How to File a Dog Bite Report in Fort Worth

CALL (800) 863-5312 TO SPEAK WITH A FORT WORTH DOG BITE INJURY ATTORNEY TODAY

After being involved in a dog bite incident, the notion of recovery and fighting a legal battle can be overwhelming for a recovering victim.  Don’t let seeking compensation for your injuries become a burden by choosing to hold the responsible party accountable all on your own.  It is in your best interest to speak with an experienced attorney who has dealt with dog bite incidents in Fort Worth before.  Our attorneys at Zinda Law Group may be able to help.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a dog bite incident, call (800) 863-5312 to get connected with a Fort Worth Dog Bite injury lawyer for a 100% free case evaluation today.

What Is A Dog Bite Report?

A dog bite report is an official record of an incident involving a dog bite.  You can think of it as something similar to a police report.  A dog bite report will document an incident and then subsequently set-off an investigation into what happened and what should be done with the dog involved based on any other relevant history.  This measure helps to aid authorities in enforcing dog bite statutes and it also helps to serve as an important tool when filing an official legal claim for compensation as the result of any injuries sustained in the course of the dog bite incident.

Some jurisdictions require victims to file a dog bite report after an accident, while others may only encourage filing a report.

How to File a Dog Bite Report in Fort Worth Texas

There are three main ways in which a Fort Worth resident can go about filing a dog bite report in Fort Worth, Texas:

• Visit gov and fill out a report for animal control issues
• Contact Fort Worth Animal Care and Control at (817) 392-1243 between the hours of 12pm-6pm.
• Visit the office at 4900 Martin Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76119

Once you have reported and filed a dog bite report, a Fort Worth Animal Care and Control representative will be assigned to investigate your claim.  This investigation will create an official record of your complaint and any findings of the representative.  This is a prime example of why reporting a dog bite is so important.  This report may now serve as an important piece of evidence in your claim and could ultimately help you in your fight for compensation.

Read More: Texas Dog Bite Laws

The Benefits of Filing a Dog Bite Report

Filing a dog bite report can be a little bit like calling the police after a car accident.  The parties involved often try to forgo this step because they believe they can handle the issue themselves, privately.  However, filing an official report after you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog can be essential to the success of your claim for a number of reasons.  Here are a few of the common benefits of filing a dog bite report:

Documenting Details About the Accident

What the dog’s owner and witnesses say happened can influence your decision about whether to seek compensation for your injuries from the dog’s owner.  You are also able to learn which authorities a witness spoke with and whether the witness would be helpful or harmful to your case.  It is always in your best interest to have as much documentation, witnesses, and evidence as possible when seeking monetary relief for injuries after an accident.

Create a Record of the Dog’s Behavior

A dog bite report can also show if there have been previous reports of aggression from this animal.  This will not only be useful in a dog bite lawsuit to show liability on the part of the dog owner, but also help authorities determine if this particular animal presents any substantial danger to the community as a whole.  In severe situations where the dog is seen to pose a substantial threat to others, authorities may intervene and make the difficult decision to euthanize the dog.

Use a Report as a Public Warning

Every dog can attack a human being, but those with a history of previous attacks should be dealt with cautiously by community members.  Filing a dog bite report after an accident allows you to create a public record of an animal’s history if this dog has been dangerous before.  This may aid you in your claim, but it may also aid others in either distancing themselves from a dangerous dog or by serving as evidence in someone else’s claim against the owner if the dog attacked someone else.

Read More: Dog Bite Statistics

Common Causes

Here are three common reasons why dogs bite:

Provocation

Most often, a dog decides to bite a human because they were provoked.  Animals have an inherent instinct to protect themselves.  If they misinterpret your actions as dangerous, they may be provoked to bite.

Abuse and Neglect

While it is true that some dogs may be inherently more dangerous than others, it is also true that nurture can play a lot larger role than nature.  If a dog owner mistreats their dog with physical abuse, their dog may be more likely to view the world as a cruel place.  Thus, this dog is more likely to harm those who come into contact with it.

The Dog is Physically Sick

Dogs don’t have the same luxury we do of expressing our feelings and what hurts us.  If a dog is sick, they may try to tell you by lashing out aggressively, or rather, they may simply want to be left alone and bite you to keep you away from them.

Common Injuries from Dog Bites in Fort Worth Texas

Dog bite injuries can be mild, but they can also be severe.  The following is a list of the types of injuries that may occur:

• Facial injuries
• Bruises
• Puncture wounds
• Eye injuries such as corneal scratches
• Nerve damage
• Rabies
• Emotional trauma

Dog Bite Compensation

If a dog has bitten you, you may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages compensate you for bills and other expenses that are easily quantifiable.  In other words, these are the things that have a definitive price tag.  Economic damages include:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Other incidentals

Non-economic damages are generally where the most ambiguity lies.  This is because non-economic damages are not based on quantifiable measures and are more related to the intangible future suffering that will result from your accident and injuries.  Non-economic damages are typically calculated by multiplying your medical bills by a number anywhere between 1 and 5.  The multiplier depends on the severity of your dog bite.  Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Physical impairment
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Statute of Limitations

If you’re considering filing a dog bite claim, it’s important to understand your state’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims.  The statute of limitations is the law in your state that establishes a time limit on your ability to bring a particular type of claim.  The standard time limit for personal injury claims is two or three years, but this can vary.  Under Texas dog bite law, a victim of an accident has two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for compensation against the responsible party.  A failure to file a claim within this time limit may result in the failure of your claim and ultimately your ability to seek compensation from the responsible party.

Get Help From Our Fort Worth Dog Bite Lawyers

At Zinda Law Group, our dog bite injury attorneys have helped countless accident victims seek the maximum compensation that they may be entitled to as the result of their injuries.  We have the knowledge and experience to help you build the strongest case possible and offer invaluable advice to help you reach an appropriate resolution for your claim.   Our firm believes that quality representation in a dog bite claim should never be out of reach simply because you can’t afford representation.  That is why we offer 100% free consultations and top-notch legal services on a contingency fee.  This means that you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, call Zinda Law Group today at (800) 863-5312 to receive your free consultation with one of our experienced dog bite lawyers in Fort Worth.

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