Dog Bite Injuries in Texas | What Are Your Legal Options?

Our firm understands the damage that can be done by a dog bite injury. If you are a victim of this, it is in your best interest to reach out to our firm today to speak with our dedicated and experienced Houston dog bite lawyer today.

What steps should I take after a dog bite injury?

The state of Texas recognizes that dog attacks can be traumatic and result in severe physical, emotional, and financial burdens. In most instances, nothing can be done until the ambulance arrives at the scene. However, if you are able, you should take specific steps to document the incident and make sure that you receive the medical treatment you need. If you can, try to take the following actions:

  • Seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Call the police for an ambulance if necessary.
  • Obtain the dog owner’s contact information, in addition to the contact info of anyone who saw the attack occur.
  • Take plenty of photos and videos of your injuries.
  • Keep a copy of medical documentation pertaining to your injuries.
  • Retain the services of one of our Houston personal injury attorneys who can help accumulate further information to help you win your personal injury claim. Some of this information can comprise reports from neighbors about the dog’s behavior, surveillance footage of the attack, and veterinarian records regarding the dog’s temperament, medical condition, and/or history of violence.

What is the “one bite rule” in Texas?

In the event that a person is attacked by a dog unprovoked in Texas, the state will generally follow the “one bite” rule. Basically, in most cases, if this is the dog’s first attack and the owner had no reason to expect the dog would attack, the victim will often not have a valid claim. However, you may have a case if you were attacked and can prove that dog has attacked a person in the past and the dog owner either knew or should have known of the dog’s propensity for violence or aggressiveness.

If a dog has previously attacked a person, its owner must take the necessary actions to keep control of the dog and ensure it doesn’t attack anyone again. If a dog owner failed to do so and you were attacked, it is in your best interest to reach out to our Houston personal injury attorneys as soon as you are able to. You should keep in mind, however, that if the dog owner can prove that you were either trespassing or you otherwise provoked the dog to attack in some way, you may not have a viable lawsuit.

CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED HOUSTON PERSONAL INJURY FIRM

If you require legal representation for personal injury matters, look no further than The Gonzalez Law Group. Schedule your initial consultation with our team to learn more about our services and how we can assist you. Contact us today.