Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Melbourne, FL
If a dog bit you or your child anywhere in Brevard County, Florida law lets you hold the owner financially responsible, even if the dog had never shown any aggression before. Under Florida Statute § 767.04, dog owners are strictly liable for bite injuries, which means you don’t have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. A Melbourne dog bite injury lawyer can recover compensation for your medical treatment, scarring, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Victims deserve compensation and justice. We’re here to fight for it.
At Platt, Cole, Russell & Simpson PLLC, our Melbourne dog bite attorneys have decades of experience representing animal attack victims throughout Brevard County, from Melbourne and Palm Bay to Titusville, Cocoa, Rockledge, Viera, and the beaches. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win. Call 321-725-3425 or use our contact form for a free consultation.
Why Hire a Melbourne Dog Bite Lawyer After an Attack
4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the U.S., and over 800,000 victims require medical attention.
These claims look simple, but in many cases, they’re more complex than they appear. The dog’s owner may be a friend, neighbor, customer, or family member. Compensation typically comes from a renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy.
This means you’re up against an insurance company that wants to pay as little as possible to avoid litigation. Insurers routinely argue that the victim provoked the dog, trespassed, or assumed the risk. Then, the insurance company offers a lowball settlement and expects you to gladly accept it.
Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer can prevent accepting inadequate settlements.
Our Melbourne dog bite injury lawyers level the playing field. Our experienced attorneys identify all applicable insurance policies, gather evidence quickly, document the severity of your injuries, hire experts, and are ready to file lawsuits in Brevard County court if the insurer refuses to deal fairly. When insurance companies act in bad faith, we pursue them directly through our insurance claim dispute practice, including bad faith insurance claims in Brevard County.
Florida’s Dog Bite Law: Strict Liability Under Statute 767.04
Florida’s dog bite law is one of the most protective in the country. In many cases, people believe the “one dog bite law” gives a free pass the first time a pet injures someone. That personal injury law does not apply in Florida.
What Strict Liability Means After a Dog Bite Happens
Florida’s dog bite law imposes strict liability on dog owners, and Florida’s strict liability law holds them accountable for bites, regardless of prior knowledge.
Florida’s dog bite law, § 767.04, holds the dog’s owner responsible for damages when the event occurred in a public place, a sidewalk, Palm Bay Park, or beach in Indialantic, or while lawfully present on private property. You don’t need to prove the dog had shown aggression before or that the defendant acted carelessly.
Florida’s dog bite rule holds dog owners responsible regardless of the animal’s history, period.
This Florida statute specifically protects people who are lawfully present to do their jobs, offering protection for:
- USPS workers
- delivery drivers
- utility workers
- landscapers
- broadband and cable technicians
- pest control workers
- property surveyors
- handymen
As long as the victim wasn’t trespassing, they’re covered.
A Melbourne dog bite lawyer can help explain your legal options if you’ve been injured.
Animal Attack Injuries Beyond Dog Bites - Florida Statute 767.01
Larger breeds can knock victims down, causing fractures, head injuries, and spinal damage, especially to young children and elderly adults. Under Florida Statute section 767.01, judges have held that Florida’s strict liability laws apply to all damages, not just bites.
A Melbourne dog attack lawyer can help you file a claim even if no bite occurred.
Our Personal Injury Lawyers Fight Back Against Florida Dog Owner Defenses - "Bad Dog" Sign & Comparative Negligence Rule
Florida law provides two defenses for dog owners. Both can minimize or eliminate victims’ recovery in dog bite cases if they aren’t prepared to present evidence.
Florida “Bad Dog” sign defense: If a dog owner prominently displays an easily readable “Bad Dog” or “Beware of Dog” sign, this can bar recovery. This only applies when victims are over 6 years old, and the defense doesn’t apply if their negligence contributed to the injury. Judges have enforced this, so this doesn’t end your case.
Florida’s modified comparative negligence statute: Any negligence by the victim reduces liability by the person’s percentage of fault. Since 2023, the state has followed a 51% bar. If you’re over 50% at fault, you can’t recover damages. Insurers know this and typically argue provocation and trespassing.
Our Melbourne dog bite lawyers fight back against these insurance tactics and build cases to defeat them.
Common Dog Bite Injuries Our Law Firm Handles
Our personal injury law firm provides legal representation for dog attack victims in Melbourne, FL. These are some of the more serious matters our Melbourne catastrophic injury lawyers handle. Victims often suffer the following injuries:
- Deep puncture wounds and lacerations requiring stitches, surgery, or skin grafts
- Permanent scarring and facial disfigurement, particularly in children bitten on the face and neck
- Nerve and tendon damage that limits the use of a hand, arm, or leg
- Broken bones and crush injuries from being knocked down or shaken
- Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries from falls during the animal attack
- Infections, including rabies exposure, cellulitis, and serious bacterial infections
- Psychological trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and a lasting fear of dogs
According to CDC and JAMA research, children ages 5-9 suffer the highest rate of dog bite injuries treated in ERs, with boys being particularly vulnerable.
In the most devastating cases, a fatal dog attack may support a wrongful death claim in Brevard County.
Where Dog Attacks Happen in Brevard County
Our firm provides legal representation for dog bite victims throughout the Space Coast. We tailor each legal strategy to where the animal attack occurred. We handle claims in Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cocoa, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Viera, Satellite Beach, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral.
Dog bites happen everywhere individuals and animals share space-at apartment complexes and rental communities, in neighborhood yards, on the Riverwalk and other public property, Canova Beach Park in Indian Harbour Beach or other dog parks and beaches, on private property, like homes, and during deliveries to a customer’s door.
Most animal attacks involve unsafe conditions on private or public property; these cases overlap with premises liability claims in Brevard County. Our dog attack attorneys in Melbourne, Florida, investigate the owner under Florida’s strict liability statutes and any landlord or property manager who allowed a known dangerous dog on the premises.
How to Report a Dog Attack to Brevard County Animal Services
Having animal control records strengthens your claim. In the aftermath of an animal attack:
- Seek medical care immediately, even for wounds that look minor; puncture wounds carry a high infection risk.
- Report the dog bite to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services by calling 321-633-2024.
- Identify the dog owner and get the name, address, and homeowner’s insurance information if possible.
- Photograph your injuries and the scene, and save torn or bloodied clothing.
- Collect witness statements and contact information before people leave.
Under Chapter 14, Brevard County maintains a dangerous dog classification process, with a magistrate hearing system for aggressive dogs. An official animal control record creates a paper trail of evidence, establishes a history of the dog attacking, and includes prior complaints. Your Melbourne dog bite lawyer can use this as proof in your claim.
Don’t give any statements to insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney from our law firm.
What’s Considered Fair Compensation in Melbourne Dog Bite Claims
Florida ranks second in the country for dog attack settlements. Last year, Florida paid out ~$146 million in dog bite injury settlements.
Florida law allows dog bite victims to pursue economic damages and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses, from emergency medical treatment, reconstructive surgery, physical therapy, plastic surgery, and scar revision
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity while you recover
- Pain and suffering, emotional distress, PTSD, and psychological counseling
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement, which carry significant value in facial-injury cases
- Out-of-pocket costs, including medications, medical devices, and transportation to appointments
Our Melbourne dog bite attorneys work with medical, scarring, and economic experts to calculate the full present and future value of your losses so a quick insurance settlement does not leave you covering long-term costs out of pocket. We negotiate with insurance companies, and if a fair settlement offer can’t be reached, your Melbourne dog bite lawyer will file a lawsuit in court to secure full compensation.
Deadline to Recover Compensation: Florida Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Claims
Florida sets a strict deadline for filing a dog bite lawsuit. For injuries occurring after March 24, 2023, you generally have two years from the date of the animal attack to file. Wait too long, and the court can permanently bar your claim, no matter how strong it is.
Additionally, evidence fades fast in dog bite cases. It’s harder to secure witness statements, and dog owners are harder to track. The sooner you consult a Melbourne dog bite lawyer, the stronger your case will be.
Contact a Melbourne Dog Bite Attorney For a Free Case Review
The Melbourne dog bite injury lawyers at our law firm help victims seek compensation for medical expenses and emotional trauma. If you or your child was injured by a dog in the Space Coast, our legal team is ready to help ensure negligent parties and their insurers are held accountable.
Call 321-725-3425 or toll-free at 833-922-0554, or use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation. Clients don’t pay any fees unless we recover compensation on their behalf.
Our law firm is located at 175 East NASA Blvd, Suite 300, and we serve dog bite victims across the Space Coast.