Two systems, running in parallel, and people routinely use only one.
Workers’ compensation covers medical treatment and a portion of lost wages through your employer, regardless of fault. It is usually faster. It also does not pay for pain and suffering, and what it pays for lost earnings is partial.
A third-party claim runs against the dog’s owner under § 767.04. Strict liability applies exactly as it would if you had been bitten off the clock, and it reaches the categories comp does not — pain and suffering, full lost earnings, and permanent scarring.
These are not alternatives. Pursuing comp does not waive the claim against the dog owner.
Two practical notes. Your employer’s comp insurer will generally have a right to be repaid out of any third-party recovery, so the numbers interact and should be handled together rather than separately. And employer reporting deadlines are usually much shorter than the two-year limitations period — report internally straight away, even if you are unsure whether you will pursue anything.
If you were bitten on someone’s property while working, Florida answers the “should you have been there” question in the statute itself: lawful presence includes performing a duty imposed by law or by postal regulations, and an express or implied invitation. More on that.
Occupations where this comes up constantly: delivery and courier drivers, postal carriers, utility and meter readers, home health aides, landscapers, pest control, real estate agents, and anyone doing in-home service work.