Bellaire Dog Bite Lawyer

Increasingly more people are adding dogs to their homes. Many of these dog owners consider their pets to be part of their families. However, dogs are not humans. They do not always act civilized. Occasionally, they lash out at people by attacking and biting them. These attacks can leave people with painful physical scars and debilitating emotional trauma.

If a dog attacked you, you might be able to pursue damages with the help of a well-practiced injury attorney. A Bellaire dog bite lawyer could help you investigate the circumstances of your attack to see if you have a viable legal claim for compensation.

Types of Injuries that Follow Dog Attacks

A dog attack can cause many different kinds of injuries, including the following:

• Cuts and lacerations
• Torn ligaments and tendons
• Nerve damage that could lead to permanent pain and motor impairment
• Infection – A bite could lead to severe medical infection if not treated promptly.
• Facial scarring, particularly on young children who put their faces right up to dogs and are often unable to fend off an attack on their faces due to their short statures
• Broken bones, head injuries, and back injuries from a dog knocking them over during an attack

These physical injuries can cause significant medical expenses immediately following the attack and in the future. Depending on the severity of the bite, some people need extensive follow-up care, such as skin grafts, plastic surgery, and other painful, invasive medical procedures. In addition, dog bites often leave lingering emotional scars. Survivors frequently experience depression, anxiety, mental anguish, and post-traumatic stress. Some people cannot even walk into a new home for fear of encountering a dog.

A seasoned Bellaire attorney could help a dog bite survivor evaluate the physical, emotional, and financial toll the attack has taken on them to pursue a damages award that adequately covers their losses.

Dog Bite Laws in Bellaire

While Texas is not the most favorable state for people injured in dog attacks, a dedicated Bellaire lawyer could help.

One-Bite Standard

Texas operates with a one-bite standard. To recover damages under this standard, an injured person must prove that the dog that attacked them had a prior history of aggressive behavior and that the dog’s owner or handler was aware of its aggressive tendencies. If the dog had previously bitten another person, the dog could be considered to be dangerous, and strict liability rules might apply. The dog bite survivor could prevail in court simply by providing evidence that the dog was dangerous.

Negligent Handling

The case could be harder to prove if the dog had never bitten anyone or demonstrated aggressive tendencies. However, an experienced legal representative could help build a solid case by establishing that the dog’s owner or caretaker was negligent in their handling. For instance, allowing an unleashed dog to be free in an unfenced area could be evidence of negligence.

Our capable attorneys have successfully handled many different types of cases involving dog bites.

Speak to a Bellaire Dog Bite Attorney Today

Dog attacks are traumatic. You or your loved one could bear the physical scars of a serious bite wound for the rest of your life. Even if your physical injuries fade with time, you might be left with deep emotional trauma.

A qualified Bellaire dog bite lawyer could help you fight back. They understand the local laws and could help you gather evidence to prove your claim. Speak to the legal team at Gutierrez Law Firm today to begin healing.