Dog Bite claims in Fort Lauderdale
Broward County packs three limited-access highways into a narrow coastal strip, and the I-95 and I-595 interchange is one of the busiest and most collision-prone junctions in the state. Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport put substantial commercial and rental-vehicle traffic onto the same corridors. Federal Highway and Sunrise Boulevard carry heavy pedestrian activity alongside fast-moving through traffic. Civil suits are filed at the courthouse on Southeast 6th Street.
Florida is a strict liability state for dog bites. Unlike states that give an owner one free bite, section 767.04 makes the owner liable for a bite regardless of the dog’s history or the owner’s knowledge of it. The practical fight is usually about comparative fault and which policy pays.
Where your case is filed
A dog bite suit arising in Fort Lauderdale is filed in Broward County, at the Broward County Courthouse, 201 Southeast 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale. Which division hears it depends on the amount in controversy. Local filing procedure and judicial practice vary between Florida counties, which is one reason a claim benefits from a lawyer who regularly appears in that circuit.
Where these collisions happen locally
In and around Fort Lauderdale, the corridors that generate the most serious claims include I-95, I-595, Florida’s Turnpike, US-1 (Federal Highway), Sunrise Boulevard, and Broward Boulevard. Crash reports, signal timing, and roadway maintenance records for these routes are held by local and state agencies, and they are obtainable — but some are retained only for a limited period.
What decides a dog bite claim
Whatever the location, these claims turn on strict liability under section 767.04, whether a posted “Bad Dog” sign applies, and locating homeowner or renter coverage. The deadline is statewide: Florida shortened the filing period for most negligence claims to two years in March 2023, and being more than 50% at fault bars recovery entirely under Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule.
Read the full guide to Florida dog bite claims for the deadlines, damages, and proof requirements in detail.
This page is general legal information about Florida law, not legal advice about your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case Justice matches injured people with independent attorneys licensed in their jurisdiction; the attorney who handles a Broward County claim is selected for that claim’s subject matter and location.
