Dog Bites

Seek Aggressive Legal Representation After a Dog Bite in Houston

Have you or your loved ones been attacked by a dog? Dog bites aren’t just stressful and scary — they can cause serious injuries and fatalities. And they’re incredibly common. It’s estimated that 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year, and 800,000 of them require medical attention. Sadly, children, the elderly, and postal service workers are the most common victims. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has ranked Houston, Texas the city with the most dog attacks on USPS workers in the entire nation.

When dogs attack, their owners could be held legally responsible. But dog bite laws in Texas might not offer the protection you need in every situation. If you’re injured in a dog attack and seeking to recover damages for your injuries and anguish, it’s not enough to prove you were hurt. Under Texas law, you also have to prove that the owner knew the dog was vicious or that they should’ve restrained or watched the dog more closely.

In order to make the strongest claim possible, you need help from a Houston dog bite attorney at DK Law. We’ll meet with you free to discuss your case and help you find the best path forward during this stressful time.

Contact trial lawyer Darius Khosravian online, or call at 281-916-2516 to schedule a free consultation.

What Should You Do If You’re Attacked by a Dog?

If you’ve been bitten or attacked by a dog, follow these steps to promptly address your injuries and prepare your case:

• Seek medical attention ASAP. There’s more to a dog bite than meets the eye since even minor cuts can cause permanent scarring. And depending on the dog’s health, you could be susceptible to a dangerous bacterial infection or even rabies. Give your doctor all the details of the attack so they can treat your injury properly.
• Take pictures. The best way to prove you were injured is to photograph the area of the wound as quickly as possible. If you are well enough, take detailed photos to show the severity of your injury as well as photos of the area in which the incident occurred and the dog.
• Follow doctor’s orders. Clean and treat your wound exactly as prescribed. Take any antibiotics you’ve been given to treat infection and change your bandages regularly.
• Report the attack to Animal Control. In most cases, local authorities require you to report the details of a dog attack so they can take appropriate measures. It’s typically Animal Control’s job to follow up with the owner and create a formal report. Give them as much information as you can — their report could come in handy when you file a claim.
• Find a Houston personal injury attorney who specializes in dog bites. Before you speak with the dog’s owner or insurance contacts, get legal advice from an attorney who knows the ins and outs of Texas dog bite law. With years of personal injury law experience, Mr. Khosravian and his team at DK Law can help you navigate the complexities of your dog bite case.

When Should You Seek Medical Attention After a Dog Bite?

Serious injuries involving deep wounds or dismemberment require an immediate trip to the emergency room. But even minor dog bite injuries need medical care.

Once you’re safe from the dog, there are steps you can take to treat your wounds before ever seeing a doctor:

• First, apply gentle pressure to help slow the bleeding.
• Next, wash the wound with soap and water, and continue applying pressure with a clean cloth.
• Finally, apply antibiotic cream, and cover the wound with a sterile bandage.

If you’re still bleeding heavily or the pain is too much to bear, go to an ER or urgent care center immediately. And even if the bleeding has stopped, it’s still a good idea to schedule a regular doctor’s visit as soon as you can. Wound infection from dog bites is common, and your doctor can prescribe the right treatment to help you prevent serious illness or disease.

Should You Contact the Dog’s Owner?

This may seem like a tricky one. In many cases where dogs attack, the victim is a friend, neighbor, or even family member of the owner. Victims may not want to risk upsetting the people they know by seeking compensation. But if you or your family have suffered a serious injury in a dog attack — such as bite wounds, scarring, nerve damage, a fall-related injury, or worse — you may need to recover damages in order to pay your expenses.

While it might seem surprising, contacting a dog bite lawyer is a smart course of action here. You’re not asking for money from the owner themselves; you’re seeking money from their insurance carrier. An experienced Houston personal injury lawyer knows how to present the facts in a way that convinces the insurance carrier to settle.

In a situation where you don’t know the dog’s owner, contacting Animal Control after the attack is critical. By supplying as much information as you can — the location and time of the attack, the breed of the dog, and any other identifying information — you can give authorities the tools to locate the dog’s owners and prepare an official report on the attack. Once you have the report, your attorney can identify the owner’s insurance carrier and follow up from there.

How to Prove Negligence in a Houston Dog Bite Case

Texas law requires that you prove the dog’s owner was negligent in controlling the dog. You and your attorney will need to collect evidence that the owner didn’t use ordinary care to keep their dog from attacking you. For example, if you were bitten in a situation where the dog should’ve been on a leash — such as on a walk — this could be enough to establish liability. But the burden of proof is high.

Since Texas laws protect dog owners unless they have knowledge that their dog could be dangerous, cases where the owner has knowledge of this fact can be extremely strong. Ultimately, an experienced attorney is the person best suited to establishing a pattern of negligent owner behavior. They will help determine if the owner intentionally or unintentionally enabled the attack.

You Need a Skilled Houston Dog Bite Attorney to Represent You

Injuries from dog bites can take a tremendous toll on your personal well-being. If you were harmed in a Houston dog attack, you could be eligible to receive compensation that covers:

• Medical bills
• Emotional suffering
• Disfigurement
• Physical limitations
• Pain and illness
• Loss of income, and more

In many situations, you can pursue an insurance claim with the person’s homeowner or renter’s insurance policy. And if a business owns the dog, it’s likely it has a policy that covers harm. Your Houston dog attack attorney can work with the insurance carrier to establish liability and reach a settlement that helps you get back to normal. And if the carrier refuses, your attorney will be prepared to try the case in court.

Houston dog bite lawyer Darius Khosravian and the personal injury professionals at DK Law are well-versed in dog bite law. We have a track record of success, including several multi-million-dollar settlements. Mr. Khosravian is a member of The National Trial Lawyer’s Top 40 Under 40 and a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, one of the most prestigious trial-attorney groups in the U.S. We’ve represented Texans from all walks of life who’ve suffered injuries due to the carelessness of another. We’re ready to fight for you.

Contact us online or call us at 281-916-2516 to schedule a free consultation.