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Last reviewed: October 2026
Boca Raton Animal Bite & Dog Bite Lawyers
A neighbor's dog. An off-leash run at the park. A delivery route that turned dangerous. Florida law is blunt about dog bites: the owner is strictly liable — no prior warning, no "first bite free." Shiner Law Group holds owners (and their insurers) accountable from our Boca headquarters, with no fee unless we win.
Bitten in Boca Raton? Florida's Law Is on Your Side
Florida rejected the "one free bite" rule decades ago. Under § 767.04, a dog's owner is strictly liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property — regardless of whether the dog ever showed aggression before, and regardless of how careful the owner claims to have been. The victim doesn't have to prove negligence. The bite itself is the case.
What complicates these claims isn't law but relationships: most bites come from dogs belonging to neighbors, friends, or family, and victims hesitate to "sue someone they know." Here's what changes that calculus: the claim is paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance — coverage they've been paying for precisely for this — not out of their pocket in the way people fear. Children, the most frequent victims, face the highest stakes: facial wounds, scarring that grows with them, and lasting fear that deserves compensation too.
Shiner Law Group handles bite cases with the mix they demand — firm on the insurance claim, considerate of the human relationships around it. You pay nothing unless we win.
No upfront cost, ever. Every case is handled on a strict contingency fee. Call (561) 777-7700 for a free, confidential consultation, available 24/7 from offices across Florida.
Why Bite Victims Choose Shiner
Bitten by Someone's Dog? Their Insurance Exists for Exactly This.
Evidence disappears quickly — camera footage is overwritten, records are gathered by the defense, and witnesses move on. Call now for a free case review, available 24/7.
What to Do After a Bite — Step by Step
The steps you take in the first hours and days can make or break your claim.
Get Medical Care Immediately
Bite wounds infect easily and scar readily - immediate care protects health and documents the injury.
Identify the Dog and Owner
Name, address, and vaccination status - essential for both medical decisions and the claim.
Report to Animal Control
Palm Beach County Animal Care creates an official record and checks the dog's history.
Photograph Everything
Wounds from day one through healing, the location, and torn clothing - scars change over time; photos preserve the truth.
Get Witness Information
Especially in parks and neighborhoods where accounts may later shift.
Call Shiner Law Group
(561) 777-7700. We locate the insurance and handle the claim with appropriate care. Free consultation, 24/7.
Florida Dog Bite Law: Strict Liability, Explained
§ 767.04 makes these among Florida's clearest liability claims.
Liability Without Fault
The owner is liable for bites in public places or to anyone lawfully on private property — regardless of the dog's history or the owner's care. No negligence proof required.
The Limited Defenses
Comparative negligence (provocation) can reduce recovery, and a prominently displayed "Bad Dog" sign can limit liability to owners in some cases — but the sign defense does not apply to victims under 6, and rarely defeats a claim outright.
Who Actually Pays
Homeowner's and renter's policies cover dog bite liability. Beyond the owner, landlords and property owners can share responsibility in some circumstances — we identify every source of recovery.
Dog Bites, By the Numbers
U.S. insurers paid $1.86 billion for 28,450 dog-bite and related injury claims in 2025 — averaging $65,450 per claim — and Florida ranked second in the nation with 2,347 claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm.
Florida: #2 in the Nation
Florida homeowners insurers handled 2,347 dog-bite claims in 2025 — second only to California — averaging $62,375 per claim.
Source: Insurance Information Institute and State Farm, 2025 claims data
$65,450 Average Claim
The average U.S. dog-bite claim paid $65,450 in 2025, with $1.86 billion paid industry-wide — these are homeowner's policy claims, not out-of-pocket payments.
Source: Insurance Information Institute and State Farm
4.5 Million Bitten a Year
About 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year — with children the most frequent and most seriously injured victims.
Source: Insurance Information Institute, citing national injury data
Where Boca Bites Happen
Most bites happen close to home — which is exactly why insurance, not friendship, should bear the cost.
Wherever it happened, the owner's policy is the answer.
Neighborhoods & Sidewalks
Escaped and off-leash dogs on residential streets
Parks & Dog Parks
Off-leash areas and overwhelmed owners
Friends' & Family Homes
The most common - and most hesitated-over - claims
Delivery & Service Routes
Drivers, mail carriers, and technicians on lawful business
Communities & HOAs
Common areas where leash rules go unenforced
El Rio Trail & Beach Paths
Runners and cyclists meeting unrestrained dogs
Bite Injuries We Represent
- Facial wounds and scarring - especially children
- Puncture wounds and lacerations
- Nerve and tendon damage
- Infections including serious complications
- Crush injuries from large breeds
- Injuries from being knocked down
- PTSD and fear of dogs - particularly in children
- Disfigurement requiring revision surgery
What Can You Recover?
Medical Expenses
Emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, medication, and future medical needs
Lost Wages
Income lost during recovery plus reduced future earning capacity
Pain & Suffering
Physical pain and emotional distress — the human cost of the injury
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
The activities, hobbies, and independence your injuries take away
Wrongful Death Damages
Lost support, companionship, and mental pain and suffering for surviving families
Punitive Damages
Available for gross negligence — and easier to plead after Florida's 2026 Perlmutter decision
Insurance Tactics You May Face — and How We Answer Them
Insurers are businesses, and adjusters are trained to close claims for as little as possible. These are the tactics injured people in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County see most — and each one has an answer.
Quick, Low Offers
An early check before the full extent of your injuries and future care is known
Recorded Statements
Friendly calls that lock in your account and look for words to use against you
Shifting Blame
Arguments that you share fault - under Florida’s 50% rule, every point matters
Gaps in Treatment
Missed or delayed appointments recast as proof you were not really hurt
Delay
Slow responses and repeated document requests while bills and pressure build
Disputed Causation
Claims that your injuries came from something other than this accident
Social Media Review
Photos and posts taken out of context to minimize your injuries
Broad Releases
Settlement papers that end every claim - sign nothing before a lawyer reviews it
The most important thing to know: the defense starts building its case before you have spoken to an attorney. Shiner Law Group levels this from day one. Call (561) 777-7700 before giving anyone a statement.
Shiner Law Group — $500M+ Recovered for Injured Floridians
That figure is the aggregate of recoveries across our Florida practice since 2002. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes — what matters is how your case is investigated, valued, and pressed.
across Florida
since our founding
4.9-star average
Why Injured Floridians Choose Shiner Law Group
Real Case Valuation
We calculate all damages — current and future, economic and non-economic — not just the obvious bills. No element of your claim is left on the table.
Leverage That Works
We counter delay tactics and lowball offers with evidence, expert analysis, and the credible threat of trial.
Statewide Presence
Offices across Florida — Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Wellington & Orlando — with home and hospital visits anywhere in the state.
No Win, No Fee
Zero upfront cost, no retainer, no consultation fee. Our fee comes from the recovery, so our incentive matches yours.
David Shiner has represented injury victims throughout Florida since 2002, and his firm has recovered more than $500 million for injured clients and their families. Every case is handled on a strict No Win, No Fee basis. Call (561) 777-7700 for a free, confidential consultation.
Headquartered in Boca Raton — Serving All of South Florida
Our headquarters is right here in Boca Raton — and home and hospital visits are available throughout South Florida. Call (561) 777-7700, available 24/7.
Boca Dog Bite Questions Answered
The dog never bit anyone before. Does that matter?+
What is the average dog bite insurance claim worth?+
The dog belongs to my neighbor and I don't want to ruin the relationship. What are my options?+
My child was bitten in the face. What should we expect?+
How much does a Florida dog bite lawyer cost?+
How long do I have to file my claim in Florida?+
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Bitten by a Dog in Boca Raton?
Maximum Compensation. Zero Upfront Cost. 24/7 Availability.
Shiner Law Group has recovered more than $500 million for injured Floridians and their families. No Win, No Fee. Free consultation available right now, anywhere in Florida.