Florida dog bite law in Tampa
The owner pays for a first bite in public or where you were lawfully. That is Fla. Stat. 767.04 and it covers a bite anywhere in Tampa.
You have 2 years to file a lawsuit (Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a)). A claim can settle with the owner's insurer sooner, but the date still matters.
One more Florida rule to know. "Bad Dog" sign: no defense if child under 6 (Fla. Stat. 767.04).
Read the full Florida dog bite laws for the exceptions and the rules on shared fault.
Reporting the bite and filing in Hillsborough County
Report the bite to Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. Give the date, the place, the dog and the owner's name if you know it. The report also becomes a record for your claim.
Tampa is the seat of Hillsborough County. The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit covers this one county alone, so a Tampa claim stays in one court system from filing to trial.
If the claim does not settle, it is filed with the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.
Tampa dog bite lawyer: what the free call covers
- Whether Florida's rule fits what happened and what the owner knew about the dog.
- Whose policy pays, usually the owner's home or renters insurance.
- Your own last day to file, which comes sooner against a public body.
Want a rough number first? The settlement calculator asks three questions.
