Dogs are indisputably man’s best friends, and most pet owners consider their dogs as furry family members. Unfortunately, however, it only takes one painful and terrifying encounter with an unfriendly dog to remember that they are animals, with mysterious motives and deep instincts that we can’t always anticipate or understand.
Let the experienced attorneys at GreeningLaw handle your case
Facing a Dog Bite?
If you or a loved one suffered an injury from a dog bite in Addison, call or contact GreeningLaw, P.C. online to learn about your rights and options for financial recovery with an Addison dog bite attorney.
Why Choose GreeningLaw as Your Dog Bite Law Firm In Addison?
Texas is one of the handful of states without strict liability for all dog owners, making compensation claims more challenging. Fortunately, an experienced Addison injury lawyer from GreeningLaw, P.C. provides the following advantages:
- Over 40 years of combined experience in advocating for injury victims, including in the most challenging dog bite cases
- Our firm’s AV Preeminent® rating from prestigious publication Martindale-Hubbell puts a well-respected legal voice behind your claim
- Access to medical experts and dog training specialists provides supporting evidence in your case
- A personalized strategy to gain the maximum compensation available based on the unique circumstances of the attack, your injuries, and the dog’s history
GreeningLaw does not charge upfront fees to injury victims. Instead, we will evaluate your case during a free consultation and then use a contingency-based payment arrangement so you pay your attorney’s fees only after we obtain compensation for your dog bite injuries.
What Is the One-Bite Rule for Texas Dog Bite Claims?
Texas is one of a handful of states with a “one-bite” rule for dogs. Under the Texas Health and Safety Code Section. 822.005, the law specifies that a Texas dog owner may be held liable for an injury victim’s damages if:
“… The person is the owner of a dog, and the person with criminal negligence… fails to secure the dog and the dog makes an unprovoked attack on another person that occurs at a location other than the owner’s real property or in or on the owner’s motor vehicle or boat and that causes serious bodily injury, or …knows the dog is a dangerous dog …and the dangerous dog makes an unprovoked attack on another person that occurs at a location other than a secure enclosure in which the dog is restrained…”
Although this may seem particularly complex, the one-bite rule merely makes a claim against a dog’s owner more straightforward if the dog has a known history of aggression or at least one prior biting incident. In that case, the bite victim does not have to prove negligence, because the dog’s owner should reasonably have been aware that their dog can be aggressive and have taken precautions.
If a dog has no history of a previous bite, it does not mean you cannot win a claim against the pet owner. Instead, it merely means that you must prove the pet owner’s negligence caused your injury.
What Types of Injuries Do Dog Bites Cause?
Dogs have strong jaws and sharp teeth, which can cause injuries that range from mild abrasions to traumatic amputations and life-threatening wounds. Dog bite severity is measured by the Dunbar Bite Scale, which classifies the injury by the depth of the tooth puncture and whether or not there were multiple bites. The scale ranges from level one and two bites with mild abrasions and slight punctures, to level five and six bites with missing or consumed flesh, amputations, or death.
Common injuries in dog bite claims in Addison and elsewhere in Texas include the following:
- Lacerations, abrasions, contusions, and punctures
- External head and facial wounds
- Throat and neck wounds
- Muscle tears and soft-tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Amputated digits, hands, feet, limbs, or other body parts
- Wrongful death
In some cases, a dog bite victim suffers additional injuries, including fractures and traumatic brain injuries, from being knocked to the ground during the attack. Children and the elderly face the greatest risk of severe or grave injuries from dog bites, but serious injuries can occur to those of any age.
Proving Negligence In an Addison, TX Dog Bite Claim
If a dog has a known history of showing aggression or has bitten someone previously, then the injury victim does not have to prove negligence, because a Texas dog owner has strict liability for a dangerous dog’s actions. However, if a dog has never bitten before, the owner may not have realized their dog was capable of biting. Under the one-bite rule, if a pet has no history of biting, then the injury victim must prove that the pet owner was negligent for a reason such as the following:
- They failed to properly restrain the dog
- They violated a local ordinance, such as a leash law
- They failed to act or intervene during the dog’s attack
- They trained the dog to fight or be aggressive
A negligent pet owner may be held liable for the injury victim’s damages when an attorney compiles evidence showing that the at-fault party owed a duty of reasonable care to the injury victim, they breached their duty of care, the breach of duty caused the injury, and the injury victim suffered damages from the injury.
What Damages Are Recoverable In a Dog Bite Claim In Addison?
Dog bites can cause serious harm, including infections, rabies exposure, permanent facial disfigurement, nerve damage, and amputations. These injuries require expensive medical care and time away from work. Some dog bite injuries require corrective surgeries to restore appearance and function. Suffering a dog attack also causes severe emotional trauma, sometimes leaving lasting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Common damages in successful Texas dog bite claims include the following:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Past and future income loss
- Diminished future earning ability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for catastrophic injury, such as loss of limb, permanent scarring, or disfigurement
- Compensation for emotional trauma
If a dog attack in Addison causes fatal injury, a close surviving family member, like a spouse, parent, or child, can recover compensation and a sense of justice through a wrongful death claim.
Call or Contact GreeningLaw, P.C. to Talk About Your Dog Bite Case In Addison
You don’t have to navigate a complex legal process alone. Instead, reach out to GreeningLaw, P.C. for experienced representation in your dog bite claim. We are ready to provide experienced legal counsel throughout every step of the process, with the goal of achieving the full and fair compensation you deserve.