Humble Dog Bite Attorney
Millions of Texans own dogs. Most of them, although certainly not all of them, are responsible pet owners. When dogs attack people, the injuries might not be more than annoying. But in many other cases, these attacks cause serious injuries. That’s especially true if the victim was physically vulnerable, like a small child, or had a pre-existing condition, as many older adults have.
Generally, homeowners’ insurance companies try to settle these matters as quickly and quietly as possible. But the tenacious Humble dog bite attorneys at The West Law Office start fighting for you from the moment you reach out to us. After we evaluate your situation, we collect evidence that supports your claim. Then, we do not give up until we obtain maximum compensation for your serious injuries.
Dog Bite Injuries
Perhaps moreso than any other personal injury claim, animal attacks cause severe physical and emotional wounds. Generally, these wounds never fully heal.
When large dogs lunge at small children, the knockdown alone typically causes a head injury. These wounds typically require extensive, and expensive, hospital care and physical therapy.
A dog’s teeth usually cause severe tearing lacerations as well as deep puncture wounds. These tearing lacerations typically require reconstructive surgery. Once again, such intervention is especially common if the victim is a small child. The deep puncture wounds typically cause severe internal bleeding. So, many victims are on the edge of hypovolemic shock by the time first responders arrive.
Emotionally, many victims experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-type symptoms. Specific symptoms include:
- Nightmares,
- Depression,
- Flashbacks, and
- Hypervigilance (unnatural fear of all dogs).
PTSD is not a “processing disorder.” It is a physical brain injury. Exposure to extreme stress triggers a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Finally, dog bites have high infection rates. Common infections include tetanus, rabies, and sepsis. Typically, the Humble dog bite attorneys at The West Law Office must file a separate claim to preserve the victim’s legal and financial rights in these situations.
Establishing Liability
Depending on the facts of the case, dog bite victims often have several legal options. Some common choices include:
- Scienter (Knowledge): Owners are liable for dog bite damages if they knew the animal was potentially vicious. Evidence of knowledge includes prior attacks of animals or people and pre-bite behavior, such as aggressive barking.
- Failure to Stop Attack: Once animals attack, owners cannot simply sit back and watch it happen. They have a duty to stop the attack. If they fail to do so, they could be liable for damages, regardless of knowledge.
- Negligence: Ordinary negligence is a lack of care. It is arguably negligent to allow children to play near a strange dog. Negligence per se is the violation of a safety law. Humble and other municipalities have strict animal restraint laws, like leash and fence ordinances.
To rebut the victim/plaintiff’s claim, many insurance companies rely on the comparative negligence defense. This defense is also common in other premises liability claims, such as falls and swimming pool drownings.
This legal loophole shifts blame for the accident from the tortfeasor (negligent actor) to the victim. In the dog bite context, comparative negligence often involves provocation. In a legal sense, provocation is very difficult to prove in court.
Reach Out to an Assertive Texas Dog Bite Attorney
Animal attacks often cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced dog bite attorney in Humble, contact The West Law Office, PLLC. Attorneys can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no insurance or money.
