If a bullmastiff has bitten you, perform first aid right away. To reduce infection risks, wash the wound with mild soap and warm water. Then, apply antibiotic cream and dress the wound with a bandage before heading to a medical facility for immediate care.
You should get the contact information for the dog’s owner and anyone who may have seen the attack, such as their name, address, and phone number. We encourage you to collect this information and evidence soon after the incident, as it can be hard to find over time.You can consult with our Austin dog bite lawyer to discuss possible actions regarding liability and financial awards. We can help you explore your legal options, even if you don’t have the contact information. We offer a free consultation to review your next steps, which may include helping you gather key evidence for your potential case.
Report the Dog Bite and Gather Evidence for Your Case
After a dog bite, report the incident to animal control, law enforcement, or the public health department. They may require such reports by law to ensure they can track dangerous animals. Filing a formal complaint also establishes the case’s facts, such as the severity of the bite, how it happened, and the identity of the owner and the dog that bit you.
You should get a copy of the written report you file and add it to a documentation file. Additionally, you can collect visual evidence to boost your case. If possible, take photos and videos of your injuries and where the attack occurred.
These images can show if a condition, such as a broken gate or weak fence, led to the dog’s escape. Eyewitness accounts can help document if a bad leash was an issue or if the owner did not have a leash on the dog when the incident happened.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationDamages You Can Recover While Healing From a Bullmastiff Bite
Dog bite incidents can cause injuries that take considerable time to recover from. Even as the physical wounds heal, victims can feel emotional turmoil for a long time. You could also be surprised if you were familiar with the dog that bit you.
Bullmastiffs are relatively among the quieter dog breeds and bark only when necessary. They also serve as guard dogs, which is compatible with their protective nature. As with other animals, however, canine companions can be unpredictable and bite.
If you believe another’s negligence played a role in your situation, you could seek to hold someone responsible for your losses. Our attorney can review your compensatory damages, which could include:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitative therapy fees: You can seek payment for all expenses related to your bite injury. This includes emergency medical care, surgery, imaging tests, hospital stays, and other services. If you need physical therapy or other rehabilitative care, you can seek payment for those costs.
- Lost income and other professional damages: If your injuries prevented you from working, you can seek repayment. You might also recover compensation if your injuries hurt your future income-earning ability.
- Pain and suffering: Dog bites can be traumatic, especially for children and older adults, who are vulnerable to aggressive animal encounters. If you or someone bitten experiences fear, anxiety, or other emotional distress following the incident, consider seeking support from a mental health professional.
- Scarring and disfigurement: Dog injuries can cause permanent and visible marks that change one’s appearance and affect one’s ability to move. Compensation awards can cover cosmetic surgery and other procedures needed to restore function and one’s quality of life.
- Wrongful death damages: Our Austin wrongful death lawyer can advise you on whether you can recover losses if your loved one suffered a fatal dog bite injury. Losses typically recovered in these cases include the decedent’s medical expenses, lost expected income, funeral and burial fees, and other related losses.
Hiring an attorney ensures you seek financial recovery for every loss. After we establish how much your personal injury case is worth, you will also know if any proposed settlement offers from insurers are too low for your needs.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationLiability in Dog Bite Cases Not Always Easy to Determine
While you work toward restoring your health, our attorney will be busy investigating the incident, gathering evidence that supports your case, and identifying who we can assign blame to for the dog bite. The bullmastiff’s owner is one person we could hold accountable, but depending on the circumstances, others could be at fault, such as:
- Property owners or landlords
- A dog handler or caretaker
- An animal shelter or rescue group
- A government entity
- An employer
- A homeowners association
We will identify all potentially liable parties and determine their percentage of fault.
Where You Live Can Affect Your Dog Bite Case
Multiple parties can make canine bite injury cases even more challenging. Another area worth considering is determining what dog bite laws apply to your case and how they affect its outcome.
‘One-Bite’ Rule
In some states, such as Texas, a “one bite” rule may apply. Many incorrectly think it means owners get one chance for their dog to bite someone before facing legal action.
Instead, this legal doctrine requires plaintiffs to prove what the owner knew about their dog’s aggressive nature or tendencies. You will need circumstantial evidence, such as previous complaints about the dog’s behavior, to make your case for what the owner knew or reasonably should have known about their bullmastiff.
You may also need to prove the dog owner was negligent in some way, such as failing to properly secure their dog before the attack occurred. However, you might be able to recover damages for the resulting injuries without proving what the owner knew about their dog.
Strict Liability
In some places, dog owners are automatically liable for injuries their pets inflict, regardless of whether they knew of the dog’s dangerous tendencies. In these cases, injured parties only need to prove the owner’s dog bit them and that their damages are the result of the bite. They also must confirm the dog belongs to the defendant.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationWorking With a Dog Injury Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Future
Once you hire legal representation from our firm, you can leave the work to us. We can:
- Lead settlement talks with insurance companies and advocate for fair compensation
- Protect your rights and interests and help you avoid too-low settlement offers
- Prepare and file your lawsuit if we cannot settle your dispute out of court
- Go to trial for your financial compensation if necessary
- Monitor your case to ensure you meet your state’s statute of limitations filing deadline (In Texas, it’s generally two years for most cases, per Texas Civil Practice Remedies Code § 16.003.)
- Manage all case paperwork and communications
- Answer your questions and update you regularly about your case
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationCall Us Today for Help if You Have Been Bitten by a Bullmastiff
Zinda Law Group can handle any dog injury claim or lawsuit. We will give you direct guidance on what you should do next if a bullmastiff dog bit you. You deserve to know if you can recover damages and what your case is worth.
Our dog bite injury attorneys take your recovery seriously and want you to have the money you need as you work to put this chapter behind you. We can represent you on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay us anything unless you win your case. Call us today or contact us for a free case evaluation.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
