A Dog Bites Attorney in Tampa, FL, Who Puts Florida's Strict Liability Law to Work for You
The path to accountability for a dog bite injury may be more straightforward than you expect, though real challenges remain, from identifying the right insurance coverage to documenting the full impact of your injury. Many people wrongly assume they need to prove a dog had a history of aggression, but under Florida’s strict liability framework, you can hold an owner responsible even if their dog has never bitten anyone before. A Tampa dog bites lawyer who understands this law can help you use it to your advantage.
At Ligori & Ligori, Injury Lawyers, we recognize how difficult dog bite injury matters are for the victim and their entire family. Not only are you facing serious injuries that may involve loss of function or disfiguring wounds, but if the dog that bit you belongs to a neighbor, a friend, or a family member, you may be hesitant to pursue a claim. That hesitation is completely understandable, and it's one we hear often, but it also doesn’t change the reality that your physical recuperation and financial stability depend on obtaining a meaningful recovery.
Our firm understands both what’s at stake and what matters to you. When appropriate, we’re prepared to take your case all the way to court, fighting relentlessly to maximize your compensation. But we also know that, in circumstances where your relationship with the dog or its owner is personal and important to you, pursuing a claim doesn't have to come at the expense of that relationship. We work with you to find the right path forward for your specific situation.
Contact Ligori & Ligori, Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation with a dog bites attorney in Tampa, FL. There's no cost, no pressure, and no judgment. Our focus is on what’s right for you, and that means answering your questions, advising you of your rights, and helping you understand what a claim could look like in your unique circumstances.
Types of Dog Bite Injuries We Handle in Tampa and Throughout Florida
Dog bites range widely in severity, from injuries that affect your day-to-day routine only temporarily to devastating losses of function that change everything. The type of injury you've suffered shapes both your treatment and your claim.
- Puncture wounds and lacerations: Deep tears in the skin and underlying tissue often require stitches, wound care, and monitoring for infection.
- Nerve and tendon damage: Bites to the hands, fingers, or joints can damage nerves and tendons, sometimes affecting movement and sensation long after the wound itself heals.
- Infection: Dog bites carry a meaningful risk of infection, including bacteria that can require aggressive antibiotic treatment or additional medical intervention.
- Scarring and disfigurement: Bites, especially to the face, can leave permanent scarring that affects a person's appearance and confidence for the rest of their life.
- Injuries to children: Children face a disproportionate risk of serious dog bite injuries, particularly to the face and head, given their smaller size relative to the dog.
- Catastrophic injuries: In the most severe attacks, a dog bite can lead to amputation, traumatic brain injury from a fall during the attack, spinal cord damage from a neck injury or back injury, or crush injuries to bones and joints. Harm of this nature is often serious enough to change a person's life permanently.
Florida's strict liability law applies specifically to bites. If you were injured by a dog in another way, such as being knocked down, chased into traffic, or hurt while trying to get away, different legal theories may apply. A Tampa dog bites lawyer can help you understand which laws fit your situation.
Dog Bite Injuries in Children Can Be Especially Serious
Children, particularly younger children, are especially vulnerable to serious dog bite injuries involving the face, head, and neck because of their smaller stature. An attack can leave visible scarring or disfigurement and, in serious cases, require plastic or reconstructive surgery.
The effects may also extend beyond the physical injury. Some children experience nightmares, anxiety, fear of dogs, or other lasting trauma after an attack.
Whether a child is bitten by a familiar dog during a playdate or family gathering, at a neighbor's home, or by an unrestrained dog in a public space, a claim should account for both the immediate medical consequences and any lasting physical or emotional needs.
Florida's Strict Liability Law for Dog Bites
Florida Statute 767.04 makes a dog's owner responsible for a bite that occurs in a public place or while the victim is lawfully present on private property, including the owner's own property. Unlike many states, Florida doesn't follow a "one bite rule." The owner doesn't get a pass just because the dog has never bitten anyone before.
That said, an owner isn't automatically liable in every circumstance. A few defenses can affect a dog bite injury claim.
Trespassing
If you were trespassing on the owner's property at the time of the bite, the owner may not be liable. This defense generally applies when someone enters property without permission and without a legitimate reason to be there, rather than to invited guests, delivery workers, or others lawfully present.
The "Bad Dog" Sign Defense
If the owner displayed a prominent, easily readable sign containing the words ‘Bad Dog,’ and you were six or older at the time of the bite, the sign may provide a defense to strict liability. The defense does not apply when the owner's own negligence proximately caused the injury. A small or hidden sign may not be enough to support this defense.
Provocation and Comparative Fault
Florida law allows a dog bite victim’s own negligence to reduce the amount they can recover. If your own actions contributed to the bite, your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault. This framework may apply if you are accused of:
- Teasing or provoking the dog
- Ignoring a clear warning from the dog’s owner
- Entering an area you were told to avoid
If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, Florida’s broader comparative fault law may bar recovery entirely, depending on how those rules apply to your particular claim.
Insurance companies often raise provocation as a defense even when the facts don't clearly support it, since it can significantly reduce or eliminate what they owe. A thorough investigation is often the best way to counter an unsupported provocation claim. As your dog bites attorney in Tampa, FL, we’re prepared to uncover exactly what happened before the bite, including any witnesses or evidence of the dog's behavior leading up to the incident.
