Wellington Dog Bite Lawyer

Wellington is a family town, and dogs are everywhere: on morning walks along Forest Hill Boulevard, in backyards across gated neighborhoods, at kids’ birthday parties and in the common areas of HOA communities. Wellington is also home to barns and equestrian estates where working dogs and guard breeds are common. Most of these dogs are friendly. When one isn’t, a bite can mean stitches, surgery and scarring, and the claim may involve more than one property owner or insurance policy.

David has spent more than 18 years practicing law, including several as a litigation partner at a large national insurance defense firm. He knows how insurers evaluate bite claims, and he now uses that experience to help injured Wellington families, neighbors, workers and visitors.

How Florida’s Dog Bite Law Applies in Wellington

Short answer: Florida makes the dog’s owner responsible for a bite even when the dog has no history of aggression. That rule applies the same way in Wellington as anywhere else in the state.

Under Florida Statutes § 767.01 and § 767.04, an owner is liable to anyone bitten in public or while legally on private property. That protects a guest at a neighbor’s home, a farrier or vet working at a barn, and a delivery driver at a front gate. The owner’s insurer may still try to cut the claim by blaming the injured person, arguing the person was not lawfully on the property, or pointing to a “Bad Dog” sign. A sign offers no defense if the victim is younger than 6, or if the owner was negligent.

Everyday Dog Bites in Wellington Neighborhoods

Short answer: Most Wellington dog bites happen close to home, by a dog that belongs to a neighbor, friend or relative. The owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance usually pays.

• A neighbor’s dog that bites while you walk past a driveway or open garage
• A loose dog that slips through a gate or pulls free of its leash
• A child bitten at a playdate, sleepover or birthday party
• A friend’s or relative’s dog that bites a guest inside the home
• Delivery drivers, landscapers, pool technicians and other workers bitten at a front door or in a yard

Many people hesitate to make a claim when the dog belongs to someone they know. In most cases the claim goes to the owner’s insurance company, not to your friend or neighbor personally, and it is often how medical bills and missed paychecks get paid. If you were bitten on the job, such as on a delivery route or a landscaping crew, workers’ compensation may also apply, and you may still have a separate claim against the dog’s owner.

Greenbriar Park and HOA Communities

Short answer: Off-leash dog parks and walking paths bring many dogs together in a small space. When a dog with aggressive behavior is allowed to stay, people can get hurt.

Wellington’s dog park at Greenbriar Park, on Greenbriar Boulevard, has separate fenced areas for large, medium and small dogs. Its posted rules require dogs to be licensed and vaccinated, and an aggressive dog must be removed right away. Many bites at dog parks happen when a person tries to separate fighting dogs. If an owner kept an aggressive dog in the park after it started a fight, that can help show they were careless.

Bites also happen on neighborhood sidewalks and in the common areas of Wellington’s gated and HOA communities. If the HOA was aware of a dangerous dog and had control of the common area where you were hurt, it may be liable along with the owner.

Insurance That May Cover a Wellington Dog Bite

Short answer: Most claims are paid by an insurance company. In Wellington, that may include a homeowner’s policy, a farm or ranch policy, an equine liability policy or a business policy.

1. Homeowner’s and renter’s policies. These usually cover a bite by the policyholder’s dog, at home or elsewhere.
2. Farm, ranch and equine liability policies. Barn owners and equestrian businesses often carry their own coverage, which may apply to a bite on their property.
3. HOA and commercial policies. An association, show organizer or business may have coverage when the bite happened in an area it controlled.

Dog bite claims are high-volume claims for insurers, which means they are regular and common, not rare events. In 2025, insurers paid $1.86 billion on 28,450 dog-related injury claims nationwide, an average of $65,450 per claim, and Florida had more than 2,000 of those claims (Insurance Information Institute). Florida regularly ranks No. 2 in the nation for dog-related insurance claims, holding that spot every year from 2016 through 2024 (Insurance Information Institute and State Farm).

A major issue in pursuing a dog bite claim is insurance, and coverage gaps are common. Many Florida insurers now write homeowner’s policies with blanket exclusions for animal liability. For example, Universal Property & Casualty’s Florida underwriting guidelines apply an animal liability exclusion to all policy forms regardless of breed, and Citizens Property Insurance’s HO-3 coverage worksheet lists animal liability as not covered. Other Florida insurers restrict or exclude certain breeds they consider high risk, or dogs with a history of aggression or biting. Responsible homeowners often fill the gap by adding an animal liability endorsement to their homeowner’s policy, which Florida Peninsula offers for an additional premium, or by buying a separate canine liability policy. Despite these exclusions, some policies still include medical payments coverage, which can pay a guest’s medical bills regardless of fault, usually up to a modest limit. Because of all this, we investigate the policies that may apply, not just the first one an adjuster mentions.

Barns, Horse Shows and Equestrian Properties

Short answer: Wellington’s equestrian community adds risks most towns don’t have, from barn dogs to loose dogs that spook horses. Injuries caused by the horse itself follow a separate set of rules.

During the winter show season, riders, grooms, owners and spectators fill Wellington’s barns and show grounds, and many trainers keep dogs at their stalls. Bites often happen in tight spaces like tack rooms and barn aisles. When a barn owner or show organizer knew a dog was dangerous and controlled the area, they may share responsibility with the dog’s owner. A loose dog that charges a horse can also cause a serious fall, and the dog’s owner may be responsible for those injuries as well.

Horse bites and kicks fall under Florida’s equine activity law in Chapter 773, not the dog bite statute. It generally shields equine activity sponsors and professionals from claims over the “inherent risks” of horses, but § 773.03 lists exceptions, including faulty tack or equipment, failing to make reasonable efforts to match a rider with a suitable horse, a known dangerous condition on the property, careless conduct and intentional harm.

Injuries From Dog Attacks in Wellington

Short answer: Beyond the bite wound itself, Wellington dog attacks can cause falls from horses, crush injuries to hands and arms, and infections that need hospital care.

• Hand, wrist and forearm wounds from separating dogs or protecting a child
• Fractures, concussions and back injuries when a dog spooks a horse and the rider falls
• Facial and scalp wounds, especially in young children
• Torn tendons and nerve damage that affect grip and the ability to ride or work
• Infections that require IV antibiotics or surgical cleaning
• Scarring, and lasting anxiety around dogs

Children are especially at risk. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that about half of all dog bite victims are children (AVMA), and a child’s height puts the face and neck within a dog’s reach.

Steps to Take After a Dog Bite in Wellington

1. Get medical care the same day. Puncture wounds can close over an infection, so don’t wait. Emergency rooms that serve Wellington include:•  Wellington Regional Medical Center (Wellington)•  HCA Florida Palms West Hospital (Loxahatchee)•  Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center (West Palm Beach), for childrenUrgent care or your own doctor may be fine for minor bites.
2. Find out whose dog it was. Get the owner’s name, address, phone number and insurance information. If it happened at a barn or show, the barn manager or show office can usually tell you who owns the dog.
3. Report the bite. Dog bite victims in Wellington, Florida should contact the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control Division at 561-233-1200 (press 0 for animal attacks and bites) so the dog’s rabies status can be checked and the attack is on record. Wellington is patrolled by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), so see the chart below for when to call PBSO instead.
4. Document everything. Photograph your injuries over time, the place it happened, any fencing or gates, and any warning signs.
5. Save names. Get contact information for anyone who saw the attack, such as neighbors, other dog walkers, workers or barn staff.
6. Get advice before you give a statement. Talk with a Wellington Dog Bite Lawyer like David B. Datny before you speak with the dog owner’s insurance company.

Who to Call After a Dog Bite in Wellington

Situation	Who to contact	Number
The dog is still attacking, someone is seriously hurt, or an aggressive dog is loose in public right now	PBSO emergency dispatch	911
The attack is over, but you want a deputy to respond and make a report, or the owner is hostile	PBSO non-emergency line (Wellington is PBSO District 8)	561-688-3400
Rabies follow-up, quarantine of the dog, and dangerous dog investigations	Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control	561-233-1200 (press 0)

How Long Do You Have to Take Legal Action in Florida?

Short answer: Florida generally allows 2 years to file a negligence claim under § 95.11(5)(a). Some cases have shorter notice deadlines, especially when a government agency is involved, so don’t wait to get advice.

Why Wellington Families Call The Datny Law Firm

Wellington Dog Bite FAQ

I was bitten while visiting a friend’s home in Wellington. Do I have a claim?

In most cases, yes. As an invited guest you were lawfully in the home, so Florida’s dog bite statute generally applies. The claim is usually handled by your friend’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.

A loose dog ran out of a yard and bit me on a walk. Who pays?

Usually the dog owner’s insurance. Because you were in a public place, the owner is generally responsible even if the dog never bit anyone before. Report the bite to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control so there is an official record of the loose dog.

A dog spooked my horse and I fell. Can I make a claim against the dog’s owner?

Possibly. Florida law makes owners responsible for damage their dogs cause to people, and a dog that charges a horse can cause serious falls. Whether you have a claim depends on where it happened, who controlled the dog and what insurance applies.

I was bitten at the Greenbriar Park dog park. Who is responsible?

Usually the owner of the dog that bit you. Claims involving a government agency, such as the Village, have special notice rules and limits under § 768.28, so get advice quickly if you think the Village played a role.

A neighbor’s dog bit my child in our Wellington community. What should I do first?

Get your child medical care, then report the bite to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. Keep photos of the wounds as they heal, and don’t sign anything from the neighbor’s insurer until you have advice.

Do I have to come to your office to start my case?

No. You can meet David by appointment at our Wellington office, talk by phone or video, or we can come to you.

Related Resources

• Wellington personal injury lawyer
• $111,000 dog bite settlement in Palm Beach County
• Home Depot dog bite attack in store

Talk to a Wellington Dog Bite Lawyer Today

Whether you were bitten at a barn, a dog park or a neighbor’s front door, you shouldn’t have to sort out the insurance on your own. Call 561-221-7474 24/7, chat with us now or request a free case review to speak with Wellington dog bite lawyer David B. Datny. There is no fee unless we win your case.