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Our Dallas dog bite lawyers know there’s a reason why dogs have been called man’s best friend. Approximately 42.5 million households in the U.S. own one or more dogs. As friendly and loyal as dogs can be under normal circumstances, they can be just as dangerous and aggressive under the wrong circumstances. If another person’s dog attacked and injured you or a loved one, call one of our Dallas dog attack lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.
The problem is that not all dog owners are responsible, and therefore their dogs often go without the training and socialization they need for safe handling. Dogs are naturally protective and unpredictable creatures, and if they are aggressive or frightened, they can be downright dangerous.
That is why dog bite victims rely on the Dallas dog bite lawyers at Thompson Law to get them the compensation they need after a dog attack. Do not accept a small settlement from an insurance adjuster. Hire our dog bite lawyers in Dallas, TX to manage your injury claim for a dog attack today.
Pet ownership statistics collected by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in 2020 revealed that about 43.4% of Texas households own a dog. While most dogs have a calm temperament, they can attack a family member, neighbor, friend, or passerby when agitated or scared. Dog bites can be painful and terrifying, leaving victims puncture wounds, avulsion injuries, or even death.
Texas has a higher incidence of reported dog bites and deaths resulting from dog bites than any other state in the US, with 5 dog attack fatalities reported in 2021. In one study conducted in Texas, pit bull attacks were found to carry a relative risk of death that is 2,500 times higher than a Labrador Retriever or Labrador-mix breed, the most commonly registered dog in the US.
Texas doesn’t have any legislation when it comes to dangerous breeds, and local ordinances are often more strict than state laws. Texas only classifies an attack by a dangerous dog as a Class C misdemeanor (Section 822.004. Attack by Dangerous Dog). That is particularly concerning given Houston and Dallas ranked as the 1st and 5th most common cities in the United States for dog attacks on postal workers, respectively.
However, dog owners in Texas may be held responsible for injuries their dog inflicts on others. Texas has strict laws that place the liability for an attack on the dog keeper or owner, who is required to pay for the pain and suffering, hospital bills, lost wages, and more. If you are a dog bite injury victim, you need a Dallas dog bite lawyer at Thompson Law to pursue an injury claim for your damages. Our dog bite injury attorneys offer FREE CONFIDENTIAL CASE REVIEWS, so call us today.
Over 4 million Americans suffer dog bites every year out of a population of almost 330 million people. That means that roughly 1 in 73 people in the US will be bitten by a dog each year. Estimates are that around 800,000 dog attack victims seek medical attention after the attack, with 6,000 and 13,00 hospitalizations annually.
While only 0.02% of attacks in the United States are fatal, between 30 and 50 fatal dog attacks occur in the United States every year. Studies show that 65% of deaths result from pit bull attacks. Further, the number of dog attacks in the US appears to be increasing despite dog bite prevention measures.
Some dog breeds have proven to be far more dangerous than others, particularly pit bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds. The pit bull is the most highly regulated class of dog in the United States. However, in many cities and towns regulations exist for a variety of other breeds, such as American Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Dalmatians, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, or any mix of these breeds.
Cities, towns, and even property owners around the nation impose restrictions on such dangerous breeds. Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is the term that refers to the laws that regulate or ban certain dog breeds in an attempt to decrease the number of dog attacks on humans and other animals.
In the past, Texas had a one-bite rule that exempted dog owners from liability the first time their animal bit a person. Fortunately, that all changed when Texas legislators abolished the one bite rule in 2007.
Now, if any owner knows or suspects that their dog is aggressive, they are liable for any damages that occur as the result of their dog biting someone, sometimes even if that person is trespassing. If a dog attacks someone, the owner is responsible for the victim’s injuries.
Most states have a “strict liability” policy for dog attacks, allowing victims to claim damages without needing to prove the owner had prior knowledge of their pet’s aggression. This means that if you are hurt and seeking damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, or emotional distress, the offending dog’s owners are liable.
Generally speaking, negligence refers to a lack of ordinary care in preventing a dog from biting others. The keeper or owner has the responsibility of reasonably protecting others from being harmed by the dog. The plaintiff must have evidence that the defendant owns the dog that attacked them, and needs to show that the owner did not take the steps a reasonable person would to prevent the dog from attacking another person.
To prove owner negligence in Texas, your Dallas dog bite lawyers must demonstrate four elements. Your attorney must provide evidence of:
Proving negligence in dog attack cases in Texas can be complex, so it is important to work with a personal injury lawyer familiar with dog bite claims. If you have been the victim of a serious dog attack, call us for a FREE CONSULTATION. The Dallas dog bite lawyers at Thompson Law know the Texas state laws that pertain to dog bites and dog attacks and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog in Dallas, do not talk to the pet owner’s insurance company, even if they try to contact you. Insurance adjusters will try to get you to accept a small settlement by offering to pay your medical bills in exchange for signing a bodily injury release, which prevents you from later making an injury claim for your damages. If you or a loved one is attacked by a dog or other animal, our Dallas dog bite lawyers suggest you take the following steps:
If a dog bite penetrates a victim’s skin, germs can quickly get into the wound depending on the bacteria or germs in a dog’s teeth. Even the slightest attack may lead to long term effects, as discussed below:
In most cases, a dog bite inflicts permanent scars or disfigurements. Even worse, it may cause severe injuries that affect the body parts beneath your skin. Children are the typically most affected, as dog usually attack kids in highly visible areas like the face due to their smaller stature. Victims may require skin grafting, surgeries, or stitches to reduce the extent of disfigurement. Sadly, some of these injuries might be a permanent reminder of the attack in the form or scarring or other injuries.
Dog bite victims tend to suffer from psychological effects that may last for a considerable time. Post-trauma stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common psychological injuries in dog attacks. This can create significant fear and anxiety when a victim is around animals.
Fear of dogs after an attack is extremely common among young children. That fear often leads to emotional distress, outbursts, nightmares, regressions, anxiety, and mood swings in the long term. Additionally, dog attack victims may have other symptoms after an attack, such as depression, fear, stress, trouble sleeping, severe anxiety, and flashbacks.
If you are the victims of a dog bite, it is essential to see a doctor who knows how to treat a dog bite wound immediately. Waiting to see a physician can increase the chances of wound infections. Over time, you may experience some of these symptoms:
At Thompson Law, our Dallas dog bite lawyers have handled a wide range of dog bite and other personal injury cases, and have a history of obtaining excellent results for our clients. We offer FREE CONSULTATIONS to dog bite victims, and charge NO FEE unless we are able to obtain a settlement or verdict for your injury claim. We are available 24/7 to help answer your questions and understand your legal rights, so call us today to help with your dog bite claim.
Compensation for dog attack victims typically comes out of the owner’s home insurance policy. As a result, the owner’s insurance adjuster usually calls victims advising them that they do not need a lawyer. They are not trying to do you a favor by offering you a tiny settlement for your injuries, or offering to only pay for your medical bills. They are protecting their own bottom-line.
Do not settle for less than you deserve for your injuries under Texas law. Insurance companies know that a dog bite injury lawyer will take a dog bite case to court to get fair compensation for their clients, which is an expensive process the insurance company is trying to avoid. People who hire personal injury lawyers for their dog attack cases typically receive much higher compensation for their injuries. When the insurance company calls you, tell them to contact your lawyer.
We provide dog bite victims with dedicated and tenacious legal representation, ensuring that you get fair value for your claim. Our Dallas dog bite lawyers will build a strong case with supporting evidence so that you recover the money that you deserve.
One of the most challenging tasks in a dog bite case is proving the animal was dangerous when there is not a previously reported case of aggression or attack. Your attorney will have to investigate if there was a similar incident reported to animal control, in the neighborhood, and the dog is considered an aggressive breed in the area the attack occurred.
Your attorney will also need to demonstrate that the dog was aggressive and can easily bite others when loose. However, the otherwise loving or peaceful behavior of the dog can quickly mitigate this argument. This is how the owner will try to develop an argument that he or she was not negligent, and could not have predicted nor prevented the attack. No matter how complex this process may seem, you can rely on a Dallas dog bite lawyer from Thompson Law to protect your rights. Call us today for a FREE CASE REVIEW.
Dog bite injuries can be both devastating and disfiguring. Sometimes, all it takes is for an untrained or vicious dog to become frightened or startled to attack. The damage done can be substantial. You could suffer from physical pain, disfiguring injuries, PTSD, and anxiety because of your injuries.
Fortunately, the state of Texas allows you to claim both economic and non-economic damages. Your economic or financial damages are damages that you can prove with bills, receipts, or your employment record.
Your non-economic or non-financial damages are a little bit harder to prove. There is not a clear monetary value for non-economic damages, as they are more subjective and difficult to quantify. The value of these damages can also vary based on the victim. For example, a model who incurs damages to her face, or a surgeon whose hands are incapacitated as the result of a dog bite might be more severely affected than someone who does not rely on their face or hands for their livelihood.
When you have been injured in a dog attack in Texas, your first call should be to Ryan L. Thompson and the Dallas dog bite lawyers at Thompson Law. Our veteran trial lawyers are ready to tackle your case and get you the compensation you deserve for your dog bite lawsuit. We know how to build a strong case with hard evidence to maximize the amount of compensation you will receive.
Call Thompson Law for a FREE CONSULTATION about your Dallas animal bite case so our Dallas dog bite lawyers can get to work for you today.
Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.
