What Should I Do After a Dog Bite?

Why Quick Action Matters in Florida

A dog bite isn't just painful — puncture wounds can drive bacteria deep, leading to serious infection, and any bite raises the question of rabies exposure. Children, especially those under six, are the most frequent victims and are more likely to suffer bites to the face and head, along with lasting emotional trauma. Florida consistently ranks among the states with the most dog-bite insurance claims, so how you respond in the first hours and days genuinely affects both your recovery and any future claim under Florida's strict-liability law.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Dog Bite

If you've been bitten, these steps protect your health and help build a strong case:

• Get to safety and treat the wound. Move away from the dog, then clean the wound with soap and water to reduce infection risk.
• Seek medical care promptly — even for a seemingly minor bite. Puncture wounds can lead to serious infection, tetanus, or rabies concerns, and prompt treatment also creates the medical record your claim depends on. Keep all records and receipts.
• Identify the dog and owner. Get the owner's name and contact information, a description of the dog, and the location of the incident — details that matter under Florida Statute §767.04, which holds owners strictly liable.
• Report the bite. Contact local animal control (or the county health department) to file an official report. This documents the incident and may trigger rabies-observation quarantine of the dog.
• Document everything. Photograph your injuries, the scene, and (if safe) the dog. Note the date, time, and circumstances, and collect witness contact information.
• Don't give a recorded statement to the owner's insurer before getting legal advice — and talk to a lawyer early, while evidence is fresh.

For how a claim actually proceeds and who pays, see how to sue for a dog bite injury in Florida, or speak with our Fort Lauderdale dog bite injury lawyer team. Outside Broward, see our Miami dog bite team.

Florida's Strict Liability — and the Filing Deadline

Under Florida Statute §767.04, a dog owner is strictly liable for a bite that happens in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property — regardless of whether the dog ever showed aggression before. You generally do not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. In most cases, the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance pays the claim.

If a dog attack is fatal, the family may have a wrongful-death claim.

Preventing Future Dog Bites

While you focus on recovery, a few widely recommended safety practices help prevent bites: don't approach unfamiliar or loose dogs, teach children never to provoke or startle animals (and never leave a young child alone with a dog), and support leash and vaccination laws. Most serious bites involve a dog the victim didn't know or a moment a child wasn't supervised.

Frequently Asked Questions