Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
At least two people were attacked by alligators in as many days in Central Florida with one Orlando woman suffering fatal wounds, marking three such attacks in the state in the last week.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission official told reporters with NBC News that he could not give a reason for the Sunday, June 21, fatal attack but did point out that it is the end of the animals’ mating season and that they are extremely territorial around this time of year. “Courtship” for alligators begins in early April, according to the FWC official website, with mating occurring in May or June.
At this time of year, female alligators will build nests comprised of soil, debris, and vegetation where they will deposit an average of 32 to 46 eggs. This occurs in late June or early July. Hatching typically occurs anywhere between 63 and 68 days later, or from mid-August through early September.
What Happened?
The woman — whose name and age have not been released as of Tuesday, June 30, while authorities work to contact her out-of-state next of kin — was hiking with her boyfriend and best friend. The trio were at Central Florida’s Little Big Eco State Forest in Seminole County and had waded into the Econlockhatchee River to cool off, according to NBC News reporting.
Allegedly, the three were kneeling in 3-foot-deep water when the attack occurred around 1:30 p.m. The animal suddenly bit the woman’s arms while her boyfriend struggled to help.
They called 911 and told dispatchers that one of the woman’s arms had been taken by the animal while the other was being mauled. The two friends were able to get the woman away and carried her to emergency responders who were arriving at the scene. Tragically, she died before she could reach a hospital.
Two alligators, a 12-foot and a 13-foot-long animal, were captured near the scene. Officials told reporters that the animals’ DNA was submitted to a lab for testing to see if either of them were the one that attacked the woman.
Monday in Marion County, FWC officials were investigating another alligator attack involving a young boy who was injured. The boy was on shore at Nelson’s Fish Camp and was fishing when he was bitten on the hand by an alligator that is estimated to have measured over 8 feet long. The boy, who is not from Florida, was fishing with his father at the time, according to local media. The alligator involved in that case was euthanized, officials said.
Additional information, including the extent of the boy’s injuries, was not immediately available.
A week before, on Sunday, June 21, a man snorkeling in the Rainbow River in Dunnellon was bitten by an 8-foot-3-inch alligator. He was rushed to the hospital, treated for his injuries, and released, according to local media.
Leesfield & Partners
The hearts of the attorneys and staff at Leesfield & Partners go out to the friends and families of those impacted by the recent string of attacks. While these incidents are relatively rare — state data shows nearly 500 attacks and about 30 fatalities since 1948 — is still crucial to know how to avoid and prevent such attacks. A study from the University of Florida released in April of 2025 shows that roughly 96% of alligator attacks are caused by humans. This means that humans are attacked when swimming or wading in alligator habitats. The research showed, however, that humans being present on land near the animals or walking near them has resulted in “far fewer attacks,” according to local media.
Frank Mazzotti, a professor from the university, sat down with reporters to discuss prevention.
“The takeaway from this study is that many bites can be prevented if humans are aware of their surroundings and minimize risky behaviors, such as walking small pets near bodies of water or swimming where alligators are known to be present,” he said.
FWC officials noted that, with alligators in all 67 Florida counties, swimming in Florida does have its risks.
Premises Liability Law in Florida and Alligator Incidents
Property owners and management companies have a duty to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition and to warn visitors such as guests and invitees to the property about dangerous conditions. In specific cases, when a property owner knows about or should have known about a foreseeable danger and fails to address this hazard or warn guests about it, then they may be held liable for damages.
Can Landowners Be Held Liable for Wild Animals on their Property?
Earlier this year, a Sarasota County circuit judge granted summary judgment in favor of multiple defendants in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the loved ones of an 80-year-old woman who was fatally attacked by an alligator in Englewood, Florida.
The lawsuit stems from a 2022 attack in which the woman, Rose Marie Wiegand, fell into a canal nearby her property while tending to her yard.
The family asserted claims of negligence, premises liability, and strict liability to establish their case against the homeowner’s association and other entities tied to the canal area and maintenance. Ultimately, the judge decided that, based on the law and the evidence presented, the defendants could not be held legally responsible under several of the legal theories raised by the plaintiffs.
Under Florida premises liability principles, landowners are generally not liable for injuries caused by wild animals on or near their property unless it can be shown that they had possession or control of the animal or otherwise created, knew of, and failed to reasonably address a foreseeable and unreasonably dangerous condition.
On public land, where the fatal incident from Sunday occurred, governmental entities responsible for maintaining the area may be subject to liability, but in limited circumstances. Statutory damages caps generally limit recovery amounts in these cases. To establish liability, a plaintiff must show that the agency knew of a dangerous condition and failed to take reasonable steps to address it within a reasonable time.
Previous Tourist Cases
Leesfield & Partners handled the wrongful death case of a husband and wife who were involved in a motor vehicle accident in Florida while visiting from the U.K. The two had come to the area specifically for a motorcycle tour that was happening in the area.
Leesfield & Partners obtained a $1 million partial settlement with the uninsured motorist insurance policy.
A newlywed German couple on their honeymoon were horrifically burned when an uncapped gas pipe in their vacation accommodations caused an explosion. The wife died as a result of her devastating injuries.
A multi-million-dollar award was secured for the husband in that case.
The firm previously represented a husband who lost his wife due to the negligence of a jet ski rental company. Under Florida law, these rental companies must ensure that every guest understands safety briefings given before they are set out on the water. A French-speaking tourist in this case, however, did not understand the tutorial, given in English. Asa result, this tourist eventually crashed into our client’s wife, causing fatal injuries.
A multi-million-dollar result was secured for the husband in that case.
A tourist from Brazil was brutally attacked while at a theme park in Central Florida. Leesfield & Partners obtained a confidential settlement for the victim in that case.
A student from Massachusetts was killed in a horrific car accident while visiting Daytona Beach. The bad faith case – meaning that the insurance company denied the claim without sufficient reasoning, evidence or proper investigation – was resolved with a $1 million award for the grieving family.
Leesfield & Partners represented the family of a man who died while visiting Dry Tortugas National Park with his wife on a boat tour. The man was found dead after officials with the tour company directed him to an area they assured him was “good to snorkel.”
Recently, Evan Robinson, a Trial Attorney at the firm, returned a six-figure verdict for a woman who was injured at a popular Florida tourist attraction. In that case, the property’s sidewalk was flanked by a sharp divot with no railing to prevent falls. This hazard was known to property managers who regularly tasked employees to fill the trench with gravel.
When the narrow walkway became too crowded, our client stepped off it and into the trench. As a result, she lost her balance and violently fell to the concrete ground, shattering her hip.
