Houston Dog Bite Lawyer

Who Will Pay if I Bring a Claim for a Dog Bite in Houston?

Dog bite victims often wonder if it is worth pursuing a claim against an individual for the pain and suffering, medical expenses and other damages caused by a dog attack. The fact is that people often have insurance coverage that will provide the compensation you or your child deserves. We have had great success pursuing dog bite claims against people who have homeowner’s insurance. These policies usually provide liability protection which would cover dog bite claims. We have also seen situations where an auto insurance policy can cover a dog bite. Certainly, if the attack takes place on the property of a business, the commercial insurance policy should provide coverage.

Treatment and Risk of Infection After an Animal Attack

Dog bite injuries require immediate medical attention primarily because of the risk of infection. This is usually treated with antibiotics, however there are more serious infections like Tetanus and Rabies.

• Tetanus, which is also referred to as lockjaw, can be fatal. It causes muscle spasms which can be so severe that they can cause bones to fracture and affect your ability to breath. Most people would have been immunized for tetanus as a child but if it has been more than 10 years since immunization, you will likely require a booster shot if you have been bitten by a dog.
• Rabies is another serious infection that can cause an acute inflammation of the brain and affect the central nervous system. Like tetanus, rabies is transmitted through a bite from infected animals like dogs. A series of injections may be required to prevent rabies after you have been bitten.

To treat cuts and lacerations stitches will be required for bites that penetrate and puncture the skin. Depending on the severity of the bite, victims may be left with permanent scarring and disfigurement.

What You Can Do To Prevent Animal Bites

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but they are not always friendly — especially when they are around young children.

The Golden Retriever is one of the least likely dogs to attack a human.

In order to protect your children from dog bites, the National Institutes of Health suggests that parents provide their children with dog bite prevention education.

Some important tips include;

• Always be careful when visiting friends and relatives who have dogs, but no small children. Chances are, their animals are not used to being around small children and may react negatively – and even become jealous – when a small child is around.
• Teach your children never to approach an unfamiliar dog.
• Keep your children away from dogs that have a history of aggression.
• Tell your child how to behave when approached by a dog. Namely, children should stay calm, stay still, and avoid eye contact with the animal.

No matter what the circumstances you should always be sure to keep a watchful eye on your child whenever he or she is around a dog, whether it is familiar to you or not.

What Are Some of the Defenses in a Texas Dog Bite Cases?

Not every dog bite or dog attack means that the owner is liable for damages. Some defenses raised by dog owners include common-sense situations such as:

• The dog was provoked. If somebody was intentionally trying to hurt the dog before the attack, there may be a defense that this caused the attack. However, this does not prevent liability when a child is attacked if the owner was negligent in letting the dog get too close to the kid.
• Trespassing. Certainly, people have guard dogs to protect their property from trespassers and criminals. If a dog is kept in its enclosed property and a trespasser is attacked, the owner could claim that the trespasser was owed no duty to protect it from the dog. This defense would not apply to people who have permission – express or implied – such as meter readers or postal workers.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, contact one of the best Houston dog bite lawyers to discuss your claim immediately.

Our lawyers are versed in dealing with the injuries you have experienced and the demands of these claims.