Dog Bite Lawyer – Dallas, TX
The aftermath of a dog attack can be terrifying and disorienting all at once. If you or someone you love has been attacked by a dog, seek medical attention now. Everything else can wait until you have obtained necessary medical care. If you have already called 911, are on your way to the hospital or have already sought medical attention, it is now time to call an experienced Dallas, TX dog bite lawyer. Even if you are unsure of whether you want to take legal action against the dog owner, the owner of the property on which you were attacked, etc., it is important to preserve your legal options. Allowing a strong legal advocate to begin doing the legal “heavy lifting” on your behalf will allow you to preserve your options until you make a decision about what you want to do, legally-speaking. In addition, connecting with an experienced Dallas, TX dog bite lawyer will allow you to take the legal side of this scenario “off your plate” for a time so that you can focus on healing.
Responding to a Dog Attack – The Basics
One of the most important things you can do following a dog attack is to document every detail you possibly can. Take pictures of the bite marks. Save discharge notes from the emergency room. Give the names of witnesses to your attorney. As soon as you can, write down every detail you can remember from the moments leading up to the attack and the attack itself. This can be a stressful process, but it is important to get this information down on paper before your memory of the events becomes less clear or otherwise compromised by time. If you don’t think you can manage writing down your memories, ask your lawyer to interview you about the event in a way that gets your story down as quickly as you can.
Legal Guidance Is Available
If you or someone you love has recently been attacked by a dog, please contact an experienced Dallas, TX dog bite lawyer immediately. It is important not to waste any time scheduling a consultation as your legal options may become more limited as hours and days pass. Evidence can become compromised or may be lost as time passes. Therefore, even if you are unsure of whether you want to take legal action, it is critical to schedule a consultation with the team at Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC so that we can begin work to preserve your legal options. Once we advise you of the legal opportunities available to you, you can make an informed decision about the best path forward. Consultations are risk-free, so you do not need to decide now whether or not you want to take legal action. Simply connect with an experienced Dallas, Texas dog bite lawyer today in order to safeguard your options and obtain answers to any questions you may have. We look forward to speaking with you.
Dog Bite Lawyer Dallas, TX
If you get bitten by a dog, it is important to consult a skilled dog bite lawyer in Dallas, TX promptly. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your injury. A lawyer can help you file a timely claim and protect your rights.
What to Do After Suffering a Dog Bite
Many dogs are friendly and enjoy being petted by others. However, some dogs may bite if they feel threatened in some way. If you get bitten by someone else’s dog, it’s important to know what to do afterward.
- Identify the owner of the dog. In order to receive compensation for the damages you suffered from the dog bite, you have to find the owner of the dog. For example, the owner could be a neighbor or acquaintance. If you don’t know who the owner is, contact animal control. They may be able to identify the owner if the dog has a microchip.
- Seek medical care. There are several types of dog bite injuries, including puncture wounds, eye injuries, broken bones and face injuries. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if the injury does not seem so bad at first, it may still cause complications. A doctor will evaluate your injury and recommend the best treatment. If you wait too long to seek treatment, you could put your health and legal claim at risk.
- Take photos of your injury. If the dog bite resulted in a visible injury, like a puncture wound, you should take photos of it promptly. Without proper pictures, it can be difficult to prove to the insurance company that you did indeed get bitten by a dog.
- Consult a lawyer. The regulations regarding dog bites and liability are quite complicated. As such, it is wise to have an experienced dog bite lawyer in Dallas, TX on your side. He or she can help you gather the evidence you need to prove your case and handle negotiations with the insurance company.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions. After your doctor has diagnosed your dog bite injury, he or she will advise on the proper treatment plan. It is critical for you to follow your doctor’s orders. If you stop taking your antibiotics or don’t show up to a follow-up appointment, you could jeopardize your health.
FAQs About Dog Bite Injuries in Texas
To make smart decisions about your case, you need all of the information available. At Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC, we explain Texas laws in a way our clients can understand. Here are FAQs we get about dog bites in Dallas, TX.
Is a Dog’s Owner Always Responsible for Dog Bites in Texas?
Unfortunately, Texas doesn’t have strict laws regarding dog bites. This can make it a challenge for individuals to sue when they are bitten. It’s important to speak with an experienced dog bite lawyer in Dallas TX if you want to win your case.
For a dog’s owner to be held responsible, you must prove several things:
- The owner knew the dog had bitten someone in the past
- The owner was negligent in securing the dog
- The owner could have prevented the attack but knowingly didn’t
Proving these factors requires gathering evidence. That’s why having a dog bite lawyer in Dallas TX, is so helpful.
What Are Examples of Negligence With Dog Bites?
Negligence means the dog’s owner didn’t take the steps a reasonable person would know they should take to keep the dog from biting someone. This is easier to prove when a dog has a history of being aggressive or biting. If the person violated local laws regarding dogs, such as not using a leash when they’re required, that’s also a way to prove negligence.
What If I’m Partly Responsible for the Attack?
Even if you believe you had some blame for what happened, it doesn’t mean you don’t have a case. For example, if you were walking through the edge of a farmer’s field and were bitten by their dog, the jury may find you partly responsible because of where you were. However, your dog bite lawyer in Dallas TX can still help prove the owner acted negligently by having a dangerous dog unleashed.
In this situation, the jury may assign a percentage of fault to each party. If you are deemed 20% at fault, the total damages awarded would be reduced by that amount. For example, instead of receiving a settlement for $100,000, you would receive $80,000. At Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC, we can help you evaluate ahead of time how strong your case is.
Can I Sue My Landlord If a Tenant’s Dog Bites Me?
Depending on the circumstances, a dog bite lawyer in Dallas TX may be able to sue your landlord for the bite as well. This requires proving that the landlord should have known about the dog’s temperament and didn’t take steps to keep the other tenants safe.
Schedule a consultation with a dog bite lawyer in Dallas, TX today.
Dog Bite Statistics
Most animal bite incidents are due to pet dogs, as a Dallas TX dog bite lawyer from Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC has seen many times before, and can occur when people are engaging in social activity either in their homes or a public place. Studies suggest that every year, canines are responsible for more than 4.5 million people getting injured in the United States. Around 1 in every 5 people bitten by a dog requires medical attention in order to treat the injury. And each year almost a million Americans have to get medical care for dog bites, and at least half of them are children. According to a study from 2017, there are almost 90 million dogs owned in the United States.
Dog Bites and Children
Children tend to be the most common victims of canine bites, and are more likely to be injured overall. As a Dallas dog bite lawyer knows, dogs are less likely to attack if they are in the presence of an adult, specifically their owner. Most dog bites that affect children happen during everyday activities or while interacting with dogs are familiar with. The odds of a child being a dog bite victim are 3.2 to 1. Severe injuries from canine bites are highest for those who are aged between 5 to 9 years old. The age group that has the second highest number of fatalities due to dog attacks is children about 2 years old. And most of these fatalities happen when the young child was unsupervised with a dog or had wandered off to see the dog unchaperoned.
Safety Tips for Children
If you want to keep your child safe from dog bites, here are some tips to consider. The frequency of dog bites and children can be lessened if kids receive education about how to act with dogs they are familiar with and unfamiliar with. Many dog bites happen while located in the kitchen or during playground activities. Always be sure to get permission from the dog owner themselves before you allow your child to interact with the dog. Avoid approaching dogs who are running loose and don’t seem to have an owner nearby. Never reach through or over a fence to pet a dog, and do not bother a dog that is eating, sleeping, not feeling well, or is injured. Mother dogs in particular can be protective of their babies and should be left alone unless the owner has confirmed that it is safe to approach the puppies while the mother is present.
Getting Help
A dog bite may cause minor or more serious injury, and there may be a reason to seek compensation from the dog owner if there were losses. For instance, if you had to go to the doctor to get treatment for a dog bite, then who is going to pay for these bills? Even if you think you were partially responsible for the dog bite, it doesn’t mean you don’t have a case. For help after a dog bite or attack, please call a Dallas dog bite lawyer at Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC as soon as possible.
