Coral Springs Dog Bite Attorney

Coral Springs Dog Bite Lawyer

If a dog has injured you in Coral Springs, what are your rights? Do you have to prove the owner was careless? What if the dog had never been aggressive before?

Florida law holds dog owners responsible for injuries their dog causes, regardless of the animal's history or propensity for aggression. This is a legal principle called "strict liability" which means the owner is liable for damages even if he/she was not negligent. You do not need to prove the owner knew his/her dog might be dangerous. However, an owner's liability may be reduced if the victim's own negligence was the proximate cause of the incident, and the reduction is proportionate to the percentage of the victim's fault subject to HB837's comparative fault laws.

At Cindy Goldstein Law, we understand the physical pain and financial pressure that follows a dog bite. Our practice focuses on helping people in your exact situation. We’re available to explain your options and handle the legal process, so you can focus on healing. 

What Are the First Steps After a Dog Bite?

Focus on these steps right away:

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Even seemingly minor bites might lead to serious infections down the line. Dog mouths contain bacteria, like Capnocytophaga, which could cause severe complications. A doctor's report also creates a formal record of your injuries, which is key evidence.
2. Identify the Dog and Owner: If possible and safe, get the owner's name, address, and phone number. Ask for information about the dog's vaccination history. If there were any witnesses, get their contact information as well.
3. Report the Bite: Contact Broward County Animal Care to file an official report. In Coral Springs, you can call them directly at 954-346-4422. This creates a public record of the incident and helps authorities track potentially dangerous animals.
4. Document Everything: Take clear photos of your injuries right after the attack and in the following days to show how they have progressed. Keep the clothing you were wearing. Write down everything you remember about the incident as soon as you can.

How Is Compensation Calculated in a Florida Dog Bite Case?

Financial compensation is designed to relieve the burdens an attack has placed on you and your family. These financial remedies, called damages, are separated into two main types.

Economic Damages: The Tangible Costs

These are the specific, calculable expenses that have resulted from the injury.

• Medical Bills (Past and Future): This covers everything from the ambulance ride and emergency room visit to future needs like plastic surgery for scar revision, physical therapy, or counseling.
• Lost Wages: Payment for the work and income you missed during your recovery.
• Loss of Future Earning Capacity: If the injury permanently changes your ability to perform your job or earn the same income, this calculates the wages you would have earned over your lifetime.

Non-Economic Damages: The Intangible Harm

These damages acknowledge the ways the injury has affected your quality of life. They don't have a clear price tag but are just as real.

• Pain and Suffering: This accounts for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the attack.
• Scarring and Disfigurement: Dog bites often leave lasting scars, especially on visible areas like the face, hands, and arms. This addresses the cosmetic and psychological weight of those scars.
• Mental Anguish and Emotional Trauma: This can include conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or a new fear of dogs (cynophobia) that changes how you interact with the world.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: This addresses your inability to participate in hobbies, activities, or daily routines that brought you happiness before the incident.

A Note on Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are permitted in personal injury cases, however, meeting the threshold is difficult. Punitive damages are not meant to cover the compensatory damages; instead, they are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the community. In rare instances when the defendant driver's behavior was exceptionally reckless—such as in cases of extreme DUI, road rage attack, or a trucking company forcing drivers to work long hours on the road—a court may award punitive damages. Courts require clear and convincing evidence in considering punitive damages, even when the defendant commits gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Dog Bites in Florida: What the Numbers Say

According to the Florida Health Department, thousands of dog bite injuries are reported Statewide annually. Of these thousands of bites, over 600 are bad enough to require hospitalization each year. Children under 9 years old are at the highest risk of dog bites, and no children should play with any dogs (even household pets, unsupervised.

Throughout the U.S., most dog bites happen in residential neighborhoods or homes rather than in public parks. For this reason, if you see an unleashed and unfamiliar dog, you should not approach it.

Your Rights Under Florida's Dog Bite Laws

Florida law is quite specific when it comes to dog bites, and it provides strong protections for victims. It works differently than the laws in many other states.

Key Legal Concepts in a Dog Bite Claim:

• Florida Statute § 767.04 (Strict Liability): This is the core of Florida's dog bite law. It states that a dog's owner is liable for damages if their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property. This applies even if the owner had no reason to believe the dog was dangerous.
• The "Bad Dog" Sign Exception: The law provides a potential defense for an owner if they had an easily readable sign in a prominent place with words like "Bad Dog." However, this defense does not apply if the victim is under the age of 6 or if the owner's own negligence was the main cause of the bite.
• Comparative Negligence: An owner may claim you were partially at fault—for instance, by provoking the dog. In Florida, if you are found to share some responsibility, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
• Trespassing: The strict liability rule generally does not apply if you were on the property unlawfully when the bite happened.

Common Types of Dog Attack Incidents:

• Classic Bites: Puncture wounds, tearing, and lacerations from a dog's teeth.
• "Knock-Down" Injuries: A large dog might jump on someone, causing them to fall and suffer injuries like broken bones or head trauma, even if a bite doesn't occur. The owner could still be held liable for these actions.
• Infections: As mentioned earlier, dog bites introduce dangerous bacteria into a wound. Prompt and thorough medical care is necessary to prevent serious complications.

What Happens if the Dog Has a Bite History? Florida’s Dangerous Dog Law

If the dog that bit you had previously attacked someone—or shown signs of aggressive behavior—it could trigger additional legal consequences under Florida’s Dangerous Dog laws.

Under Florida Statute § 767.12, a dog may be designated as “dangerous” if it has:

• Bitten, attacked, or endangered a person unprovoked
• Severely injured or killed another domestic animal
• Chased or menaced someone in public without provocation
• Exhibited a known pattern of aggressive behavior

What does this mean for your case?

• If the dog was previously labeled as dangerous and the owner failed to follow safety regulations (like using a muzzle or secure enclosure), they could face criminal penalties.
• In civil court, this history may support a claim of gross negligence, increasing your potential compensation.
• It also opens the door for punitive damages, meant to punish reckless behavior.

If you're unsure whether the dog had a prior history, your attorney will investigate public records, contact Broward County Animal Care, and request incident reports.

Dealing with the Dog Owner's Insurance Company

This is the part of the case that can be the most challenging. In most dog bite cases, compensation comes from the dog owner's homeowners' or renters' insurance policy. Existence of these policies is not a matter of public record as is with automobile insurance. Moreover, many insurance policies contain dog bite exclusions which can result in no coverage. As such, it's important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to explore your legal options as insurance companies are businesses with its own financial interests.

A Conflict of Interest

The insurer's job is to protect its company's bottom line. This goal is in direct conflict with yours, which is to receive full compensation for your injuries. They must balance paying claims with making a profit, and that balance does not naturally tip in your favor.

Rabies Risk and Quarantine Requirements in Florida Dog Bite Cases

When you’re bitten by a dog in Florida, one of the first public health concerns is whether the animal is up to date on its rabies vaccinations. Rabies is rare, but it is almost always fatal once symptoms appear—so the law treats it seriously.

Under Florida Statute § 828.30, any dog that bites a person must be confined and observed for 10 days at an approved location—usually the owner’s home (if appropriate), a vet clinic, or an animal shelter.

Key rabies-related steps to take after a dog bite in Coral Springs:

• Ask for the dog’s vaccination history immediately.
• Request proof of current rabies shots. Don’t rely on verbal assurance.
• Call Broward County Animal Care to initiate the quarantine process.
• Get medical treatment immediately, especially if you’re unsure about the dog’s health status.

If the dog was a stray or if the owner refuses to cooperate, your doctor may recommend post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (PEP)—a serious, multi-shot treatment that can be costly and painful. In those cases, you may be entitled to compensation for the full cost of PEP, along with the trauma associated with undergoing it.

Including rabies concerns in your claim strengthens the legal and financial case against the dog owner, especially if they failed to vaccinate or refused to provide documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Coral Springs Dog Bite Claims

Let Us Handle the Legal Burden, So You Can Focus on Healing

You do not have to sort through this process alone. Let our firm take on the responsibility of dealing with insurance companies and meeting legal deadlines. Your job is to recover. Our job is to handle everything else.

Contact Cindy Goldstein Law today for a free, confidential case evaluation. We are here to answer your questions and explain your options. Call us now at (954) 346-5420.