While dog bites might not seem to not be an injury you need to worry about, these incidents happen more commonly than most people realize. At our firm, we are ready to help if you or a loved one have been injured from an incident with a dog. Our Dallas dog bite injury attorneys will completely investigate what occurred and work to ensure that you receive all the compensation you are entitled to.
Dogs are one of the most favored pets in America, with there being an estimate of more than 89 million canines in US households. With that amount of dogs, there should not be any surprise there are also approximately 4.7 million dog bites each year in the country. While not all dog bites cause serious harm, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that about one of every five dog bite injury victims should be seen for medical treatment.
Bite injuries from dogs can be serious. Several dogs have very powerful jaws that can cause severe damage. Our Dallas dog bite accident lawyers regularly assist clients who have sustained various injuries, including:
In certain cases, dog bite victims in Dallas can be seriously disfigured or sustain injuries that affect their mobility. Dog bite victims may also require reconstructive surgery to restore their functionality or appearance. However, physical injuries from dog bites are not the only issue victims experience. Those who suffer from dog bite injuries may also have lasting psychological or emotional damage.
When examining the injuries mentioned above, it is clear that these incidents often require extensive medical care. The immediate aftermath of a dog bite injury is considered a medical emergency. If the injuries are severe enough, a victim should either take an ambulance to the hospital or get to the closest emergency medical facility as soon as possible.
One of the major concerns in the aftermath of a dog bite injury is infection. Dog bite injury patients will likely need to be placed on antibiotics for a period of time after the incident occurs in order to combat any infection that could arise. Please understand that even a seemingly minor dog bite injury in Dallas could result in a serious infection.
Unfortunately, dog bite incidents can lead to a victim becoming seriously disfigured. These injuries can also cause a person to lose mobility to parts of their body. Injuries that occur in visible areas on a person’s body can be particularly devastating to a person’s mental and emotional well-being. In these cases, a Dallas dog bite victim may require reconstructive surgery to restore their appearance as well as their mobility. These surgeries, though necessary, will extend a victim’s pain and suffering. Even surgery may not erase the scars of a dog bite incident, and victims are often left with continual reminders of what happened to them.
Various states have what is known as “strict liability” dog bite laws in place. These laws make it so that a dog’s owner can be held accountable for injury from a bite, even if the dog has not bitten anybody before. However, Texas dog bite laws will only hold the dog owner liable if:
Owners can also be liable for other injuries that occur from the attack but do not involve the bite, such as injuries or broken bones caused by a fall.
The Texas dog bite law is considered to be a “one bite rule.” Similar to the laws in other states around the country, this rule means that a person who has been the victim of a dog bite should be able to recover compensation if the dog in question has bitten a person before or acted like it wanted to bite a person in the past. In other words, the dog has a history of aggression that the owner knew about.
Unfortunately, unless there was a previous report made about the dog biting somebody, the “one bite” can be difficult to prove. However, a Dallas dog bite injury attorney will work diligently to uncover any evidence of prior aggression or violence from the dog.
Every state sets the timelines on how long victims of injuries have to file lawsuits against an alleged negligent party. For Dallas dog bite injury victims, they will have a two-year statute of limitations to file their claim. If a dog bite victim fails to file a claim against the dog’s owner within this two-year window, they will lose the ability to recover any compensation for their losses. By working with a skilled Dallas dog bite injury attorney, you will ensure that your case is handled appropriately and that it is filed within the necessary two-year window.
Seek legal assistance today if you or someone you care about has been injured or bitten by a dog. With our firm, our team is prepared to investigate every detail of your case and work to secure the compensation you are entitled to. This can include various types of compensation, such as the following:
We are willing to take on at-fault dog owners for possible punitive damages, and we are not afraid of major insurance carriers. When you need assistance from a Dallas dog bite injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling us at 214-295-2900.
