Miami Dog Bite Lawyer

Injured by a Dog in Miami? Understand Your Legal Options

A dog attack can happen in seconds. You may be walking through your neighborhood, visiting someone’s home, making a delivery, or spending time in a public area when an uncontrolled dog attacks.

The injuries can be painful and frightening. Some victims need stitches, surgery, infection treatment, physical therapy, or treatment for permanent scars. Others struggle with anxiety or fear long after their physical wounds begin to heal.

A Miami dog bite accident lawyer at Gimenez & Carrillo, LLC can review what happened, explain how Florida dog bite laws may apply, and help you understand your options for pursuing a claim.

Our Miami law office serves injured people throughout Miami and Miami-Dade County.

Gimenez & Carrillo, LLC
5775 Waterford District Dr. Suite 300
Miami, FL 33126-2579
(305) 444-3000

Call (305) 444-3000 or Request a Free Initial Consultation. Hablamos Español.

Dog bite injury matters at Gimenez & Carrillo are handled by a Florida law firm led by Managing Partners Angel L. Gimenez, Esq. and Jose I. Carrillo, Esq.. Learn more about our broader Personal Injury practice.

Dog Bite and Animal Attack Claims in Miami

Dogs are part of everyday life throughout Miami. People encounter them in residential neighborhoods, apartment buildings, condominiums, parks, sidewalks, shopping areas, and other shared spaces.

Most interactions are harmless. However, an unsecured or poorly controlled dog can cause serious injuries with little warning.

A child may be bitten while visiting a neighbor. A delivery driver may encounter a loose dog after approaching a front door. A tenant may be attacked in an apartment hallway. A jogger may be chased or knocked down by a dog that escaped from a yard.

These cases can raise several questions. Who owned the dog? Where did the attack happen? Was the injured person legally on the property? Did anyone contribute to the incident? Does homeowners, renters, or another type of insurance apply?

A Miami dog bite lawyer can investigate these questions and explain how Florida law may apply.

You can also learn more about our statewide Dog Bites & Animal Attacks practice.

Florida Dog Bite Laws: When Is a Dog Owner Liable?

Florida has a specific law addressing a dog owner’s responsibility when a dog bites another person.

Under Florida Statute 767.04, a dog owner may be liable when the dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property. This can include an attack that happens on the dog owner’s own property.

Importantly, an injured person does not always need to prove that the dog previously bit someone or that its owner already knew the dog was dangerous.

That does not mean every dog bite claim is automatic.

The facts still matter. Questions may include whether the injured person was lawfully on the property, whether the person’s actions contributed to the incident, whether a legally significant warning was posted, and whether other defenses apply.

What if the Dog Never Bit Anyone Before?

A first bite can still result in owner liability under Florida law.

Florida’s dog bite statute does not generally require an injured person to prove that the dog had previously attacked someone or that the owner knew the animal was vicious.

Evidence of previous aggressive behavior may still matter in some cases, particularly when additional negligence claims are involved.

Can the Dog Owner Claim the Victim Was at Fault?

Yes. A dog owner or insurance company may argue that the injured person contributed to what happened.

For example, they may claim the person acted carelessly around the animal, ignored a warning, entered an area without permission, or otherwise contributed to the attack.

Florida law provides that negligence by the person bitten can reduce the dog owner’s liability based on the percentage that the victim’s negligence contributed to the incident.

However, an insurance company’s allegation does not automatically establish what happened.

Witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, animal-control records, medical records, and other evidence may help show the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Common Ways Dog Attacks Happen in Miami

Dog bites often happen during normal daily activities. The circumstances surrounding an attack can help determine who may be responsible and what insurance coverage might apply.

• Loose or escaped dogs: A dog may get through an open gate, broken fence, damaged screen, or unsecured front door before attacking someone on a sidewalk or neighboring property.
  
• Apartment and condominium incidents: Bites may occur in elevators, hallways, stairwells, parking areas, courtyards, dog-walking areas, or other shared spaces.
  
• Visitors at private homes: Friends, relatives, contractors, repair workers, and other invited guests may be injured when a dog is not properly controlled.
  
• Delivery and service workers: Postal workers, food delivery drivers, utility workers, landscapers, maintenance workers, and contractors regularly enter areas where dogs may be present.
  
• Parks and public areas: An unleashed or poorly controlled dog may attack someone at a park, on a sidewalk, near a playground, or along a jogging or walking route.
  
• Children interacting with dogs: Children may not recognize signs that a dog is frightened or becoming aggressive. Because of their height, they may also suffer serious injuries to the face, head, and neck.

The fact that an attack happened unexpectedly does not necessarily prevent an injured person from pursuing a claim.

Dog Bites at Miami Apartments and Condominiums

Miami and surrounding communities have thousands of apartment buildings, condominiums, townhomes, and other multifamily properties where residents and their dogs share common areas.

An attack may happen in an elevator in Brickell, a condominium hallway in Downtown Miami, a parking area in Doral, an apartment courtyard in Kendall, or another shared area.

These cases can raise additional questions beyond dog ownership.

For example, evidence may show that a dog had previously escaped, acted aggressively in common areas, or generated complaints. There may also be questions about gates, fencing, building rules, property management, or who knew about an ongoing problem.

A property owner, landlord, condominium association, or property manager is not automatically liable simply because a dog attack occurred on the property.

However, depending on the circumstances, the dog owner’s conduct may not be the only issue that needs to be investigated.

Common Injuries After a Dog Bite or Animal Attack

A dog bite can cause more than a surface wound. Teeth may damage muscles, nerves, tendons, and other structures below the skin. A person can also suffer injuries while falling or trying to escape.

Puncture Wounds and Lacerations

Dog teeth can cause deep punctures, torn skin, and irregular wounds. Treatment may include cleaning the wound, stitches, antibiotics, or surgery.

Hand, Arm, Leg, and Foot Injuries

People often use their hands and arms to protect themselves during an attack. Others suffer bites to the legs or feet while trying to escape.

These injuries may affect grip strength, walking, balance, movement, and the ability to perform certain types of work.

Facial, Head, and Neck Injuries

Facial injuries can be especially serious. Children may be particularly vulnerable because their faces are closer to a dog’s height.

Some injuries may require reconstructive or plastic surgery and can result in permanent scars or disfigurement.

Nerve, Tendon, and Muscle Damage

Deep bites can injure structures beneath the skin. Victims may experience weakness, numbness, reduced movement, chronic pain, or loss of function.

Broken Bones and Fall Injuries

Not every dog-related injury involves a bite.

A large dog may knock someone down or cause a person to fall while trying to get away. The resulting injuries can include fractures, sprains, knee injuries, back injuries, or head injuries.

Infection Concerns

Animal bites can become infected. A medical provider can evaluate the wound, clean it, determine whether medication is appropriate, and advise you about tetanus, rabies, or other concerns.

Scarring and Emotional Trauma

Visible scars can affect confidence and quality of life. Some victims also experience anxiety, nightmares, fear of dogs, or other emotional effects following an attack.

Children may have an especially difficult time dealing with the fear and trauma of a serious dog bite.

What Compensation May Include After a Miami Dog Bite

There is no standard settlement amount for a dog bite injury.

The potential value of a claim depends on factors such as the severity of the injuries, medical treatment, insurance coverage, long-term effects, disputed fault, lost income, and other facts.

Depending on the circumstances, a dog bite claim may include compensation for:

• Medical care: Emergency treatment, wound care, stitches, medication, diagnostic testing, surgery, specialist visits, and follow-up treatment.
  
• Future medical needs: Reconstructive surgery, scar treatment, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, or other expected care.
  
• Lost income: Wages or other earnings lost because the injured person could not work while recovering or attending medical appointments.
  
• Reduced earning ability: Losses that may result when permanent injuries limit a person’s ability to continue working in the same capacity.
  
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, sleep problems, fear, and loss of enjoyment of normal activities.
  
• Scarring and disfigurement: The physical and emotional impact of permanent scars, particularly when an injury affects the face, hands, arms, or another visible area.
  
• Out-of-pocket expenses: Medication, bandages, transportation expenses, replacement clothing, and other costs connected to the injury.
  
• Serious long-term injuries: Damages associated with nerve damage, reduced mobility, disability, loss of function, or other lasting effects.

A lawyer cannot guarantee the amount or outcome of a claim. However, reviewing the full effect of the injuries can help determine which damages may be appropriate to pursue.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Miami

What you do after an attack can affect both your health and the evidence available if you later make a claim.

• Get to safety: Move away from the dog and avoid putting yourself or anyone else in further danger.
  
• Seek medical attention: Have the wound evaluated even if it initially appears minor. Dog bites can cause deeper tissue damage and may become infected.
  
• Identify the dog and its owner: If it is safe, obtain the owner’s name and contact information and ask about the dog’s vaccination status.
  
• Report the attack: Miami-Dade County provides a process for reporting animal bites. An official report can help document the incident and identify the animal involved.
  
• Take photographs: Photograph your injuries as soon as possible and continue documenting them while they heal. Also photograph the location, gates, fences, warning signs, or other relevant conditions.
  
• Get witness information: Ask anyone who saw the attack for their name and contact information.
  
• Preserve records: Keep medical bills, medical records, prescriptions, receipts, photographs, missed-work documentation, and communications involving the dog owner or insurer.
  
• Use caution with insurance companies: Consider understanding your legal options before giving a recorded statement, signing a release, or accepting a settlement.

Every case is different, so these general steps are not a substitute for legal or medical advice about your specific circumstances.

How to Report a Dog Bite in Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County asks people to report bites involving dogs or cats so Animal Services can investigate.

After addressing immediate medical needs, a dog bite can generally be reported to Miami-Dade Animal Services through 311 or the county’s Animal Bite Report system.

For a severe injury or immediate danger, call 911.

A report may help document important information about the incident, including the animal involved and the circumstances of the bite. Medical providers and public health officials may also address issues such as vaccination history and possible rabies exposure.

Reporting a bite is separate from pursuing a personal injury claim. A report does not determine who is legally responsible, but it can become one piece of evidence used to understand what happened.

How the Dog Bite Insurance Settlement Process May Work

Many people hesitate to bring a dog bite claim because the dog belongs to a friend, relative, neighbor, or landlord.

However, many dog bite claims involve insurance coverage rather than a request that the dog owner personally pay the entire claim.

Depending on the circumstances, possible coverage may include a homeowners policy, renters policy, umbrella policy, business liability policy, or another source of liability insurance.

Coverage is not automatic. Insurance policies can contain limits, exclusions, conditions, or specific provisions involving dogs and other animals.

The claims process may include several stages.

Identifying Insurance Coverage

The first step may involve identifying the dog’s owner and determining which insurance policies could apply.

This can become more complicated when an attack occurs at a rental property, condominium, apartment complex, business, or another location the dog owner does not personally own.

Investigating the Attack

Evidence may include photographs, videos, witness statements, animal reports, property information, medical records, and information about the dog.

If the animal had a history of escaping, threatening people, or acting aggressively, those facts may also become relevant.

Reviewing the Injuries

The insurance company may examine the type of injury, treatment received, recovery period, permanent scarring, lost income, and whether future medical treatment may be necessary.

The full impact of an injury may not always be known immediately after the attack.

Presenting and Negotiating the Claim

Evidence supporting liability and damages may be presented to the insurance company.

The insurer may respond with questions, requests for records, legal defenses, disputes about treatment, or a settlement offer.

An initial settlement offer does not necessarily reflect the full value of a claim.

Considering Further Legal Action

If responsibility, insurance coverage, or damages remain disputed, further legal action may be considered depending on the facts.

A Miami dog bite attorney can explain the available options and help you decide how you want to proceed.

How Gimenez & Carrillo Can Help After a Dog Attack

Dog bite cases can involve more than showing that an injury occurred. Questions about ownership, insurance coverage, fault, medical treatment, scarring, and long-term damages can all affect a claim.

Depending on the circumstances, Gimenez & Carrillo may be able to help by:

• Investigating the attack: Reviewing where and how the incident happened and gathering available evidence.
  
• Identifying responsible parties: Determining who owned or controlled the dog and whether another party’s actions may also need to be examined.
  
• Locating insurance coverage: Investigating homeowners, renters, business, umbrella, or other liability policies that may apply.
  
• Preserving evidence: Gathering photographs, reports, witness information, available video, and other documentation.
  
• Reviewing medical damages: Examining medical treatment, expected recovery, scarring, future medical needs, lost income, and other effects of the injury.
  
• Handling insurance communications: Communicating with insurers and responding to disputes about liability, coverage, or damages.
  
• Evaluating settlement offers: Reviewing an insurance offer in light of the injuries, documented losses, available coverage, and other case-specific factors.
  
• Discussing litigation when necessary: Explaining possible next steps when a claim cannot be resolved through settlement discussions.
  

Our attorneys can help you understand the process so you can make informed decisions about your case.

Learn more about Managing Partners Angel L. Gimenez, Esq. and Jose I. Carrillo, Esq..

Dog Bite and Animal Injury Cases We Handle

Gimenez & Carrillo may assist with different types of dog bite and animal-related injury claims.

• Residential dog attacks: Bites at private homes, rental properties, apartment buildings, condominiums, and neighborhood common areas.
  
• Public-area attacks: Dog bites on sidewalks, streets, parks, walking areas, playgrounds, and other public spaces.
  
• Delivery and service worker attacks: Injuries involving postal workers, delivery drivers, contractors, landscapers, maintenance workers, and others lawfully entering property.
  
• Dog bites involving children: Cases involving facial wounds, permanent scars, emotional trauma, and other injuries suffered by children.
  
• Loose-dog incidents: Attacks involving dogs that escaped through gates, fences, doors, or other barriers.
  
• Leash and control incidents: Injuries involving dogs that were not properly restrained or controlled by the person handling them.
  
• Knockdown and chase injuries: Falls, bicycle crashes, and other injuries caused by a dog even when the animal did not bite the victim.
  
• Severe or permanent injuries: Cases involving nerve damage, tendon injuries, fractures, infection, disfigurement, disability, or significant psychological trauma.
  
• Fatal dog attacks: When an animal attack results in death, eligible survivors may have options under Florida law. Learn more about our Florida Wrongful Death Lawyers.

Serving Dog Bite Victims Throughout Miami and Miami-Dade County

Gimenez & Carrillo serves injured people from our Miami office at 5775 Waterford District Dr. Suite 300, Miami, FL 33126-2579.

We assist clients throughout Miami and surrounding Miami-Dade County communities, including Downtown Miami, Brickell, Little Havana, Flagami, Allapattah, Wynwood, Edgewater, Midtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Kendall, Doral, Hialeah, Miami Lakes, North Miami, and Miami Beach.

A dog attack may happen in a Brickell condominium, a Little Havana neighborhood, an apartment community in Doral, a private home in Kendall, a park in Miami Beach, or another residential or public area throughout South Florida.

You do not need to live near our Miami office for us to review your case.

What Our Clients Say

Testimonials reflect individual client experiences and do not guarantee a similar outcome in another case.

Frequently Asked Questions About Miami Dog Bite Claims

Speak With a Miami Dog Bite Lawyer

A serious dog attack can leave you dealing with pain, medical treatment, missed work, emotional distress, and permanent scars.

You do not have to figure out the insurance and legal issues on your own.

A Miami dog bite lawyer at Gimenez & Carrillo, LLC can review what happened, explain Florida dog bite law, investigate possible insurance coverage, and help you understand the options that may be available based on the facts of your case.

Call (305) 444-3000 or Request a Free Initial Consultation. Hablamos Español.