What if My Dog Bites or Injures Someone

For centuries dogs have been known as man’s best friend. The Wellington and Delray Beach Personal Injury Attorneys at the Law Offices of Aronberg & Aronberg, Injury Law Firm love dogs. However, dogs are still animals and certain precautions must be considered. Dog owners should be aware of the law and their responsibilities to protect other people (or animals) from being injured by their dog.

Florida Dog Bite Law:

Florida Statute 767.01 holds dog owners liable for any injuries caused by their dogs to another person or animal. This rule is strictly followed. It does not matter whether your dog has displayed aggressive behavior in the past.  Dog owners are responsible for the very first bite. Additionally, a dog owner may be responsible for injuries unintentionally caused by their dogs. It is not uncommon for our law firm to get a phone call that someone (usually an elderly person or young child) was seriously injured after they were knocked to the ground by a playful dog.

Also, most homeowners’ insurance policies do NOT provide coverage for injuries caused by dogs. This means if your dog injures someone (or another animal) you likely have to pay out of pocket for the damages.

Limiting Liability For Injuries Caused by Dogs:

The best way to limit liability for dog-related injuries is to ensure your dog is properly trained, socialized and supervised. However, we understand some dogs have complex behavioral problems that are not easily fixed. In these circumstances, a dog owner may display a sign outside of their property which reads “Bad Dog.” Accordingly, guest enter the dog owner’s property at their own risk. The dog owner will only be responsible for injuries caused by their dog if the owner could have reasonably acted to prevent the injury.

It is important to note, a sign that reads “Beware of Dog” is not compliant with the statute. If you wish to protect yourself from liability, and put the guest on fair warning about the dangers of entering your property, the sign must read “Bad Dog.”

If you have any questions about dog bite law or what to do after a dog bite please call the Wellington & Delray Beach Personal Injury Attorneys at Aronberg & Aronberg, Injury Law Firm for a free consultation at (561)-266-9191.

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