It takes just a moment for a dog to change the course of a person’s life. A single bite can mean serious injuries, including physical and emotional loss. If you were hurt due to a dog bite or attack, it is critical to seek legal guidance from an attorney who can guide and support you throughout the process.
At The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C., you can count on our Dallas dog bite lawyers to provide you with comprehensive legal support at every step of the process. As experienced and proven attorneys with years of experience helping victims recover damages owed to them, you can trust our team to be there for you as well.
Set up a free consultation with our Dallas personal injury lawyer now. If our dog bite lawyer does not win your case, you pay no attorney fees to us.
Dog Bites Can Create Serious Injury and Loss to Victims
By working with an animal attack lawyer in Dallas, TX, you gain the confidence you need to navigate the legal process. It is far more than just completing a claim and expecting the insurance company to pay you fairly for the losses. Rather, you need exceptional legal guidance to help you maximize your claim and hold those who hurt you accountable.
Consider the risks to you and your child. According to Texas Health and Human Services, an estimated 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year, and about 800,000 of them receive medical attention. The most likely victim is a child who may struggle to defend against a dog that is nearly their own size. No matter the situation, your priority is to get medical care, report the claim to the police, and then contact our dog bite attorneys in Dallas, TX, for immediate legal guidance.
Consider that, according to the USPS, Dallas is #3 on the list of the most common areas in Texas for dog bite attacks. They reported that, in 2022, 44 such incidents took place, many of which required medical care to be sought by postal service workers. When you are the victim, you deserve legal support to navigate the rights to compensation that is owed to you.
Determining Fault in a Dog Bite Case
One of the first steps in seeking compensation for the losses you have in a dog bite case is to determine who is at fault. To be guilty of negligence, the dog’s owner must keep other people safe from the dog. Texas is also a one-bite rule state. That means that there is no warning process. The owner of the dog is responsible for the actions of their pet, even if they have never bitten anyone before or shown aggressiveness to others.
A victim must prove that dog bite negligence occurred, which means showing that the dog’s owner was responsible for what occurred. The dog owner has full responsibility to provide reasonable care for the dog and others, minimizing the risks of any losses. If the dog does hurt someone, the dog’s owner may be responsible for any medical damages or other losses suffered by the victim.
To prove negligence in a dog bite case, you must prove the following occurred:
- The dog’s owner had a duty of care. This is likely to occur as long as you have the right to be on the property. If you were trespassing, it may be harder to prove negligence.
- The dog’s owner breached that duty of care. Note that even if a dog is on a leash, if that dog bites you, the owner may still be responsible for the injuries incurred.
- The dog owner’s breach of that duty of care led to the victim suffering injury.
- Your injury from that breach caused you serious harm and loss.
Consider a few examples of when a dog owner may be negligent:
- The dog ran away from the home and attacked you on your property.
- You visited the home after being welcomed by the homeowner, and the dog bit you while you were there.
- You visited the home without an invitation but without warning and for a valid reason. You may have been dropping off the mail delivered to your house, for example.
- You were in a public area, and the dog bit you without any provocation from you.
- A child suffers a dog bite after reaching for the pet at a playground.
On the other hand, if you can be shown to have provoked the dog in any way, that can make it more challenging to prove that the owner is negligent. For example, if there is a no trespassing sign and you are attacked after you visit that property, the owner’s negligence may be limited. If you were testing the neighbor’s dog over the fence, and the dog bites you as a result, that is not the owner’s fault in many cases.
The complexity of proving your case is one of the most important reasons to turn to a Dallas dog bite lawyer for legal guidance. You cannot assume that the bite is enough to obtain compensation for your losses. Insurance companies will work to disprove your right to damages in any way they can. That makes working with a Dallas animal attack lawyer a critical step for many victims.
What Your Dog Bite Claim May Be Worth
When a dog owner suffers injury from a dog bite, it is often the case that their homeowner’s insurance will cover the claim the victim makes if the owner has insurance. Most renter’s insurance policies also cover this type of loss. Many policies have liability limits up to $100,000 to $300,000, though that can range dramatically.
Key to this process is being able to demonstrate the losses you have and making it clear how this dog bite impacted your health and well-being as a result. Data from the Insurance Information Institute states that, in 2023, the average cost per dog bite claim was $58,545. The value of that claim is dependent on the specific losses you suffered. Here are some examples.
Medical Expenses
Your medical expenses for the dog bite treatment may be included in your claim. This may include medical expenses related to emergency treatment, ongoing care, reconstructive surgery, and complications you have. An artificial limb might also be covered if you suffered an amputation as a result of the dog bite attack.
Lost Time at Work
If you were hurt and unable to work for a period of time, you may be able to file a claim for lost time at work. This may compensate you for losses related to missing work and any benefits not paid to you as a result.
Non-Economic Losses
Non-economic losses in a dog bite case may include, but are not limited to:
- Loss of ability to earn a living
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Diminished quality of life
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of consortium
Your dog bite attorney in Dallas, TX, will evaluate all aspects of your injury and ongoing care that you may need. The attorney will help you calculate all losses based on the evidence you have, as well as other cases like your own.
Do Not Overlook the Long Term Implications
Dog bites are not simple injuries. For many people, they create long-term complications to health and mental health. You may be owed compensation for any of those losses. For example, you may suffer post-traumatic stress disorder from the trauma of the dog attack. This may require months, if not years, of therapy to help you move forward with your life.
Others suffer catastrophic losses. If you were bitten, fell, and hit your head, you may have a traumatic brain injury that requires ongoing support and may not improve. Spinal cord injuries may lead to paralysis. The loss of vision and hearing could also be a factor in some situations. Be sure to review our testimonials to learn how we can help you.
The Insurance Company Will Try to Minimize Your Claim
One of the most important factors to keep in mind as you navigate your legal claim is that insurance companies will do anything they can to reduce the amount of compensation paid out. With the help of your animal attack attorney in Dallas, you will be able to gather evidence to verify your losses. Some examples of that evidence include:
- Witness statements
- Your own statement about what occurred
- Photos or videos of what occurred
- Photos and videos of the injury and aftermath
- Police reports and statements
- Accident recreationists work to show what occurred
- Medical experts to demonstrate what happened to you
- Expert testimony to document your injuries, pain, and long-term losses resulting from the accident.
With the guidance of a Dallas dog bite attorney, you gain more information about what all of your rights to compensation may be. That includes evaluating the various ways this injury is going to impact you in the future. Do not settle your case with the insurance company until you speak to an attorney first. Learn how our personal injury attorneys maximize settlement offers.
Dog Bite Laws in Texas
Texas has a robust number of laws related to dog bites and attacks. Whether you are the owner of a dog or the victim of an injury, it can help to review these laws to learn how they impact your well-being.
Texas Health and Safety Code
Under the Texas Health and Safety Code, there are rules related to attacks by a dog, dangerous dog requirements, and attacks by dangerous dogs. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- The dog had never bitten anyone before: In this situation, the dog owner had no reason to believe the dog was dangerous. To receive damages in this case, you must prove negligence occurred.
- The dog was considered dangerous in some way: In this situation, if the dog owner knew the dog to be dangerous on any level and did not do anything about it, the owner is strictly liable for any injury caused. In this situation, you do not have to prove negligence.
When a dog owner is found to be liable for the injuries caused to the victim, but the owner does not know there is a risk, as long as the victim is at least 50% responsible, you can recover damages. More so, criminal charges may apply in situations where the dog was previously deemed to be dangerous. This could include a felony in the third degree, imprisonment for up to 10 years, and fines of up to $10,000.
How Can a Dog Bite Attorney Help You in Dallas?
When you are the victim of an injury like this, working with a Dallas animal attack attorney is critical. Your attorney’s responsibility will be to provide you with insight into what your legal rights are and what steps you can take. Consider these ways in which your dog bite lawyer in Dallas can help you.
Determine Fault
In situations where there is any potential belief that you are at fault or partially at fault for the dog bite, your attorney will work to disprove this. Though it is not always possible, your attorney will guide you in gathering any evidence to prove that you were not at fault. More so, your lawyer will also determine if the owner is strictly responsible or negligent.
Evaluate Your Losses
Your dog bite attorney will determine what all of your losses are. They will gather medical documentation, speak to experts, and calculate both existing and future losses related to your incident.
File a Claim
In many situations, your dog bite attorney in Dallas will file a claim with the insurance company on your behalf and then negotiate with them. In some situations, the insurance company will push back and try to require medical details or additional evaluations of your health and losses. Having an attorney to handle those questions is a critical step in protecting your right to compensation.
Seek Out a Lawsuit
In situations where the insurance company will not settle your case fairly, the attorney will then file a lawsuit with the court. Just taking this action requires that the insurance company take your claim seriously and conduct discovery. They may need to speak to you about your case, gather additional evidence from other sources, and make a decision about what they wish to do. Many times, after verifying evidence and seeing the level of clarity in the losses we present, the insurance company settles at this time.
Go to Trial
It is not common for a dog bite case to go to trial. Insurance companies often settle the case before it goes to this step. However, our attorneys have exceptional experience as trial lawyers. That works in your favor as you seek out additional actions.
Why Trust Our Law Firm with Your Dog Bite Case
Our Board-Certified personal injury attorneys in Dallas know what it feels like to have an insurance company tell you that they will not pay for the losses you know they owe you. With decades of experience, you can expect our dog bite lawyers to fight for you, providing you with clarity on all of your legal rights while also working to minimize any delays in the process.
Our attorneys have experience not only in fighting large insurance companies successfully but also in providing outstanding, compassionate legal care and support to our clients. We care about your outcome and fight for you.
There are many reasons to hire our attorneys for your dog bite case:
- We get results. Our clients have recovered millions of dollars in losses in their cases because our attorneys are passionate about fighting for them.
- Proven experience in the area. Read through our testimonials to see just how hard we work for our clients. Our team would be happy to answer any of your questions.
- Proven trial attorneys. When you have to go to court, you need to know the attorney you hire is going to fight for you fairly and fully.
Hiring a dog bite lawyer can seem like a challenge. Yet, there is no risk in doing so. We encourage you to set up a free consultation to discuss your case with our Dallas dog bite lawyer now. When you do, you will learn what your case may be worth and the legal steps you need to take now to protect your future.
If You Do Not Win, You Owe Us Nothing
The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C., does not take your case lightly. We fight hard to ensure you recover the damages owed to you. If, for any reason, you do not recover damages or win your case, our Dallas dog bite attorney’s services are of no charge to you. You owe us nothing if we do not win your case for you. Expect us to work hard to provide you with the best possible legal representation.
Set Up a Free Consultation with an Animal Attack Lawyer Today
Take the first step in getting answers about your case. Schedule a free consultation with our Dallas dog bite lawyers now. Let us answer your questions and put you on the path to maximizing your compensation claim. Call our team now for a consultation. Remember, you pay no fees unless you recover.