How do you protect yourself—or a loved one, including your own pet—after a dog bite?
First Aid for Dog Bites
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration has provided guidance for first aid after an animal bite. Washing the wound thoroughly with fresh water and soap is a crucial first step in preventing infection.
But don’t delay—get help, especially if the bite is on the “neck, head, face, hand, fingers, or feet.”
Seek Immediate Care
No matter how simple the bite may seem, you must go to a doctor or bring a bitten pet to a veterinarian. Saliva or soil in the wound can create an infection that threatens life and limb. If the dog caused another type of injury—a scratching abrasion, a fall—you still need to see a doctor. After trauma, some injuries and complications do not appear until later.
Before you go, try to get as much information about the dog as possible. Ask the owner for contact information and the dog’s vaccination status. If you cannot find this out or locate an owner, you must tell a doctor or veterinarian as soon as you arrive for an exam—there is a risk of rabies.
Anyone exposed to rabies needs to start preventive treatment immediately; otherwise, rabies is almost always fatal. Even rabies-vaccinated animals may need boosters after exposure. You should also inform the Hillsborough County Health Department about a possible rabies exposure as soon as you can.
Document the Injuries
Whenever possible, you should take photos for later reference, showing:
- The bite or injuries caused
- The dog responsible
- The location of the incident
Your medical exam will create records that you’ll need for your claim, especially if infections or injuries appear after that day. Otherwise, you may be unable to prove that the complications resulted from that attack.
Stay Off Social Media
Don’t post about your injury. In fact, it’s best not to post about anything for a while. Once you have made a claim for damages, your internet presence can be under surveillance from insurance investigators or defense attorneys. They will review your social media as well, taking a hard look at when, why, and how you made any posts.
If, for example, you post about a hobby, defense counsel may argue you cannot be suffering as much pain or muscle trauma as you claim. Any photos of yourself at social events or on vacation can be used to undermine a claim of emotional distress. Discuss any social media use with an attorney while your claim is ongoing.
Work with a Personal Injury Attorney
You may be reluctant to take legal action if you know the dog and the owner involved. Even so, you need to protect your right to recover financially for injuries and complications. Dog attacks often require expensive treatment for infections or preventive rabies shots. Severe injuries can lead to lifelong disabilities or disfigurement.
A homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy often covers dog bite claims; in some cases, Florida law requires the owner to have such a policy.
Florida Law on Dog Attack Liability
In Florida, a dog owner is generally liable for damages from an attack, whether or not the dog had ever bitten or shown any “viciousness” before. See Fla. Stat. § 767.04. When the dog owner does know of any “dangerous propensities,” they must keep it “securely confine[d] in a proper enclosure.” See § 767.01.
However, if the person attacked was careless in any way that was a “proximate cause” of the incident, they cannot recover the full amount of their damages. The damage award will be reduced by a percentage that represents their negligence. For example, if someone were 15% responsible for a biting incident, they would only be able to recover 85% of their damages.
A dog owner will not be liable for damages if the person attacked was trespassing. The owner may also not be liable for damages if they posted a prominent, easily readable sign saying BAD DOG. Nonetheless, if the attack resulted from the owner’s negligence or the dog attacked a child under 6 years old, they could still be held liable.
“Dangerous Dog” Status in Florida
When a local animal control authority determines that a dog has aggressively menaced people, attacked a person without provocation, or severely injured other animals, the dog is classified as dangerous. See § 767.11.
The governor recently signed new legislation adding more requirements and penalties for dangerous-dog owners. As of July 2025, the owner of a dangerous dog must carry at least $100,000 of liability insurance. They must have a legally sufficient enclosure for the dog, and they cannot take it outside of one without a muzzle, leash, and other precautions. A dangerous dog can be euthanized if it severely injures a person. See § 767.12(4)(b).
The owner of a dangerous dog faces criminal penalties if their dog injures someone. Even if a dog has not been legally classified as dangerous, the owner may face a misdemeanor charge if they knew it to be dangerous. See § 767.136.
Your Tampa Legal Team
Don’t try to go it alone—we’re waiting to hear from you. Our Tampa personal injury lawyers can guide you through the insurance settlement process and, if necessary, represent you in court to get you the recovery you need. Call us today at 813-582-3321 for your free first consultation.
