Palm Beach County · Dog Bite Attorney · Hablamos Español
Attacked by a dog in Palm Beach County? Florida’s strict liability law means the owner is responsible — no prior bite history required. Attorney Marcos Gonzalez fights for full compensation. Free evaluation 24/7 — no fees unless we win.
Palm Beach County is one of the most pet-friendly communities in South Florida. The county’s diverse communities — from Wellington’s equestrian estates to Boca Raton’s waterfront neighborhoods to the dense urban residential areas of West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, and Riviera Beach — are home to hundreds of thousands of dogs of every breed and size. The county’s dozens of dog parks, its miles of walking paths and beach access points, and its culture of outdoor living mean that dogs are a constant presence in public and private spaces throughout the community. Most dogs are well-socialized, well-cared-for companions. But dog attacks happen every day in Palm Beach County — and when they do, the consequences can be devastating, lasting, and in the worst cases, permanently life-changing.
Florida stands as one of the strictest states in the country on dog bite liability. Under Florida Statute 767.04, the dog owner is strictly liable for bites in public places or when the victim is lawfully on private property — regardless of the dog’s prior history, regardless of the owner’s prior knowledge of dangerous tendencies, and regardless of any precautions the owner took. The common belief that owners get a ‘first bite free’ in Florida is simply not the law. If the dog bit you in a context where you had a right to be, the owner is liable. Full stop.
Dog bite injuries in Palm Beach County range from minor puncture wounds that resolve with basic treatment to catastrophic events — facial disfigurement requiring multiple reconstructive surgeries, nerve damage producing permanent sensory or functional deficits, deep tissue injuries requiring months of wound care, infection complications that become life-threatening, and profound psychological trauma, particularly for children who experience a severe dog attack at a formative age. Adults can suffer equally severe consequences: a nurse whose bitten hand is permanently impaired may never return to their career; a construction worker whose arm is severely injured faces a significant lost-wage claim; any victim who develops post-traumatic stress disorder from the attack faces a lifetime of psychological treatment.
The insurance mechanism for most dog bite claims in Palm Beach County is the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, which typically includes personal liability coverage that applies to dog attacks both on and off the owner’s property. Advocates USA identifies the applicable policy, pursues the full available coverage, and fights for every dollar the law allows — including plastic surgery, scar revision, psychological treatment, and the full non-economic value of the victim’s pain, trauma, and changed life.
Compensation available to victims in Palm Beach County:
Florida Statute 767.04 is strict liability — no prior bite history needed. If you were bitten, the owner owes you. Call (877) 872-4878 for a free case evaluation.
Dog attacks occur in a wide variety of settings throughout Palm Beach County. Understanding where they happen helps victims recognize their legal rights.
The majority of dog bites in Palm Beach County occur in residential settings — on sidewalks, in neighborhood parks, and in front yards where dogs are present without adequate containment. Communities throughout West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach all have documented histories of dog bite incidents in residential settings. Owners whose dogs escape from inadequate fencing, approach pedestrians from front yards, or are walked off-leash in areas where leash laws apply face full liability under Florida Statute 767.04.
The county’s dog park system — including Okeeheelee Park’s dog run area in West Palm Beach, John Prince Park in Lake Worth, and dog parks throughout Boca Raton and Delray Beach — provides designated off-leash areas. Dogs that are not appropriate for off-leash social environments — dogs with history of aggression, dogs with herding instincts that translate to nipping, or dogs that are simply not socialized — create attack risk for other dogs and their owners. When one dog attacks another dog’s owner in a dog park, the attacking dog’s owner is strictly liable under the statute.
Dog-friendly beach access points and waterfront parks throughout Palm Beach County — along A1A from Jupiter through Boca Raton, at Carlin Park in Jupiter, and at various Palm Beach County beach access points — attract dogs and their owners throughout the year. The interaction of excited dogs with unfamiliar people, water activity, and the high-energy beach environment creates conditions where bites occur. Seasonal tourist and snowbird activity also brings less experienced dog handlers into these environments.
Letter carriers, UPS, FedEx, and Amazon delivery drivers, pest control technicians, plumbers, electricians, AC technicians, and all other service professionals who regularly enter residential properties are among the most frequently attacked people in Palm Beach County. These workers are on the property lawfully — their presence is both foreseeable and invited by the property owner’s need for their services. Florida Statute 767.04 fully protects them. Workers’ compensation and the civil dog bite claim may both be available for delivery and service workers who are bitten on the job.
Palm Beach County has a large condominium and apartment population, particularly in the coastal communities of Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Boynton Beach. Common areas — lobbies, elevators, parking garages, pool areas, and hallways — are spaces where dog attacks on other residents and visitors occur regularly. Property management companies that fail to enforce pet policies or that had prior knowledge of an aggressive dog tenant may share liability with the dog owner in condominium and apartment dog bite cases.
A significant percentage of dog bites in Palm Beach County involve children visiting a neighbor’s or friend’s home where an unfamiliar dog is present. Children are less able to read canine body language, more likely to approach a dog in ways that trigger protective responses, and physically more vulnerable to serious injury — especially facial bites from medium and large dogs whose mouths are at a child’s face height. These incidents produce some of the most serious dog bite injuries we handle.
Wellington’s world-renowned equestrian community brings together large horse properties, livestock guardian and working dog breeds, and a seasonal influx of international visitors and equestrian competitors. Dog attacks on these large properties — often involving guardian breeds or working dogs with high protective instincts — can be severe. The same strict liability rules apply regardless of a dog’s intended working or sporting purpose.
HOA communities throughout Palm Beach County — in Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Boynton Beach, and Boca Raton — have pool areas, club houses, and common spaces where residents bring their dogs. HOA-governed communities have pet rules that, when not enforced, can create HOA liability in addition to dog owner liability when bites occur in these managed spaces.
Dog bites at veterinary offices, grooming facilities, and pet boarding operations throughout Palm Beach County represent a specific category of incident where the professional handling the animal may share liability with the dog’s owner. Facilities that take possession of dogs for care assume responsibility for handling them safely. When a bite occurs during professional handling, liability analysis must include the facility alongside the owner.
The county’s popular outdoor events — GreenMarket at CityPlace in West Palm Beach, First Friday in Delray Beach, Art and Music events throughout the county, and numerous outdoor markets and festivals — attract large numbers of dogs. High-stimulation environments, crowd density, and contact with strangers’ food create conditions where dog bites occur. Event organizers and venues that allow dogs at public events may have responsibility for creating adequate safety protocols.
Dog attacks that occur near or on school grounds, at youth sports fields, and in school program areas — where children are a primary demographic — produce serious injury to minor victims. When school district property conditions or event management contributed to the attack scenario, additional liability parties beyond the dog owner may be identified.
Therapy dogs and emotional support animals are increasingly present in Palm Beach County’s healthcare and rehabilitation facilities, including long-term care communities and senior living centers. When a therapy animal or facility-approved pet bites a patient or resident, the facility operator and the dog handler share liability alongside the dog owner. Advocates USA handles bite cases involving therapy animals with attention to the multiple parties involved.
What Florida law says about your claim
Dog owners are strictly liable for bites occurring in public or when the victim is lawfully on private property — regardless of prior bite history and regardless of the owner’s knowledge of dangerous tendencies. This is one of the clearest liability statutes in Florida law.
An owner may assert that the victim provoked the dog to reduce their liability percentage. Mere presence, petting, or approaching a dog is not provocation under Florida law. Provocation requires specific affirmative conduct that would objectively trigger aggressive behavior. Advocates USA challenges provocation arguments with the factual record.
Florida Statutes 95.11(3)(a): 4-year limitations period for dog bite claims. For minor victims, the statute is tolled until age 18. Act promptly regardless — wound photographs, medical records, and the dog’s history need to be established early.
Palm Beach County Code requires dogs to be leashed in public spaces. Violations of the leash ordinance establish additional negligence beyond strict liability — an owner whose unleashed dog attacks in a leash-required area faces both strict statutory liability and negligence per se liability for the ordinance violation.
Dog bites are puncture wounds with serious infection risk. Seek urgent care or emergency room treatment immediately. Ask your provider to document all bite wounds with photographs and measurements in your medical record.
Report to PBCACC at (561) 233-1200. This creates an official incident record, triggers rabies quarantine or vaccination verification for the dog, and establishes a documented history for the dog that becomes evidence in your claim.
Document wounds immediately and at every stage of healing. Dog bite wounds change dramatically during healing and treatment — photographs at every stage document the severity and evolution of the injury.
Get the owner’s full name, address, phone number, and if possible, their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance carrier information. Ask about the dog’s vaccination history and whether the dog has bitten anyone before.
Anyone who saw the attack — neighbors, passersby, or bystanders — should be identified. Their testimony about the attack circumstances, the dog’s behavior, and the owner’s reaction is valuable corroborating evidence.
We identify the applicable insurance policy, send a demand letter to the dog owner, coordinate your medical documentation, and pursue the full value of your claim under Florida’s strict liability statute.
We identify the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, verify coverage for dog bites, and pursue the maximum available coverage under the policy.
We work with your treating physicians, plastic surgeons, and mental health providers to document every aspect of your injury — physical wounds, infection complications, surgical procedures, and psychological trauma.
For permanent scarring, we retain plastic surgery experts who assess the severity of scarring, the need for future revision procedures, and the total cost of complete treatment — which can span years.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, and ongoing anxiety from a dog attack are compensable damages. We work with psychologists and psychiatrists to document the full psychological impact.
In condominium and apartment building bites, we evaluate whether the property management company failed to enforce pet policies or had knowledge of a dangerous dog — creating additional liable parties.
We present a complete demand package to the insurance carrier. When they refuse to offer fair compensation, we file suit and prepare for trial.
Attorney Marcos Gonzalez worked inside major insurance companies before representing injured people. He knows every tactic they use to deny and minimize claims — and applies that insider knowledge against them every single day.
The highest peer-awarded rating in the legal profession for legal ability and ethical standards. Recognized by judges and fellow attorneys across Florida — not purchased through advertising.
Over half a billion dollars won for injury victims across South Florida. Individual verdicts up to $4 million. These are results real clients received — not marketing promises.
Our entire team is fully bilingual. We serve Palm Beach County’s large Spanish-speaking community with complete, dedicated legal representation in their language — from first call through final settlement.
Accidents don’t follow a schedule. Neither do we. Call any hour — we answer and we act immediately to protect your evidence and your case.
Zero upfront cost, zero hourly fees, zero payment unless we win. Our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you. If we don’t win — you owe us absolutely nothing.
Our Results
A sample of results for clients across Palm Beach County and South Florida. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Advocates USA represents injury victims in every city throughout Palm Beach County
Advocates USA handles all personal injury cases throughout Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, Florida
No — Florida is one of the strictest states in the country for dog bite liability. Florida Statute 767.04 imposes strict liability on dog owners for bites that occur in public places or when the victim is lawfully on private property — regardless of the dog’s prior behavior or bite history. There is no ‘first bite free’ in Florida. You do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. The dog bit you, the owner is liable. This is one of the clearest and strongest liability statutes in Florida personal injury law.
You are fully protected by Florida Statute 767.04 if you were lawfully on the property — as an invited guest, a delivery worker, a mail carrier, a contractor, or any person with permission to be there. The statute protects invitees and licensees on private property. The primary exception is trespassers — if you were on the property without permission, the statute does not apply (though other negligence theories may still be available, particularly for children under the attractive nuisance doctrine).
Dog bite claims are most commonly covered by the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance liability coverage. Most standard homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies in Florida include personal liability coverage that applies to dog bite claims. We identify the applicable policy and pursue the full available coverage. Certain breeds may be excluded from specific policies, but exclusion arguments are frequently challengeable depending on policy language. When no insurance exists, we evaluate the owner’s personal assets.
Seek medical treatment immediately — dog bites carry serious infection risks including cellulitis, deep tissue infections, and rarely rabies exposure. Report the bite to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control (561-233-1200) to establish an official incident record and trigger the dog’s rabies vaccination verification process. Photograph all bite wounds before and after treatment. Get the dog owner’s contact information and confirm the dog’s vaccination status. Call Advocates USA at (877) 872-4878 to begin building your claim.
Emergency medical treatment, wound care, and antibiotic treatment for infection; plastic surgery and scar revision for permanent scarring; psychological counseling for trauma, PTSD, and fear responses; lost wages during recovery; pain and suffering; permanent scarring and disfigurement (which can be particularly significant for facial bites); and loss of enjoyment of life. For children, the long-term psychological impact of a dog attack and the lifetime effect of visible facial scarring are particularly significant components.
Children’s dog bite claims are often among the most valuable because: the physical trauma is more severe relative to a child’s smaller body and developing tissues; facial and neck bites are disproportionately common in child dog attack cases (a dog’s bite level is often at a child’s face height); permanent scarring on a child’s face has a decades-long impact on their life, self-image, and social development; and the psychological trauma of a dog attack on a child typically requires extended professional treatment. Advocates USA handles children’s injury cases with special attention and pursues the full scope of their lifetime damages.
Florida Statute 767.04 dog bite claims have a 4-year statute of limitations under Florida Statutes 95.11(3)(a). For children, the limitations period is tolled until the child reaches 18, meaning an adult can file on behalf of a child victim well after the attack. However, do not delay — photographs of wounds heal and change quickly, medical records need to be established promptly, and the dog’s vaccination and bite history should be preserved.
Florida Statute 767.04 specifically covers dogs. For injuries caused by horses, cats, livestock, or other animals, different legal theories apply — primarily general negligence and premises liability. For equestrian injuries in Wellington and other Palm Beach County horse communities, the owner’s knowledge of the animal’s dangerous tendencies becomes relevant. Advocates USA evaluates all animal attack cases regardless of species.
Under Florida Statute 767.04, prior bite history is irrelevant. The dog owner is strictly liable for the first bite just as much as for the tenth. The absence of prior incidents is not a defense. The insurance company may raise this argument — Advocates USA prepares to defeat it with the statute’s plain language and Florida case law confirming strict liability regardless of prior behavior.
The provocation defense can reduce or eliminate the owner’s liability under Florida’s comparative fault rules — but only if you actually provoked the dog. Simply approaching a dog, petting it, or being near it when it attacked is not provocation under Florida law. Provocation requires affirmative conduct that would objectively be expected to trigger an aggressive response. For children who may have approached a dog innocently, the provocation defense is particularly weak. Advocates USA challenges provocation arguments aggressively with the factual record of the attack.
Yes — Hablamos Español. Our bilingual team handles dog bite and animal attack cases for Spanish-speaking victims and their families throughout Palm Beach County with complete representation in their language.
Call Advocates USA for a free evaluation — 24/7, in English and Spanish. No fees unless we win.
Call (877) 872-4878 — Free, 24/7
Hablamos Español · Greenacres, FL · Serving All of Palm Beach County
