What to do after a dog bite in Florida: a practical checklist
Key takeaways
- Get medical care promptly, even if the wound looks minor, because infection and deeper injury are not always visible.
- Your doctor, not the internet, decides what care and preventive treatment you need.
- Photograph the injury as it heals, report the bite to local animal control and identify the owner.
- Keep records, preserve clothing and be careful about social media and recorded statements.
- Call a lawyer early, because insurance and owner questions are easiest to answer while evidence is fresh.
The short answer: protect your health first, then your claim
If a dog has bitten you, the first priority is your health. Clean the wound as a medical provider directs, get seen promptly and follow the treatment plan. The second priority is documentation, because the evidence that supports a claim is easiest to collect in the first hours and days.
I am Dolina Lascaze. I am a former prosecutor, I spent about 19 years on the insurance and defense side of injury claims, and now I represent injured people. I have seen how a few early choices change the course of a dog bite case. This checklist is what I would want every bitten person to know. Medical content here is general and is not a substitute for your doctor. Florida law makes dog owners responsible for many bites (Florida Statutes 767.04), and our guide to Florida dog bite law and the one bite rule explains how that works. This page is about what to do right now.
Step one: get medical care promptly
Go to an emergency room or urgent care promptly, even if the bite looks small. Dog bites can carry bacteria, and a wound that seems minor can still be a puncture that goes deeper than it looks. Deep tissue, tendon and nerve injury may not be obvious at first, and facial, hand and joint bites deserve particular attention.
Questions to raise with the treating provider
- Infection risk and whether antibiotics or other treatment are appropriate
- Whether you need any shots or other preventive treatment
- What follow up care you need, based on the dog's vaccination information and the circumstances. That is a decision for your doctor.
- Whether stitches, imaging or a specialist referral is needed
- What warning signs should send you back, such as spreading redness, swelling, fever, drainage or worsening pain
Waiting to see whether it gets better is one of the most common mistakes. It can put your health at risk, and it also gives insurers an argument that the injury was not serious or was caused by something else. Tell the provider exactly what happened and describe all your symptoms, including numbness or tingling.
Cleaning the wound
Wound care instructions should come from a medical professional. In general terms, people are commonly advised to wash a bite wound promptly with soap and running water and to seek care rather than trying to treat a significant wound at home. If there is heavy bleeding, apply pressure and call 911. Do not assume that a small puncture is safe to ignore.
Keep the discharge instructions, the wound care sheet and any prescription information. Follow the plan, attend follow up visits and tell your doctor if you cannot afford or cannot complete a recommended step, so that the gap is documented and explained.
Step two: photograph the injury and the scene
Take photographs as soon as it is safe to do so, and keep taking them as the wound heals. Photos taken on day one, day three, one week and at later stages tell the story of swelling, bruising, stitches and scarring in a way that words cannot.
- Photograph the wound from several angles with and without a ruler or common object for scale
- Photograph torn or bloody clothing
- Photograph the location, including fences, gates, signs and any lack of a leash
- Photograph the dog if you can do so safely
- Keep the original files and do not edit them
Insurance adjusters typically look at healing photographs to evaluate scarring, so continue the series even after the stitches are out.
Step three: report the bite and identify the owner
Report to local animal control
Report the bite to the local animal control agency or the county or city office that handles animal services. Reporting is often important for public safety, and it creates an official record of the incident. Procedures and rules differ by city and county, so ask the agency what applies where the bite happened. Ask for the report number and a copy of the report when it is available. Whether you were bitten in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa or Ocala, the principle is the same.
Identify the owner and ask about vaccination records
Ask for the owner's name, address, phone number and the dog's vaccination records, since that information can be relevant to the care your doctor recommends. Write down the information immediately and keep the exact words if the owner makes statements such as “he has never done this before” or “I am sorry, my insurance will pay.” If the owner will not cooperate, tell animal control and tell your lawyer. We work fast to identify the owner and whether insurance applies, and an animal control report is often the best starting point.
Step four: witnesses, clothing and records
- Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the bite or the dog's behavior, including neighbors and delivery workers
- Ask witnesses to write down what they saw while their memory is fresh
- Keep the clothing and shoes in a bag, unwashed
- Save every medical record, bill, prescription receipt and mileage record
- Keep a simple journal of pain, sleep, missed work and activities you cannot do
- Save texts, emails and voicemail messages from the owner or insurers
Organized records matter later. Florida limits the evidence of medical expenses a jury may hear (Florida Statutes 768.0427), so how your treatment is billed and documented can affect a claim. Before agreeing to a treatment arrangement based on a letter of protection, talk to a lawyer.
Be careful with social media, statements and quick offers
Social media
Do not post about the bite, your recovery or your activities. A photo of you at a family event can be used to argue that you were not hurt. Do not post about the dog or the owner either. Set accounts to private, but assume that anything posted could be seen.
Recorded statements
The owner's insurer may call you quickly. You can decline a recorded statement until you have had advice. See our guide on recorded statements to insurance companies in Florida.
Early offers
A fast offer may arrive before the medical picture is clear. Scarring, nerve problems and the need for further treatment can emerge over weeks or months. Read should I accept the first settlement offer in Florida before you sign anything.
When the person bitten is a child
Children are bitten more often in the face and neck because of their height, and those injuries raise special issues. A child may be frightened of dogs, have trouble sleeping or avoid places where the bite occurred. Emotional harm is real, and it belongs in the record.
- Seek medical care promptly and tell the doctor everything the child says about the incident
- Ask the treating doctors about scarring and whether follow up with a plastic surgeon is recommended
- Follow through on any specialist referral and keep the records
- Photograph the injury over time, because a child's scars change as the child grows
- Note changes in behavior, sleep, school and willingness to be near animals, and mention them to the pediatrician
- Do not allow the owner or an insurer to question your child
Florida law gives special protection to children under 6 in the dog bite statute when an owner relies on a Bad Dog sign (Florida Statutes 767.04). Any settlement involving a child can raise additional legal issues, so speak with a lawyer before agreeing to anything on your child's behalf. Families from Miami Gardens to Port St. Lucie contact us about these claims.
When to call a lawyer and how quickly answers come
Call a lawyer once you have been treated and are stable, and call earlier if the bite involved a child, the face, surgery, a loose dog with no clear owner or an insurer who is already pressing you. Evidence disappears quickly. Dogs are moved, photographs are lost and memories fade.
How fast are the answers? Often, quickly. We work fast to find the owner and learn whether insurance applies, and a written request can require a liability insurer to disclose coverage within 30 days (Florida Statutes 627.4137). Our guide to dog bite claims and homeowner's insurance in Florida explains that process. As to deadlines, call our office immediately and we will explain the deadlines that apply to your situation.
How Lascaze Law helps
The first consultation at Lascaze Law is free, and you speak directly with the attorney. We offer remote intake by video and digital signing anywhere in Florida, so injuries, travel and recovery do not keep you from getting help. Our only office is in Aventura, but we help people in North Miami, Tamarac, Riviera Beach, Orlando, Lakeland and across the state.
If you are searching for a Florida dog bite lawyer, a Tamarac accident lawyer, a Lakeland accident lawyer or a Florida personal injury lawyer, call (305) 473-7858. We do not promise outcomes, but we will explain your options and the next steps.
Whether you are looking for a Miami Gardens accident lawyer, a Plant City accident lawyer or a Little Haiti accident lawyer, Florida's rules are the same statewide, and Lascaze Law offers a free consultation to injured people in all of these areas.
Frequently asked questions
Should I go to the doctor if the dog bite looks minor?
Yes, it is generally wise to get prompt medical care. Dog bites can carry bacteria and may be deeper than they look, and your doctor can assess infection risk and tell you whether you need any shots or other preventive treatment. Waiting also gives insurers an argument that the injury was not serious. Follow your provider's instructions and keep every record.
Who decides whether I need shots or other preventive treatment?
That is a medical decision made by your doctor, based on your injury, the circumstances and the dog's vaccination information. Ask the owner for the dog's vaccination records and report the bite to local animal control. Do not try to decide it yourself, and tell the treating provider everything you know about the dog.
Do I have to report a dog bite to animal control?
Reporting is often important and creates an official record, and rules vary by city and county. Ask the local animal control or animal services agency what applies where the bite occurred, and request the report number. The report can help identify the owner, the dog's vaccination status and any prior complaints, all of which help a claim.
What photos should I take after a dog bite?
Take photos of the wound right away and continue as it heals, including swelling, stitches and scarring. Include a scale object, photograph torn clothing and the scene, and photograph the dog if it is safe. Keep the original files. Healing photos matter because insurers often evaluate scarring from them.
Should I post about my dog bite on social media?
It is best not to. Posts and photos can be taken out of context and used to argue that you were not hurt or were at fault. Avoid posting about the incident, your recovery or the owner, and be careful about what friends post and tag. Set accounts to private, but assume anything could be seen.
What should I do if a child is bitten by a dog?
Seek medical care promptly, document the injury over time and note emotional effects such as fear or sleep problems. For face injuries or scarring, ask the treating doctors whether follow up with a plastic surgeon is recommended. Under Florida Statutes 767.04, children under 6 receive special protection against the Bad Dog sign defense. Speak to a lawyer before settling.
Should I talk to the owner's insurance company after a dog bite?
You are generally not required to give a recorded statement, and it is wise to get advice first. Adjusters look for statements about provocation, delays in care and earlier injuries. You can politely decline and ask them to send contact information in writing. A lawyer can handle communications for you.
When should I call a Florida dog bite lawyer?
Call once you have received care and are stable, and sooner if a child, your face or surgery is involved or an insurer is pressing you. Lascaze Law offers a free consultation and remote intake anywhere in Florida. We work fast to identify the owner and whether insurance applies. Call (305) 473-7858 to speak directly with the attorney.
Florida statutes referenced
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, laws change, and nothing here guarantees or predicts the outcome of any case.
Where Lascaze Law helps
Our only office is in Aventura. We represent injured people in these areas and across Florida:
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Lascaze Law
20200 W. Dixie Hwy, Suite 902
Aventura, FL 33180
Phone: (305) 473-7858
Email: info@lascazelaw.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM