A Bradenton dog bite lawyer represents people injured by dog bites and dog attacks in Bradenton, Palmetto, and across Manatee County. Florida law makes a dog owner responsible for bite injuries to people in public places or lawfully on private property, even if the dog never bit anyone before, and most claims are paid by homeowners or renters insurance.
Heintz Law represents dog bite victims and their families in Bradenton, Palmetto, Lakewood Ranch, Anna Maria Island, Manatee County, and the surrounding counties. Founding Partner Steven E. Heintz and our Bradenton dog bite attorneys handle these cases as part of the firm's personal injury lawyer practice.
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☎ Call NowAfter a dog bite, wash the wound with soap and water, get medical care the same day, and report the bite to local animal services or law enforcement. Then get the owner's name, address, and insurance information, confirm the dog's rabies vaccination status, photograph the wounds and the location, and collect witness contact information.
Animal services generally requires a dog that bites someone to be confined and observed for a period afterward for signs of rabies. The bite report also creates an official record of the dog, the owner, and the incident, which can matter later in the claim.
Florida's dog bite law makes the owner of a dog that bites someone responsible for the resulting damages when the person bitten was in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner's own property. The owner is responsible regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten before or the owner knew it was dangerous.
This is called strict liability, meaning the injured person does not have to prove the owner was careless. Florida is not a "one free bite" state. A person is lawfully on private property when they are there by the owner's express or implied invitation, such as a guest or customer, or when they are performing a duty under state or federal law, such as a mail carrier delivering the mail.
Yes. A separate Florida law makes dog owners responsible for damage their dogs cause to people, animals, and property, and Florida courts have applied strict liability to non-bite injuries as well. That can include being knocked down, jumped on, or chased into a fall, as well as injuries to a pet attacked by another dog.
Knock-down injuries are common with large dogs and can cause serious harm to older adults and children, including hip fractures, wrist fractures, and head injuries. Owners can also be responsible under ordinary negligence principles when they fail to restrain or control a dog they know is aggressive.
Sometimes. Florida law says a dog owner is generally not liable for a bite on the owner's property if a sign including the words "Bad Dog" was displayed prominently and was easy to read. The sign defense does not apply when the person bitten was under 6 years old, or when the owner's own negligence caused the injury.
Whether a sign was prominent and readable is a question of fact. A sign hidden behind landscaping, faded, or posted where a visitor would not see it may not qualify. Photographs of the property taken soon after the bite help answer that question.
Yes. Under Florida's dog bite law, any negligence by the person bitten that helped cause the bite reduces the owner's liability by that person's percentage of fault. Insurers sometimes argue that the person provoked the dog, ignored warnings, or entered a restricted area, so the facts of how the bite happened matter.
Claims brought on a negligence theory are also subject to Florida's modified comparative fault rule, which bars recovery for a person found more than 50 percent at fault. Young children generally cannot be held to the same standard as adults, and Florida law treats very young children differently in several respects.
The dog's owner is the primary responsible party under Florida's dog bite law. Depending on the facts, others may also be responsible, such as a person keeping or controlling the dog, a landlord who knew about a dangerous dog and had the ability to remove it, a business that allowed a dog on its premises, or a dog walker, groomer, or boarding facility.
Landlord and business claims usually depend on what the property owner knew about the dog and whether it had the ability to prevent the harm. Our premises liability lawyer page explains property owner responsibility in more detail.
Most dog bite claims in Florida are paid by the owner's homeowners or renters insurance liability coverage. Some policies exclude certain dogs or breeds or carry lower limits for dog-related injuries, so identifying the exact policy and its terms early matters. Umbrella policies may provide additional coverage.
Florida's Pam Rock Act, effective July 1, 2025, requires the owner of a dog officially classified as dangerous to carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance. It also requires owners who know of a dog's dangerous tendencies to securely confine the dog as if it had been declared dangerous. When a dog bite happens at a business, the business's commercial general liability policy may also apply.
Under Florida law, a dangerous dog is generally one that animal control records show has aggressively bitten, attacked, endangered, or severely injured a person, has severely injured or killed a domestic animal off the owner's property more than once, or has chased or approached a person in a menacing way. The classification is breed-neutral.
Owners of dogs classified as dangerous must register the dog, keep it in a proper enclosure, and meet other requirements. Prior complaints, animal control records, and earlier dangerous dog investigations can be important evidence that the owner knew the dog was a risk.
Dog bites can cause deep puncture wounds, torn skin and muscle, nerve and tendon damage, broken bones, serious infections, permanent scarring, and disfigurement, especially to the face and hands. Children are particularly vulnerable to bites on the face and head. Many victims also experience fear, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress after an attack.
Our scarring and disfigurement page explains how lasting scars are documented and valued in an injury claim.
When a dog bites a child, the parents may bring a claim on the child's behalf and may have their own claim for the child's medical expenses. Florida's "Bad Dog" sign defense does not apply to children under 6. Settlements for minors above certain amounts generally require court approval to protect the child's recovery.
Children often suffer facial bites and may need plastic surgery, scar revision as they grow, and counseling. Future care is part of the claim even when it will not happen for years. Our child injury lawyer page explains how claims for children work.
A dog bite victim may recover past and future medical expenses, including plastic surgery and scar revision, lost wages and lost earning ability, and damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, scarring, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. The amount available depends on the injuries, the evidence, and the insurance coverage.
Factors that affect value include the location and severity of the wounds, the need for surgery, permanent scarring, the victim's age, consistent treatment, the impact on daily life and work, the owner's knowledge of prior aggression, available insurance, and how well the case is prepared for trial.
For most Florida dog bites that happened on or after March 24, 2023, a lawsuit must generally be filed within two years of the bite. Bites before that date may fall under the older four-year period. Claims involving a government-owned dog require written pre-suit notice and follow separate timelines.
Wrongful death claims arising from a fatal dog attack generally must be filed within two years of the death. Waiting also makes it harder to locate witnesses, photograph the scene as it was, and obtain animal control records.
When a dog attack causes a death, Florida law allows the personal representative of the estate to bring a wrongful death claim for the surviving spouse, children, parents, and the estate. Survivors may recover lost support and services, loss of companionship, mental pain and suffering, and medical and funeral expenses.
Under the Pam Rock Act, owners whose dogs cause severe injury or death can also face increased criminal penalties in certain circumstances. A criminal case is separate from the family's civil claim. Our wrongful death page explains who can recover under Florida law.
Our Bradenton dog bite attorneys handle each case in stages, from first contact through investigation, insurance claims, lawsuit, discovery, mediation, trial, and appeal. Every file is prepared from the start as if a jury will hear it, because the insurance company's view of trial risk shapes how it values the claim.
Steven E. Heintz is the Founding Partner of Heintz Law, a Bradenton firm that represents only injured people and their families. His approach is careful preparation, aggressive advocacy where the facts call for it, and trial readiness from the first conference. Settlement on the right number is welcome. Settlement that shortchanges an injured person is not.
Dog bite cases are handled on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless there is a recovery.
If you or your child was bitten or attacked by a dog in Bradenton, Palmetto, Lakewood Ranch, Anna Maria Island, or anywhere in Manatee County or the surrounding counties, Heintz Law can investigate the attack, identify the available coverage, and protect your rights under Florida law.
Have our 30 years of experience in personal injury go to work for you. No fees or costs unless we get results.
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