Palm Beach Gardens Dog Bite Lawyer
A dog bite is a serious matter. Every year, thousands of people visit Florida emergency rooms after being bitten, mauled, or attacked by a dog. Even dogs that have no prior history of biting or dangerous behavior can suddenly turn against an innocent person without warning. And if they do, the animal’s owner can be held legally responsible for the victim’s injuries.
The Palm Beach Gardens dog bite lawyers at Steinberg Law represent victims who are faced with the prospect of a long physical and psychological recovery from their injuries. We understand that while the dog bite itself may have only lasted a few seconds or minutes, the emotional and financial fallout can last a lifetime. That is why our team is dedicated to ensuring that you receive full compensation for your injuries and other losses.
Florida Holds Dog Owners Strictly Liable
When it comes to dog bites, Florida is a “strict liability” state. This means that if a dog bites or attacks you, you do not have to prove that the animal had a prior history of dangerous or aggressive behavior in order to demand compensation from the owner. The owner is not allowed to “plead ignorance” and insist their animal never hurt anyone before you.
Even under strict liability, however, a dog owner can still offer up one or more defenses when sued by a bite victim. For example, the owner may claim the victim provoked the animal in some way, or that the victim was trespassing on the dog owner’s land. Under Florida law, a court can reduce the amount of compensation owed a victim if they are found to have contributed in any way to the dog’s attack.
As for compensation, Florida law entitles a dog bite victim to seek both economic and non-economic damages arising from their injuries. Economic damages include medical bills, lost income due to time missed from work, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages cover more difficult to quantify losses, such as the victim’s pain and suffering and emotional trauma.
Contact Steinberg Law Today
In July 2025, new laws took effect in Florida with respect to certain dogs found to be “dangerous” by a local animal control authority. Such dangerous dogs must now be microchipped, spayed or neutered, and kept securely in a proper enclosure. Additionally, owners of dangerous dogs must carry at least $100,000 of liability insurance to cover potential damages if their animal bites or attacks someone. (These rules apply to individual animals, based on a scale specified in the law, as opposed to breeds of dog.)
These new rules, however, do not replace Florida’s imposition of strict liability on all dog owners. Anyone who owns a dog has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure their animal does not hurt others. And victims have the right to demand compensation when owners fail in those responsibilities. So if you have been hurt by someone else’s pet and need legal advice and representation from a skilled Palm Beach Gardens dog bite lawyer, contact Steinberg Law today to schedule a consultation.
