim. Those numbers help show why a dog bite can become a serious medical and insurance matter, even when the attack lasted only seconds.
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite in Orlando?
Your health comes first. Seek appropriate medical care as soon as possible, even when the wound initially appears manageable. A medical professional can evaluate the injury, address infection concerns, and document the care you received.
When you are able, take these practical steps:
- Identify the dog and its owner. Get the owner’s name, contact information, and available insurance information.
- Report the incident to the appropriate local animal control or public health authority.
- Photograph the injury, the location, and any damaged clothing. Continue taking photographs as the injury heals.
- Get contact information from anyone who saw the attack or the events leading up to it.
- Keep medical records, bills, prescription information, and records of missed work.
- Be careful with insurance calls. Do not guess about what happened, minimize your symptoms, or accept a quick settlement before you understand the full effect of the injury.
These steps do not decide the outcome of a claim. They help preserve the information an attorney and insurer may need to evaluate what happened.
What Rights Do You Have Under Florida Dog Bite Law?
Florida law generally holds a dog owner responsible when the dog bites a person in a public place or while the person is lawfully on private property. The owner’s responsibility does not depend on whether the dog had bitten someone before or whether the owner believed the dog was dangerous.
This is different from many negligence claims.
In a covered dog bite case, the injured person generally doesn’t have to prove that the owner knew the dog was vicious. But that doesn’t mean every claim is automatic. The location of the attack, the injured person’s conduct, warning signs, insurance coverage, and the nature of the injury can all affect the case.
What if the insurance company says you provoked the dog?
Florida’s dog bite statute allows the owner’s liability to be reduced when the victim’s own negligence contributed to the incident. Insurance companies may use that rule to argue that the injured person teased, startled, approached, or otherwise provoked the dog.
That argument should not simply be accepted as true. Witness statements, photographs, video, the dog’s location, the owner’s actions, and what happened immediately before the bite are all important.
Does a “Bad Dog” sign prevent a claim?
Florida law recognizes a limited defense when a prominently displayed and easily readable sign includes the words “Bad Dog.” The same statute also includes important exceptions, including an exception for a person under six years old and for injuries caused by a negligent act or omission by the owner.
A sign does not answer every liability question. The exact wording, placement, visibility, age of the injured person, and conduct of the owner still need to be reviewed.
Does the dog need a history of aggression?
No prior bite is required under Florida’s dog bite statute. A claim may still exist even when the owner says the dog had never acted aggressively before.
A prior incident or a formal “dangerous dog” classification may still be relevant to the investigation and to the responsibilities placed on the owner.
Wondering if you have a case? Take our quiz to find out.
A dog bite claim should not be evaluated only by looking at the first medical bill. The full impact may include current treatment, future care, time away from work, lasting scars, and changes to daily life.
Depending on the facts, compensation may address:
- Emergency care, follow-up appointments, medication, and other medical expenses
- Future treatment that medical providers believe may be necessary
- Lost wages or reduced ability to work
- Physical pain and limitations
- Psychological injuries, fear, anxiety, or loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Other losses caused by the attack
These damages are not the same in every case. A fair evaluation requires medical documentation and a clear understanding of how the injury has affected the person’s life.
Dog bite and animal attack claims may overlap with premises liability principles when an unsafe condition, inadequate control, or another property-related issue contributed to the injury.
Do You Need a Lawyer for a Dog Bite?
You are not required to hire a lawyer after every dog bite. But a consultation can be important when the injury required medical treatment, caused scarring, involved a child, led to missed work, or triggered a dispute with an insurance company.
A dog bite injury lawyer can help by:
- Investigating where and how the attack occurred
- Identifying the dog owner and available insurance coverage
- Preserving photographs, witness information, reports, and other evidence
- Reviewing medical records and the expected course of treatment
- Responding to allegations that you provoked the dog or were not lawfully on the property
- Calculating documented economic and non-economic losses
- Communicating and negotiating with the insurance company
- Filing a lawsuit when appropriate and authorized by the client
The insurer may contact you quickly, ask for a recorded statement, or make an early offer. Its goal is to close the claim for as little as it reasonably can. Before signing a release, make sure you understand what rights you are giving up and whether the offer addresses the full injury.
What if the Dog Belongs to a Friend, Neighbor, or Family Member?
Many people hesitate to pursue a claim because they know the dog’s owner. They don’t want to create a personal conflict or cause someone they care about to pay medical bills out of pocket.
In many cases, however, dog bite claims are handled through a homeowner’s or renter’s liability policy. Coverage can vary by policy, dog history, exclusions, and other facts, so it’s important not to assume that coverage exists or that the insurer will voluntarily pay the full value of the loss.
A lawyer can explain the process and communicate with the insurer directly. That allows the injured person to focus on recovery without personally negotiating with a friend, neighbor, or relative.
Can You Have a Claim if the Dog Did Not Bite You?
Dog-related injury claims are not limited to puncture wounds. A loose dog may knock someone down, chase a cyclist into a crash, or lunge and cause a person to fall while trying to get away.
The legal analysis for a non-bite injury may be different from the analysis under Florida’s dog bite statute. The owner’s control of the dog, the location, prior conduct, and the way the injury happened can all matter.
An attorney can review which legal theory may apply without assuming that every dog-related injury is treated the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Claims
Do I have a claim if I was bitten on private property?
Possibly. Florida’s dog bite statute applies when a person is lawfully on private property, including when the person is there by invitation. Whether someone was lawfully present can become disputed, so the facts should be reviewed carefully.
Can my compensation be reduced if I was partly responsible?
Yes. Florida’s dog bite statute says the owner’s liability can be reduced by the percentage of negligence attributed to the person who was bitten. That is why evidence about what happened before the bite matters.
What if a child was bitten by a dog?
A child’s claim may involve immediate treatment, future care, scarring, and emotional harm. Florida’s warning-sign rule also contains a specific exception for children under six.
A parent or guardian should get medical care for the child and obtain legal guidance based on the child’s age and the facts of the attack.
How long do I have to bring a dog bite claim in Florida?
Legal deadlines apply, and the correct deadline may depend on the date of the incident and the claims involved. Waiting can also make photographs, witness information, video, and other evidence harder to preserve. Speak with a Florida attorney promptly rather than assuming there is plenty of time.
Speak With an Orlando Dog Bite Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured by a dog in Orlando, Oviedo, or another Central Florida community, Beers & Gordon can explain your options, handle communication with the insurance company, and help you understand what comes next.
Schedule a free consultation with an attorney today. Every case depends on its own facts, and no particular result can be promised.
Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska in 1997, and two years later began working at a firm in Orlando handling insurance defense matters on cases involving vehicle accidents, negligence, product liability, and more. He established Beers & Gordon P.A. with David Beers in 2009 to represent the rights of people injured because of negligence. He is a member of the invitation-only National Trial Lawyers organization and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.