Dog attacks send dozens of people in Texas to the hospital with serious injuries each year. Texas is consistently the top state in the US for the number of violent and deadly dog attacks. In many dog attack cases, the owner knew or reasonably should have known the dog had a history of aggression. This could give you grounds to file a negligence lawsuit against the pet’s owner in pursuit of compensation for your damages. Work with an attorney at The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert, P.C. on your dog attack claim for greater chances of success. Contact us now for a free consultation in San Antonio, TX.
Why Hire Our Dog Bite Injury Lawyers?
- We have years of experience handling all types of personal injury cases throughout the State of Texas. This is our exclusive area of practice.
- We have a Board-Certified Specialist in Personal Injury Trial Law. Aaron Herbert is one of less than 2% of attorneys in Texas who can boast this accomplishment.
- We do not charge a penny for our services unless we win. Your dog attack case will come at no costs to you out of pocket, ever.
What Are Your Rights If a Dog Has a History of Aggression?
Although Texas is a state without a dog bite statute, the courts have historically used the negligence doctrine to determine a pet owner’s liability for a dog attack. The negligence doctrine, also called a one-bite rule, states that a pet owner will only be liable for a dog attack if he or she knew about the dog’s propensity for viciousness and negligently failed to prevent an attack. This is the baseline the courts use for most dog bite claims in Texas.
As an injured victim in San Antonio, you or your lawyer will most likely have to prove a pet owner’s negligence to obtain compensation for your injuries and losses. Your lawyer will need to present evidence that the pet owner had prior knowledge of the dog’s aggressive behaviors. Evidence could be a previous dog attack, dog bite injury reports, statements from neighbors or witnesses, reports from the pet adoption agency, or a dangerous dog designation from the county’s Animal Control office.
Animal Control may give a dog a dangerous designation if the dog committed an unprovoked attack that resulted in a bodily injury at someplace other than the dog’s home. If a dog receives this designation, the owner must register the dog with Animal Control, restrain the dog on a leash or in an enclosure, obtain liability insurance of at least $100,000, and comply with the county’s restrictions or regulations on dangerous dogs.
Do You Have a Claim Against the Pet Owner?
If your lawyer finds proof that the pet owner was knowingly harboring a dangerous dog or otherwise should have known about the dog’s history of aggression, you could use this as the foundation of your dog bite injury claim. With this evidence, your lawyer could convince the courts that the pet owner was negligent in failing to prevent the attack and your dog bite injury. The pet owner would then have to pay for your related medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress and other damages. Working with an attorney can help you navigate Texas’s justice system during a dog bite injury claim.
After an aggressive dog attack in San Antonio, stay calm and document the accident. Ask the pet owner for his or her name and homeowners insurance information, as well as details about the dog. Take photos of the dog and the scene of your attack. Call the police if it is an emergency. Go to the nearest hospital for dog bite injury treatment. Keep copies of your medical records to send to the insurance company. Before you start your negotiations with the pet owner,
contact usfor a free consultation about an attack by a dog with a history of aggression. We can give you important information about your legal rights.