Can You Sue Over a Dog Bite Dog Bite Liability in Florida

Can You Sue Over a Dog Bite? Dog Bite Liability in Florida Florida’s dog bite statute, Title 45 Section 767.04, imposes on dog owners liability subject to specific exceptions for bites that injure any person in a public place or lawfully present in a private place. Negligence by the person bitten reduces the owner’s liability by the percentage the negligence contributes to the incident. http://www.sslegalfirm.com/blog/person al-injury/can-you-sue-over-a-dog-bite- dog-bite-liability-in-florida An owner is not liable, except as to anyone under the age of 6 and except for his own misconduct, if at the time of the injury the owner had posted in a prominent place a conspicuous sign warning of a bad dog. This statutory remedy is in addition to any other by statute or common law. The dog-bite statute applies to the owner only and not to a custodian or keeper of a dog, Belcher Yacht, Inc v Stickney, 450 So2d 1111, 1112 (FL 1984). Common law remedies are available in situations not covered by the statute, Ibid. Negligence, the failure to exercise the ordinary care of a reasonably prudent and careful person, is another ground for dog-bite liability in Florida. For example, allowing a stray dog into a day care center playground is negligence Negligence per se, a doctrine similar to strict liability, can apply if the bite occurs because the dog owner violates a statute, ordinance, or regulation for public safety.