Under Florida law, if your dog inflicts injury on a person, then you as owner of the dog are liable for that person’s injuries. This includes situations where your dog bites the person in a public place or in a private venue where the person was legally allowed to be (such as your home if you invited the person in). You will be held liable regardless of whether you knew the dog could act viciously based on past experience or even if your dog has never bitten anyone in the past.
Reduced Liability
However, your liability maybe reduced if the person who was bitten contributed in some way to the incident (such as goading the dog or frightening the dog unnecessarily) or if you as owner of the dog had displayed a sign in a prominent place stating that there was a ‘Bad Dog’ on the premises. If that sign is easily readable and includes the words ‘Bad Dog’, then you will usually not be held liable for any injury caused by your dog, unless your own negligence contributed to the person being bitten or if the person bitten was a child under six years old.
Common Law Liability
As well as being found liable for a dog bite injury under Florida law, you may also be held liable under the Common Law. For a person to recover compensation under the Common Law they will need to prove that you were negligent as the dog owner and your negligence led to the person being bitten and injured.
This article is not legal advice and not intended as legal advice. If you would like more information on personal injury caused by dog bites then visit http://www.jodatlawgroup.com with personal injuries serving clients in Tampa, Florida.
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