Florida’s dog bite rule is the strictest corner of premises law: an owner is liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, with no free first bite the way some states allow. If you or your child was bitten in Hillsborough County, the case usually is not about proving the dog was dangerous, it is about the insurance policy behind the owner and the injuries the bite left. I represent Hillsborough County dog bite victims, and dog bites are a full chapter in my plain-English premises book.
Strict liability, minus your share of fault
Florida holds a dog owner strictly liable for a bite, which means you do not have to show the owner was careless or knew the dog would bite. Two things still shape the case. Your own comparative fault can reduce the recovery, so how the encounter happened matters, and the money almost always comes from a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy rather than the owner’s pocket. In a county this size, the bite often happens at an apartment complex, a rental home, or a friend’s house, and identifying the right policy is the first real work of the case.
Why children are the most common victims
Children are bitten more than any other group, they are bitten in the face and head more often because of their height, and Florida law takes special care with how a child’s own conduct is judged, because a young child cannot be held to an adult’s caution. A bite that looks minor can leave scarring and nerve damage that a child carries for life, which is exactly why the medical documentation and, where needed, the plastic-surgery and psychological records are built into the case from the start.
What to do, and where the case is heard
Get medical care and report the bite to Hillsborough County animal services, which creates an independent record and starts the rabies and quarantine process. Photograph the injuries and the location, identify the owner and get their insurance information, and get the names of any witnesses. A Hillsborough County case, if it has to be filed, lands in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit at the downtown Tampa courthouse, generally within two years. The landlord can sometimes be on the hook too, and I worked the defense side of injury claims before I chose to represent the people bringing them.
The firm serves all of Hillsborough County, with dedicated city pages for Tampa, Brandon, and Riverview.
The book
Hurt on Someone Else’s Property
The evidence race, the notice fight, the owner’s records, and the honest truth that many of these cases have to be filed as lawsuits, in one plain-English book on the days and weeks after a fall. Free to Tampa Bay residents, with the digital edition to read the moment you ask.
Common Questions
Does Florida give a dog one free bite?
No. Florida is a strict liability state, which means the owner is responsible for a bite in a public place or on lawful private property even if the dog never bit anyone before and the owner had no warning.
Who actually pays a Hillsborough County dog bite claim?
Almost always the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, and sometimes a landlord’s policy. Finding the right coverage is the first practical step, because a judgment against an uninsured owner is often uncollectible.
My child was bitten. Is it handled differently?
Yes. The law is careful about judging a young child’s conduct, facial and scarring injuries are common and are valued accordingly, and settlements involving a minor often require court approval to protect the child’s recovery.
Related reading: dog bites, premises liability, and about Rory Safir.
