Partner
Mark J. Miller
Mark's biography describes work in insurance defense and prosecution before his plaintiff-side practice. That background informs the firm's evaluation of liability disputes and insurance positions.
After a bite during a visit or an ordinary day
Fort Lauderdale Dog Bite Lawyer
A dog bite in Fort Lauderdale can leave you dealing with treatment, an unfamiliar owner, and insurance questions. Miller & Jacobs helps injured people review the facts and Florida's dog-bite law, including where the bite occurred and who owned the dog. You can ask about a claim without assuming the dog had attacked anyone before.
Your consultation is free. No attorney fee is owed unless compensation is recovered for you. The written fee agreement explains fees and costs.
$300M+
Reported Recoveries for Injured Clients
50+ Years
Combined Legal Experience
230+
Combined Jury Trials Across Their Careers
Former Prosecutors
Experienced Trial Attorneys
The immediate record
Care first, then identify the dog and the event.
Seek appropriate medical care and follow the treating clinician's guidance. Legal evidence gathering should not delay treatment. Basic identifying information can help both the appropriate authorities and the later review of a potential claim.
Identify the owner
When safely possible, retain the owner's name and contact details, the dog's description, and information about who was handling it. Do not approach an unsafe animal to collect evidence. Ownership and control can be different roles that require separate legal review.
Record the location and account
Save original photographs, witness contacts, and a truthful description of what occurred. Note whether you were on public property, invited onto private property, or performing a lawful task. The setting matters under Florida's dog-bite statute.
Keep the reports and treatment
Report the bite to the appropriate animal-control or health authority and retain the reference number. Save provider names, instructions, and relevant communications. An official report may support the history but does not determine every civil-liability or insurance question.
The owner's liability
A prior bite is not required for the statutory claim.
Section 767.04 generally imposes liability on a dog owner for a bite in a public place or when the person is lawfully on private property, regardless of former viciousness or the owner's knowledge. The statute also contains defenses and exceptions that need factual review.
Lawful presence
An invitation, public access, or performance of a lawful duty may matter to whether the person was lawfully present. Save booking records, messages, or other relevant evidence. A dispute about permission should be reviewed rather than resolved solely by the owner's description.
The person's contribution
The statute reduces the owner's liability by the percentage of negligence by the bitten person that contributed to the bite. What the person and dog were doing matters. This statutory analysis should not automatically be replaced with every rule governing an ordinary negligence claim.
Signs and exceptions
The statute includes a conspicuous, readable Bad Dog sign exception, with important limits involving children under six and negligent owner conduct. The sign's wording, location, visibility, and circumstances need review. A sign is not a universal answer to every bite claim.
The effects after the wound is treated
Healing can involve more than the first appointment.
Scarring, discomfort, or anxiety around dogs may affect work and ordinary activities. Follow your clinician's recommendations and keep records of the changes you experience. A claim should reflect documented effects and appropriate care, without predicting permanent harm before the evidence supports it.
If you leave Fort Lauderdale after the bite, keep the owner's information, report details, and records from both initial and later treatment. Photograph visible healing changes accurately and retain the original files. The history should remain connected when care continues elsewhere.
Insurance and injury
Separate the legal right from the coverage question.
A homeowner, renter, or other liability policy may be relevant, but insurance is not guaranteed. Policy terms, the insured person, location, and exclusions matter. An owner's liability and an insurer's duty to pay are different questions.
Identify potential coverage
Keep letters, claim numbers, and any policy information offered by the owner. A statement that there is no coverage should be assessed carefully. Conversely, the existence of a policy does not establish that this incident is covered or that all losses will be paid.
Document physical effects
Treatment records, photographs, restrictions, and follow-up recommendations may support claims for injury, scarring, and related expenses. Future procedures or lasting impairment require medical support. A visible wound alone does not establish the final prognosis or a fixed value.
Explain work and daily loss
Save missed-work and pay records, necessary expenses, and examples of changed activities. Discuss emotional effects with an appropriate treating professional when care is needed. The claim should connect supported losses to the bite rather than rely on an online settlement range.
A free consultation
Find out which claim and insurance may apply.
Call 954-465-8733 for a free consultation about the bite, owner information, and any insurer request. You can call while treatment continues. The written agreement explains fees and costs if the firm accepts representation.
The next decision
Review the correct claim before relying on a deadline.
A statutory bite claim, a negligence theory, and an injury caused without a bite can raise different issues. Our Fort Lauderdale injury overview explains the broader process; the dog incident still needs its own legal review.
The cause of action
The bite statute does not automatically decide a knockdown, chase, or claim against a person who is not the owner. Other legal theories may be relevant. Identify how the injury occurred and each person's actual conduct before selecting the applicable rule.
The legal calendar
Statutory-liability and negligence actions can have different filing periods under Florida section 95.11. Particular circumstances can affect the analysis. Do not assume every dog-related injury has the same deadline or wait for scarring to stabilize before asking about timing.
The release or statement
Read an insurer's proposed release or authorization before agreeing. Determine what claims it covers and whether future care remains uncertain. A consultation can identify missing information and the practical consequences without promising that a claim will succeed.
Miller & Jacobs
The partners serving Fort Lauderdale.
Partners Mark J. Miller and Rick S. Jacobs serve Fort Lauderdale clients from the firm's Pompano Beach office. Your consultation can address the evidence, the applicable claim, and the decisions ahead.
Partner
Rick S. Jacobs
Rick's biography describes his service as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County and his trial work. Read the published background for details of his professional experience.
Our South Florida office is at 1600 S Federal Highway, Suite 1101, Pompano Beach, FL 33062. Call 954-465-8733 before visiting.
Your questions
Fort Lauderdale dog bite questions
Do I have to prove the dog bit someone before?
For a qualifying owner-liability claim under section 767.04, the statute does not require proof of former viciousness or the owner's knowledge of it. The location, lawful presence, causal contribution, and statutory exceptions still matter. Other theories can have different requirements.
Can a tourist bring a Fort Lauderdale dog bite claim?
Living elsewhere does not automatically prevent a claim arising from a bite here. Preserve the location, owner information, reports, and later care records. The applicable law, parties, and filing route require review, especially when insurance or an owner is located in another jurisdiction.
What if the owner displayed a Bad Dog sign?
The statute contains a sign exception with specific requirements and limits, including circumstances involving children under six or negligent owner conduct. Preserve a photograph and the location of any sign if safe. Do not assume a sign always defeats the claim.
Does homeowner insurance always cover dog bites?
No. A policy may have exclusions, limitations, or coverage questions involving the dog, insured person, or location. Keep any claim correspondence. Liability under the bite statute and coverage under an insurance contract are separate issues that both need review.
What if the dog knocked me down without biting?
The owner-liability bite statute does not automatically govern every non-bite injury. Negligence or another applicable theory may need investigation. Explain exactly how the dog and handler acted and how you were injured, rather than calling every dog-related event a statutory bite case.
Should I wait to see whether a scar is permanent?
A legal consultation can begin before the prognosis is final. Treatment and healing evidence may develop over time, while deadlines and preservation needs already exist. Follow clinician advice and keep records. Early review does not require estimating permanent scarring or accepting an offer.
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