They say a dog is man’s best friend. But what happens when that trust—so freely given, so deeply felt—is broken by the snap of a jaw?

It’s easy to brush off a dog bite, especially if the dog “didn’t mean it” or belongs to a friend. However, Florida law doesn’t deal in feelings. It deals in facts, and the truth is, dog bites are more common and more costly than most of us like to admit.

So what do you do when loyalty turns to liability? Let’s talk about the laws, the numbers, and the rights you may not know you have.

1) How Common Are Dog Bites and Why You Should Care

Dog bite claims come across my desk more often than you'd think. People are usually shocked—either that it happened to them or that it turned out to be more serious than they expected. But let’s talk about the actual numbers here because they paint a clearer picture than any story I could tell.

4.5 million dog bites happen in the U.S. every year.

Source - DogsBite

That’s not a typo. Millions. And that’s just what gets reported. A good chunk of these involve kids, neighbors, even the dog’s own family.

1 in 5 of those bites need medical attention.

Source - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Not just a little band-aid situation. We’re talking stitches, antibiotics, sometimes even surgery. The kind of injury that keeps you off work or sends your kid home from school with more than just a scrape.

The average hospital stay is approximately $18,200.

That’s a hefty bill. And it’s higher than what you'd see for a lot of other common injury-related hospital visits. Why? Because dog bites don’t just break the skin—they can tear through muscle, leave scars, or worse, lead to infections that require serious treatment.

There are 30 to 50 fatalities from dog bites every year in the U.S.

Source - National Library of Medicine

It’s not something we like to think about, especially because it’s often the most vulnerable—children and the elderly—who suffer the worst outcomes. And a lot of the time, it’s from dogs they know.

These numbers aren’t meant to scare you, but they should make you pause. Dog bites aren't rare, and they’re not always minor. When they happen, they deserve to be taken seriously.

2) Why Dog Bite Cases Aren’t Like Other Injury Claims

Not all injury cases are created equal. If you’ve ever been involved in a car accident or a slip-and-fall, you know how much time is spent proving who was at fault. But with dog bites? It’s a different ball game.

Florida follows a “strict liability” rule when it comes to dog bites.

What that means is if a dog bites you, the owner is usually responsible. Even if the dog has never bitten anyone before and even if the owner took precautions. We don’t have to prove that they were careless or that the dog had a history of aggression. That alone sets dog bite cases apart from most other personal injury claims.

Compare that to a car accident. There, you’ve got to dig into traffic laws, eyewitness accounts, maybe even camera footage. Same goes for a slip-and-fall—you need to show that the property owner knew about the danger and failed to fix it. That’s not the case with dog bites.

Florida law only covers actual bites.

That’s right. The dog has to bite you. If the dog jumped on you and knocked you down, even if you broke your wrist, it wouldn’t fall under Florida’s strict liability dog bite statute. That could still be a case, but now we’re talking about proving negligence again.

So yeah, dog bite cases are unique. They come with their own set of rules—rules that, if you understand them, can make your claim.

3) Who Gets Bitten Most

People often assume dog bites are random, but the numbers tell a different story. There’s a pattern and knowing who’s most at risk can help you stay one step ahead.

Let’s start with kids.

Children between the ages of 5 and 9 are the most likely to be bitten.

Source - National Institute of Health

And it’s not because they’re doing anything wrong. Kids are naturally curious and smaller in size, which unfortunately makes them more vulnerable in these situations. A bite that might be minor for an adult can be a serious injury for a child.

Another common misconception? Those dangerous dogs are always strangers.

77% of dog bites come from dogs the victim knows.

Source - Safer America

That includes family pets, neighbors’ dogs, even ones you’ve played with before. It’s not about breed or background—it’s about proximity and behavior that can change in a split second.

Also worth noting:

Males are more likely to be bitten than females.
Households with two or more dogs are five times more likely to experience a bite.

Source - National Institutes of Health

Dog bites don’t always come from the usual suspects, and they don’t always happen the way you think.

4) What Triggers a Dog to Bite?

Most dog bite cases we see aren’t from vicious attacks in a dark alley. They’re from familiar settings—living rooms, backyards, playdates. The dog wasn’t “aggressive”… until it was.

One common thread? Roughhousing that escalates.

“Dogs are playing until they’re not.”

A tail wag turns into a warning growl, and before you know it, someone gets hurt. It happens quickly, and often no one sees it coming.

Children, especially those who’ve grown up around the dog, are another high-risk group. They tug tails, hug too tightly, or get too close while the dog’s eating—without realizing they’re pushing boundaries. These interactions aren’t always malicious. But in the eyes of a dog, it’s a provocation.

Territorial behavior is another major trigger. 

A knock at the door, a stranger entering the yard, or even someone approaching the owner can put a normally calm dog on high alert.

And then there are cases where someone tries to do the right thing, like breaking up a dogfight or stopping aggressive behavior, and gets bitten in the process. These are some of the most legally complex situations, especially if the bite wasn’t directly intended for the person injured.

5) Is It the Breed or Something Else? The Truth About “Dangerous” Dogs

Let’s clear something up: dog bites aren’t just a “big dog problem.” A lot of people assume it’s the Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, or German Shepherds they need to fear. However, walk into any ER and ask around; you’ll hear stories about Chihuahuas, Jack Russells, even Dachshunds doing serious damage.

Small dogs bite too: Chihuahuas, Jack Russells, Doxies.

These little guys might not always send you to the hospital, but they bite more often than people think. The difference is that smaller dogs are less likely to cause severe injuries, which means they fly under the radar when it comes to public perception.

On the flip side, larger breeds carry a reputation and sometimes that reputation influences the law. Breed-specific legislation (BSL), which bans or restricts certain dogs just because of how they look, sounds good on paper. However, the data tells a different story:

Laws targeting ‘dangerous’ breeds don’t reduce overall bite incidents.

Source - American Veterinary Medical Association

Why? Because it’s not about the breed. It’s about behavior, environment, and training. A well-socialized Pit Bull is far safer than a nervous, untrained small dog with a chip on its shoulder.

In the end, responsibility falls on the owner. Dogs need structure, discipline, and supervision—especially around kids or guests. The more educated and involved the owner is, the safer everyone around the dog will be.

6) When Dog Owners Aren’t Held Responsible (And When They Are)

When we talk about dog bite cases in Florida, most people assume it’s an automatic win for the victim, but that’s not always true. There are certain legal defenses a dog owner can raise that may limit or even eliminate their liability.

One of the most commonly used defenses is signage. If the dog owner had a visible sign that says something like “Bad Dog” on their property, they might be able to avoid liability, but only under very specific conditions.

Signage requirements for ‘dangerous dog’ defenses don’t apply if the victim is under 6 years old.

That’s a key point a lot of people miss. You could have all the warning signs in the world, but if a child under the age of six is bitten, those signs won’t protect you in court.

Another major defense we see is provocation. If the dog was provoked—pulled, hit, stepped on, or otherwise agitated—the owner can argue that the bite was a direct reaction to the victim’s behavior. This is especially relevant in cases involving children, where rough or unintentional provocation happens more often than you'd think.

7) Insurance Surprises in Dog Bite Cases

One of the first questions clients ask after a dog bite is, “Who’s going to pay for this?” The answer isn’t always simple and it often starts with insurance.

Dog bite claims make up a surprisingly large chunk of homeowner insurance payouts.

Dog bite claims account for over one-third of all homeowner liability claims in the U.S., totaling about $1 billion annually.

Source - Insurance Information Institute

That’s a huge number, and it tells us two things: these cases are more common than people realize, and the financial impact can be substantial. Depending on the severity of the injury and how much insurance is available, we’ve seen settlements as low as $8,000 and others that push into the $500,000+ range.

Now there’s a catch— not all homeowner policies in Florida cover dog bites. Some carriers exclude animal liability altogether, especially if the dog is considered a “high-risk” breed. That means even if the dog owner has insurance, it might not apply to the incident at all.

Many Florida homeowners’ policies exclude dog bite coverage, especially for breeds labeled as dangerous.

In those situations, we have to dig deeper. Is there a separate animal liability policy? An umbrella policy? Are there personal assets that could be pursued? These are the details that matter and they’re the ones we know how to find.

If you're wondering how we approach these cases, take a moment to watch this short video from Carter Injury Law. Where we break down how we investigate insurance coverage and fight to make sure our clients don’t end up stuck with the bill.

8) How to Keep Kids and Pets Safe

At the end of the day, prevention is always better than litigation. While we’re here to help after a bite happens, a lot of these situations are avoidable with a little foresight. Especially when it comes to children and pets.

Let’s start with the basics: teach your kids how to behave around dogs. This sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often bites happen because a child got too close, pulled a tail, or interrupted a dog while it was eating or sleeping.

Education is the most effective way to reduce bite risk. Especially with kids under 10.

We always tell parents: no roughhousing. Dogs might tolerate it up to a point, but when that point is crossed, it’s too late. Even well-trained, gentle dogs have boundaries.

Another big one? Supervision. Never leave small kids alone with a dog. Yes, even if it’s the family dog you’ve had for years.

Most serious dog bites involving children occur when no adult is present.

Owners also have a role to play beyond just training. Spaying and neutering your dog can help lower aggressive behavior and reduce the risk of bites overall.

So if you're a parent, a pet owner, or both, the best thing you can do is stay proactive. Awareness, boundaries, and supervision go a long way in keeping everyone safe.

Bitten by a Dog? Carter Injury Law Walks You Through the Next Steps

It’s easy to brush off a bite. Maybe it doesn’t seem so serious, or the dog was familiar. But here’s the thing: once a bite happens, the consequences can ripple in ways you might not immediately see.

Don’t wait until the situation escalates. Consult with an experienced attorney early on.

You might think, “It wasn’t that bad,” or “The dog was friendly.” But the truth is, legal options are still available. Florida law can be complicated when it comes to dog bites, and the way it’s handled can make all the difference, especially when it comes to medical bills or emotional trauma.

We offer free consultations. If you’re unsure, take the first step and reach out. We can guide you through the process, answer your questions, and let you know if you’re entitled to compensation.

The last thing you want is to miss an opportunity for justice simply because you didn’t ask the right questions.