“The Dog Owner Says the Bite Was My Fault” What Florida Law Really Looks At After a Dog Bite
You’re standing there doing what normal people do, maybe you reached down to pet a dog, maybe you were walking past someone’s porch, maybe you were at a friend’s house, and the dog wandered over like it wanted attention. Then it happens: teeth, pain, blood, shock, and the dog owner says the bite was my fault! And almost immediately, you hear it: “You must’ve pet it wrong.” “You startled him.” “He doesn’t do that—so it must’ve been you.” “You shouldn’t have reached toward his head.” If you’ve been bitten, it’s incredibly common for the owner (or their insurance company) to try to flip the story into “your fault.” It’s also one of the biggest reasons people delay getting help—because they feel embarrassed, guilty, or unsure. Let’s clear the air: in Florida, a dog bite case is not automatically defeated just because the owner says you “pet it wrong.” Here’s what actually matters: Why owners say “you pet it wrong” (and why it’s not the whole story) When someone’s dog bites, two things tend to happen at the same time: They care about their dog and feel defensive. They worry about consequences—insurance claims, medical bills, and even whether the dog will be reported. So the “pet it wrong” line is often less about what happened and more about avoiding responsibility. But dog bites aren’t graded on etiquette. Florida law looks at legal responsibility, not perfect manners. Florida dog bite law: the short version Florida is known for being tough on dog bite cases—because the law generally holds owners responsible when their dog bites someone. In many situations, the focus is simple: Did the dog bite you? Were you lawfully in the place where it happened? If [...]
