A dog bit you and it caused deep lacerations and an infection. You may not know what to do about your medical bills and other losses. A Houston dog bite lawyer at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers can assist.
Our attorneys will review your case for free today to determine if you have a case.
Call us at (713) 489-0922 for immediate legal assistance with our trusted team of Houston personal injury lawyers in your dog bite claim.
Why Choose Our Houston Dog Bite Lawyers?
The Houston dog bite lawyers at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers can help if a dog bit you and the owner was negligent. Our dog bite attorneys have represented many injury victims in the Houston area.
We have obtained impressive settlements and jury awards for personal injury victims in dog bite cases, car and truck accidents, slips and falls, medical malpractice, etc.
Our dog bite attorneys are familiar with the Texas laws that apply to this area of law. There is not a dog bite and animal attack statute in Texas. However, the Texas Supreme Court ruling in Marshall v. Ranne established the state’s rules for dog attacks.
Our attorneys know this case and how dog bite lawsuits can be based on negligence, intentional harm, violation of a leash law, or strict liability. This means that the owner knew that the dog was aggressive before.
Our dog bite law offices are conveniently located in Houston. Call our Houston personal injury law firm today for a complimentary legal consultation. You do not compensate our attorneys unless we win your claim.
Compensation In Dog Bite Claim
A dog bite or animal attack can cause severe soft tissue injuries, broken bones, facial damage, hand injuries, tissue loss, and more.
Some of the compensation you can receive in a successful claim are:
- Medical expenses: If you prove your case, you should receive compensation for current and future medical expenses. A dog bite attorney will estimate your future medical bills by speaking to your doctors and other medical professionals.
- Lost income: You can receive compensation for lost income and benefits since the injury. If you have a permanent disability from the dog bite, you can receive lost earning capacity compensation.
- Pain and suffering: Many serious dog bites are painful and deep. You may receive extensive compensation for pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
- Disfigurement: Serious dog bites can cause scarring and disfigurement.
How much you receive in your dog bite injury claim depends on many things:
Severity Of Your Dog Bite Injuries
Imagine that a dog bit your face and hand. You have nerve damage in both areas of the body, and you will have months of surgeries and reconstruction on your face and hand.
The case value will increase because of the significant economic and non-economic impacts. On the other hand, a less severe wound that heals in a month will have a lower case value.
Medical Expenses
The higher your dog bites medical bills, the higher the case value. For example, suppose you need three plastic surgery procedures to repair your face and arm from a dog attack. Each surgery can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. A less serious injury will lower medical bills and have a lower case value.
Lost Income
A severe dog bite injury, such as nerve damage in your hands, can mean a permanent disability. You will have higher compensation for lost income and earning capacity than if you were off work for a few weeks to heal.
Income And Education
An essential aspect of lost earning capacity compensation for a dog bite injury is your income and education. A higher-income person will receive more for lost earning capacity than someone with a lower income.
Pain And Suffering
A serious dog bite and tissue loss will lead to excruciating pain. Your dog bite attorney in Houston will document the severity of your pain and suffering with medical records and expert medical testimony.
Insurance Availability
The liable party’s homeowner insurance often covers dog bite claims. However, the insurance policy’s limits will influence the size of your settlement. A dog bite lawyer in Houston will establish the insurance coverage available for your claim.
Attorney
How skilled and experienced is your dog bite lawyer in Houston? Choosing an attorney with years of proven skill in personal injury negotiations and litigation is vital to receiving fair compensation.
Always choose your attorney carefully. Look for someone with extensive experience and strong results in dog bite claims. Check their testimonials and recent case results, too.
Retaining a seasoned dog attack attorney at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers is essential to review your claim. We need to determine if another party was negligent and your potential damages.
Where Do Dog And Animal Attacks Happen In Houston?
Many dog and animal attacks in Houston happen in public areas, including parks and other recreation areas. A dog owner may need to pay for your losses if they did not leash the animal and it attacked you.
Dog attacks in the Houston area may occur at:
- Johnny Steele Dog Park
- Millie Bush Dog Park
- Danny Jackson Family Bark Park
- Alexander Deussen Park
- Levy Park
- Ervan Chew Dog Park
- West Webster Park
A dog or animal attack can happen in almost any public area. It can also occur in a private residence where you are a visitor or guest. You may have difficulty receiving compensation in a claim if you were a trespasser. Your attorney will gather your case details to understand if the attack occurred in public or on private property.
What Causes Dog Attacks In Houston?
Many factors can cause a dog attack or bite in Houston.
- Irresponsible owner: The dog owner may be unwilling or unable to control their animal or may not want to take steps to protect innocent people. This can be a form of negligence that can lead to a viable claim.
- Improper dog training: The dog may not have been socialized or trained to behave safely around others.
- Unsecured property: The dog may be left loose by the owner, or it may have escaped through a damaged fence.
- Fear: The animal may feel threatened by another dog or stranger.
- Abusive past: Many rescue dogs have been abused and may be easily provoked.
You can hold dog owners responsible for their animal’s aggressiveness based on strict liability or negligence. Our dog attack lawyer will review your case and devise the best legal strategy.
Requirements For A Houston Dog Bite Claim
Unlike many states, no state law details the animal owner’s liability for damages if their dog bites or injures someone. However, state courts in Texas set rules for when you can hold the owner liable for dog bite injuries.
First, they may bear liability under the one bite rule. If a dog owner knows that their animal might present a danger, they bear strict liability for any subsequent attack. The dog owner is liable even if they were responsible and were cautious with their dog.
Second, the dog owner may be liable based on negligence. Proving negligence in a dog bite claim requires your attorney to show that the dog injured you. Also, the attack occurred because of the owner’s irresponsibility.
For instance, you can hold a dog owner liable if they let their dog run in a park without a leash. Or, you can hold them responsible if the dog wasn’t fenced on their property.
How to Fight the Insurance Company
If your attorney proves a dog owner caused your losses, their insurance company may handle the claim. Many homeowner’s policies cover dog bite injuries. Insurance companies try to exploit victims to keep more money in their pockets.
Hiring a personal injury attorney is always best after a dog bite.
Insurance companies know that injury victims without a lawyer may settle for far less than they deserve. They may feel financial pressure to settle for a fraction of their losses. Additionally, many injury victims have no idea what their case is worth. A dog bite attorney knows how to value your claim and will negotiate for a fair settlement.
Also, the insurance company may employ aggressive tactics to undermine your claim:
- Dispute dog bite evidence you present that the dog had earlier behaved aggressively. Proving that the dog was aggressive before is complex, and most insurance companies will argue this point. A dog bite attorney may have access to evidence that proves the dog is dangerous.
- Showing that the owner had no reason to think that the dog was dangerous. For instance, the owner’s dog walker or vet may state that the dog never hurt them.
If you can’t prove that the dog owner knew the animal was dangerous, they can’t be held strictly liable. So, you must show negligence, which requires more evidence. The dog owner can partially blame you for the accident or may say that you were trespassing.
It’s clear that insurance companies usually fight dog bite claims aggressively. It will probably try to deny your claim or pay as little as possible. Our dog bite lawyers know insurance games and tactics and will fight aggressively for your rights.
What to Do if You Have a Medical Malpractice Claim
What should you do if you have a Houston dog bite claim?
Follow these steps for the best-case outcome:
- Understand the Texas laws governing dog bites: You can file a dog bite claim based on strict liability or negligence in Texas. Strict liability means showing that the dog was aggressive before while proving negligence means showing that the dog owner violated their duty of care.
- Document your dog bite: You can only get compensation in your claim with strong evidence. You will show photos and videos of the injury, clothing damage, and personal items. Take a photo of the dog and where the attack happened. Keep all medical records, bills, lost income information, and insurance correspondence. Witness statements are also important.
- Make a report to the local animal control center: When filing the report, you can learn if there are any previous records about the dog that harmed you. Get a police report if law enforcement comes to the scene.
- Talk to a dog bite attorney in Houston: Give all dog bite and medical information to your dog bite attorney at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers. They will review your case for free and determine your legal options.
- Negotiate with the insurance company: Your attorney will determine your damages and send a demand letter to the liable insurance company. They will attempt to negotiate a fair settlement without going to court.
- File a lawsuit: If settlement negotiations fail, your attorney will take the case to court before the jury.
Speak to Our Houston Medical Malpractice Attorneys Today
A dog bite or attack can cause deep bites, torn skin, nerve damage, injuries to your hands and face, and severe infections can occur. You can have stacks of medical bills and be out of work. You should always reach out to a skilled attorney.
A dog bite attorney in Houston is experienced in handling these complex cases and proving strict liability or negligence. They also know how to value your claim accurately and negotiate effectively with the insurance company.
Call our Houston dog bite attorneys at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers today. You do not compensate us unless we obtain compensation for you, so you needn’t worry about affording our services.