A dog bites you, leaving you with an injury. In this instance, it is easy to feel frustrated and annoyed at the dog that attacked you. However, you can work with a Beaumont dog bite lawyer to hold the dog’s owner accountable for their pet’s actions.
Zinda Law Group is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with over 25 attorneys on staff. Let us help you file a claim against the pet owner responsible for your dog bite injury. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our Beaumont personal injury lawyer.
What to Do if a Dog Bites You
Call 911 if a dog bites you since this will allow you to receive medical care. Medical professionals will arrive on the scene to treat your injury. Police officers will speak with you about the incident, ensuring you can file a report and get the pet owner’s contact information.
Continue to receive medical care and keep track of your hospital bills and similar expenses. You should also contact a premises liability lawyer. This gives you the opportunity to discuss your injury with an attorney, and they can help you determine if you are eligible to pursue damages from a negligent pet owner.
At Zinda Law Group, we make it easy to speak with a dog bite lawyer in Beaumont, TX. We will give your case the attention it deserves and answer your legal concerns and questions. For more information, reach out to us.
What Will Happen to a Dog that Bites You
In Beaumont, police officers respond to calls about vicious animals. If a dog bites you, and this is the first time such an incident has happened, the owner may be reprimanded. In addition, it is unlikely that the dog will be euthanized.
There are laws in place relating to dogs that attack people and how they are classified. A dog may be considered “dangerous” if it makes an unprovoked attack. In this scenario, the dog’s owner must register their pet with Beaumont Animal Control Services and take other precautions to prevent future attacks.
In terms of Texas dog bite laws, there is also a one-bite rule to consider. Based on this rule, you may be able to request compensatory damages if a dog previously caused a bite injury. A dog bite attorney in Beaumont, TX, can explain this rule and others relating to your case in detail.
When to Request Damages After a Dog Attack
According to Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003, there is a statute of limitations of two years for personal injury claims. After a dog attack, you may have up to two years from the date of the incident to pursue damages. If this window closes, you may be solely responsible for your injury-related losses.
A Beaumont dog bite attorney can discuss your legal options with you. If you have a valid claim, they can submit your request for compensation before the statute of limitations in which you are allowed to do so expires. Your lawyer may seek compensation through an insurance claim.
With an insurance claim, a liable party’s insurer is more likely to look out for its client’s best interests over yours. Therefore, you may have a legitimate request for damages, but the negligent party’s insurance company refuses to cover your losses. Fortunately, your attorney can negotiate on your behalf and help you achieve your desired case results.
Damages You Can Request
You may be eligible for economic and non-economic damages. A judge or jury may award economic damages for losses you can quantify and non-economic compensation for subjective harm. Reasons why you may get damages after a dog attack include:
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
A dog bite lawyer in Beaumont can calculate your damages. They may encourage you to ask for economic and non-economic compensation. Your attorney may use accident scene photos and videos, medical records, witness statements, and other forms of proof to help you show that a dog owner was negligent.
Proving Negligence
A dog bite attorney in Beaumont can provide you with a legal definition of negligence. In your dog attack case, you are responsible for proving a pet owner was negligent. This requires you to show that the following elements of negligence were present when this individual’s dog attacked you:
- Duty of Care: This is a legal obligation that a dog owner has to take care of their pet and make sure that their animal does not put others in danger.
- Breach of Duty of Care: The dog owner chose not to take responsibility for their pet, violating their legal obligation to take care of the animal.
- Causation: Since the dog owner acted the way they did, their pet attacked you, and you suffered an injury.
- Damages: Your dog bite injury has left you with quantifiable or subjective losses.
Your Beaumont dog bite lawyer will help you build a body of evidence. If you have compelling proof, it may be clear to a judge or jury that you are in no way liable for your injury. Alternatively, the defendant in your case may try to show that you are in some way at fault, which may hurt your chances of getting damages.
How Comparative Negligence Applies to Your Case
Texas has laws in place relating to proportionate responsibility. Following a dog attack, a pet owner may claim you did something to prompt their animal to bite you. If this individual succeeds, you may get only a portion of the damages you initially requested or no compensation at all.
With comparative negligence, you can still recover damages if you are 1-50% at fault. In this situation, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% liable for your dog bite injury, a judge or jury may award you 80% of the damages you requested.
Now, consider what can happen if you are primarily at fault. If this occurs, you are more liable for your injury than the pet owner. As a result, this individual may not be held responsible for your injury-related losses.
Get Legal Help with Your Dog Attack Case
If a dog attacks you and causes an injury, request legal help from the team at Zinda Law Group. We are available to discuss your dog bite case. Contact us today to schedule a free case consultation.
