Dog Bites Attorneys in Houston Getting You Fair Compensation

Dog attacks are rare, but they happen. According to a dog trainer with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, one breed isn’t more aggressive than another despite multiple sources showing Pit bulls as the number one cause of dog attacks.

While the breed doesn’t matter, getting attacked through no fault of your own can have serious ramifications on your life or ability to live and work. You can’t control an unexpected event, though you can change the outcome by working with a Houston dog bite lawyer.

When a vicious and aggressive dog attacks another human being, injuries can vary from minor to severe. In more severe cases, of course, you might experience physical trauma, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and life-altering changes if the injuries sustained result in death.

You need an experienced dog bite lawyer like The Hatchett Law Firm if you or a loved one is the victim of a serious dog bite injury or circumstance, including the wrongful death of a loved one.

If you were bitten by a dog or a loved one was a dog bite victim, and an attack resulted in death, we will help you understand the dog bite laws in Texas, build a case in your defense and make every effort to recover damages, losses, and compensation from the dog owner.

What Costs are Associated with Dog Bites?

Dog bites, especially with severe dog attacks, require expensive medical treatment and care. In addition, there are mental ramifications like PTSD to consider, as well as any long-term treatment and loss of income or ability to earn and work.

Dogs are powerful and can do damage to your soft tissues and bones. The more severe the attack, the longer the healing time, and the more medical care and treatment are needed. A dog attack might result in deep lacerations, nerve damage, torn ligaments, broken bones, injuries to the face, head, and neck, or eye injuries, for example.

Your wounds might require one or multiple surgeries, or complications could arise that demand the attention of several specialists, including plastic surgeons and other physicians.

What’s more, dog attacks are proven to have a psychological impact on victims, whether a child or an adult. Mental health treatment might be required, which adds to the cost of treatment if you have distressing memories, severe emotional reactions, negative changes in mood and thoughts, or difficulty concentrating.

Another reason you might consider hiring an experienced dog bite lawyer with the Hatchett Law Firm is to help you recover any loss of income as a result of time out of work due to injuries or because you can longer work and sustain an income.

How Can a Dog Bite Lawyer Help Me?

Dog attacks can be minor or severe.

A fearful dog showing aggressive behavior with no skin contact is a level one bite. Along the same lines, a dog might use his or her teeth in defense to nip but not puncture the skin. This is a level two-bite. These two scenarios make up 99 percent of dog bite incidents, according to the same source.

Alternatively, our dog bites lawyers might need to seek compensation on your behalf if you experience level three stages and beyond, which result in deep wounds and bodily damage, scars, and in unfortunate circumstances, multiple and repeated attacks that result in death.

Texas does not have a civil statute that lays out a dog owner’s civil liability for damages caused by their animal’s behavior. As your dog bites lawyer, when we get involved, we must prove:

• The dog’s owner knew that the dog had acted aggressively or had bitten someone in the past.
• The dog’s owner negligently failed to use reasonable care to control the dog or prevent the bite, and as a result, the injured person was bitten. This could mean the owner didn’t use a leash as required or a fence to protect neighbors and other people in the community.

At The Hatchett Law Firm, our Houston personal injury lawyers help dog bite victims get fair and just compensation for their injuries.

How Can I Prevent Dog Attacks?

Dog attacks can’t always be prevented, though there are some proactive steps you can take to be more careful, attentive, and aware of your surroundings when interacting with unfamiliar dogs.

• Don’t put your face near a dog, especially when you don’t know its temperament.
• Don’t put your hands near a dog’s mouth.
• Do not get involved with two other dogs fighting.
• Keep your hands and arms in front of your face and body to protect yourself.
• Use a firm voice.
• Do not make eye contact, as it could be considered threatening.
• Do not yell, scream or jump up and down.
• Avoid approaching chained dogs.
• Don’t threaten or provoke a dog.

If an aggressive dog attacks you, even if you do all of the right things, dog experts say you should roll into the fetal position and try not to rip your arms, legs, or body parts away from the dog, as this could cause tearing and more harm to your body. Additionally, try not to punch or hit the dog, as it could provoke more fighting.

When it’s over, remove yourself or the victim away from the situation as quickly as you can.

This should not be considered medical or legal advice but general information as shared by dog experts. As a responsible dog owner or, if you interact with dogs in any capacity, consult a dog trainer or expert so you can properly handle a crisis situation.

Why Book a Free Consultation with Our Dog Bites Lawyers?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average payout for a dog bite in Texas is $40,853. Nearly 937 claims in 2019 were filed, totaling nearly 39 million dollars.

If you’re a dog bite victim or a loved one passed away as a result of a serious dog attack, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses.

Our goal as your dog bite attorney is to identify all possible angles to win your case, as well as sources of potential damages, including those that impact your current lifestyle and your future.

We will use facts and evidence like medical bills, the extent of your injuries, medical care and treatment, and physician opinions to build a case in your best interest. With this, The Hatchett Law Firm will work tirelessly to negotiate the right settlement with the dog owner and the insurance company as part of the resolution.

Don’t wait any longer to seek justice and change the course of your situation. Call one of our dog bites attorneys today: 281-214-6541.