Being bitten by a dog can be a traumatizing experience that causes adverse health outcomes for you or your loved one. A dog bite may also be an avoidable event if the owner of the dog who bit you or your loved one had taken necessary precautions to protect you from their dog’s violent behavior. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a dog bite, then you may benefit from the help of a Texas City dog bite lawyer.
Call Blass Law today at (713) 664-4000 to learn how our Texas City personal injury lawyer will work hard to get you the best possible outcome.
Dog Bites May Be More Common Than You Realize
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) states that approximately 5 million people suffer a dog bite each year in the United States alone. Such bites can prove to be fatal, whether from the direct effects of the bite or because of subsequent infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studied the breeds most likely to perpetrate a fatal attack. Some of those breeds are:
- Pit bull
- German shepherd
- Rottweiler
- Alaskan malamute
- Husky
- Great Dane
- Doberman Pinscher
The CDC also lists several hybrid breeds, such as the wolf hybrid, as noted perpetrators of fatal attacks. Keep in mind that these were only the fatal attacks examined by the CDC and that total instances of dog bites during the studied period could be greater than figures posted by the CDC.
Because of the potential that a dog bite could prove fatal, and could cause serious injury and disfigurement in non-fatal circumstances, dog owners have a responsibility to act with precaution at all times.
Dog Owners Are Responsible for Their Pets
The Insurance Information Institute (III) makes the matter of liability for a dog bite clear as day: “The dog owner is automatically liable for any injury or property damage the dog causes, even without provocation.”
In order to avoid a situation where they may be held liable, a dog owner could take several preventative steps. These may include:
- Keeping their dog away from strangers, and defenseless strangers particularly, if they know or should know that their dog could bite or otherwise attack
- Keeping their dog on a leash at all times when others are present or could become present
- Keeping their dog away from other dogs if they believe that an attack could plausibly occur
- Fitting their dog with safety equipment such as a muzzle in situations where they cannot avoid contact or close proximity with others
- Actively alerting others to the possibility that their dog may be liable to bite or otherwise attack, and to urge that they do not approach your dog
- Being realistic about the violent behaviors their dog has exhibited in the past
When an owner fails to take all necessary measures to prevent their dog from harming others, they should expect to be held liable in a civil court. A Texas City dog bite lawyer can help you navigate the process of seeking compensation after a dog bite, so call Blass Law today at (713) 664-4000 to find out more.
Dog Bite Injuries Could Be Costly
Dog bites can be vicious, leaving scarring and disfigurement and potentially causing serious direct harm such as:
- Punctured skin
- Torn skin
- Damage to muscle beneath your skin
- Broken bones
Healthline notes that one of the threats of dog bites includes infection, adding that:
- An infection may be more likely if the bite you suffered was to your extremities
- Bacteria in the dog’s mouth (dogs are not generally known to be particular about what they eat) or on your skin could enter your system as the result of a bite
- Puncture of your skin or open cuts are the wound types at highest risk of causing infection
You may also be at a heightened risk of developing an infection if the dog that bit you was not up to date on their immunizations. Regardless of which specific injury you suffer, a dog bite may:
- Require you to seek emergency care
- Require you to receive one or more shots in anticipation of possible infection
- Cause you to miss work for a substantial period of time
- Prevent you from earning an income during the period that you are out of work
- Mushroom into secondary health consequences, especially if your bite wound becomes infected
- Cause significant medical costs to you or a loved one who suffered the dog bite
A dog bite can also cost you in other ways by:
- Restricting you physically
- Causing emotional and psychological trauma
- Harming your mental health in various ways
- Adding stress to your life that you would have avoided were it not for your dog bite incident
A lawyer will document and evaluate your losses, assigning a compensation figure to them and seeking the amount of compensation that you should be entitled to.
A Dog Bite Lawyer in Texas City May Seek Compensation for Your Losses
Speaking with a legal professional may give you a better understanding of the options available to you for seeking compensation after a dog bite or attack.
A Texas City dog bite lawyer could:
- Gather evidence, injury documentation, and other items that may help prove your case and losses
- Speak with attorneys for defendants in your case to negotiate a settlement
- Use the value of your losses to date, and likely losses in the future, as the basis for negotiations
- Take your case to trial in a civil court if no settlement arises
- Defend your rights throughout the legal process
You may be able to obtain financial coverage for your losses from the owner of the dog that attacked you, as well as any other responsible parties.
Call a Texas City Dog Bite Attorney Today
A Texas City dog bite lawyer is a resource you want on your side if you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a dog bite. Speak a member of the legal team from Blass Law by calling today at (713) 664-4000.