What are the legal responsibilities of dog owners in a personal injury case? A dog owner, under Florida law, is liable for any injury or damage caused by their dog if it bites another person while on public property or on the dog owner’s property, if the victim is there lawfully. If a dog bites someone, the owner of that dog is legally responsible for the damages and medical costs resulting from that bite. If you have more questions, we suggest consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney.