Dogs are loyal, loving companions. Yet dog bites can result in life-threatening injuries and permanent disability or disfigurement. If a dog bit you or a loved one, you could be entitled to a recovery from the dog’s owner.
A dog bite lawyer serving Arlington, TX, will protect your rights and seek recovery from the liable party. D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ offers free case evaluations to dog bite victims and their families.
Why You Should Call a Dog Bite Lawyer Serving Arlington
Dog bite cases can be complex. Texas has a “one free bite” rule. This means that a pet owner may not be liable for recovery if the dog has no record of a bite or attack. However, if there is proof that the dog has bitten a person or taken the life of another animal, the dog owner may be held accountable. There are other strategies that a dog bite lawyer from our firm can use to seek recovery.
If you are a dog bite victim, the last thing you need is to spend hours trying to understand Texas liability law. You also should not have the added stress of dealing with the dog owner’s insurance company. A dog bite lawyer serving Arlington, TX, will handle the entire insurance claim process and negotiate an acceptable settlement.
An injury lawyer from D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ will pursue the recovery you may be entitled to receive. A team member can discuss this further with you during a free case evaluation.
A Dog Bite Lawyer Serving Arlington Will Show Liability
Dog owners in Texas have certain responsibilities. They must have their dogs vaccinated against rabies and other diseases. They are also supposed to obey local leash laws to keep their dogs from running loose.
Most importantly, Texas dog owners must keep their dogs from harming other people. A negligent dog owner may be accountable for your injuries and damages. A dog bite attorney serving Arlington will show liability by:
- Establishing the dog owner had a duty of care to keep the dog from biting, attacking, or jumping on the plaintiff.
- Proving that the dog owner breached this duty of care in some way (for example, not using a leash or harness).
- Showing that this breach of duty led to the attack and caused injury and damages in the form of medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.
A negligent dog owner should be held accountable. An attorney from D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ can analyze the details of your case and assign liability.
Financial Recovery from a Dog Bite Attack in Arlington
If a dog bite lawyer serving Arlington shows that the dog’s owner is liable for your injuries, you may qualify for financial recovery. Sometimes, people are reluctant to seek recovery if they know the dog’s owner. You should know that our dog bite lawyers seek recovery from the dog owner’s insurance. There is typically little monetary impact directly on the dog’s owner.
Some of the damages that you may be entitled to recover include the cost of:
- Urgent care or emergency department visit
- Ambulance
- Prescriptions
- Doctor visits
- Surgery (life-saving and reconstructive)
- Lost pay
- Reduced earning ability
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
- Wrongful death
A serious dog bite may result in permanent muscle damage. You may need months or even years of physical therapy. This could cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. You should not suffer financially because of a careless dog owner. D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ offers free case evaluations.
How the Texas Dangerous Dog Doctrine Impacts Your Case
Texas law holds dog owners accountable for “dangerous dogs.”
Known as “Lillian’s Law” (the statute is named after Mrs. Lillian Stiles, who passed away after being attacked by several dogs), this statute holds pet owners accountable for dogs known to be aggressive.
Our team will determine whether the dog that attacked you or your loved one would be deemed dangerous by law.
What Is a Dangerous Dog?
According to an Arlington ordinance, a “dangerous animal” is defined as any dog that “makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury.” The attack must take place outside of an animal enclosure for the dog to be labeled “dangerous.”
The law also states that owners of dangerous dogs must take swift action to protect others, including:
- Registering the dog with applicable organizations
- Purchasing insurance to cover damages in case the dog attacks someone
- Keeping the dog in an approved enclosure
If the dog that attacked you should have been registered as dangerous, we can hold the negligent owner accountable to the fullest extent of the law. If there was no reason for the dog to have been registered before the attack, we can push to get the dog designated as “dangerous” and compel the owner to comply with dangerous animal ordinances.
Get Medical Care After Any Dog Bite or Animal Attack
You could risk a serious infection if you were bitten or attacked by a dog. Although rabies is rare, you must either prove that the dog is vaccinated or get the immunization. Please get medical care after a dog bite.
If the bite is not that serious, you may only need to keep it clean and bandaged for a while. More serious bites may require hospitalization and surgery. Either way, it is a good idea to let a doctor monitor your recovery to avoid the risk of infection.
What Else Should I Do After a Dog Bite?
If you have received any paperwork related to the accident, such as a hospital bill, keep it. Bills, receipts, and similar documents can be important evidence during a lawsuit. You can also collect documents like paystubs to make it easier to compare your income before and after the bite.
Once your condition has stabilized, it is a good idea to get legal advice from our firm. D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™ can help you take appropriate action in a timely manner.
Why You May Not Need to Sue for Recovery
Many dog bite cases are resolved out of court. This is because the dog’s owner either takes responsibility for the attack or does not want negative publicity from a trial. A dog bite lawyer serving Arlington, TX, will seek recovery from the dog owner’s insurance coverage.
You also have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit if it is within two years of the date of the attack. Although some juries are sympathetic to dog bite victims, there is no guarantee of a verdict in your favor. Trials are also more expensive, and it can take months for your case to be resolved if the court calendar is full.
We Can Guide You Through Your Case
Whether your case ends in a fast settlement or requires a lengthy courtroom trial, our law firm wants to be there for you. We can take care of stressful, time-consuming legal tasks such as:
- Sending legal paperwork to the liable party and filing documents with the court
- Meeting with the insurance company to negotiate a fair settlement and then drawing up a settlement agreement
- Preparing for trial and arguing your case before a judge and jury
- Collecting as many forms of evidence as we can, including video footage, police reports, and medical records
We also provide direct help to clients by making their experience with the legal system as smooth as possible. We are always happy to:
- Speak with you over the phone or via Facebook live stream to answer your questions
- Meet you at our office or at your home or hospital room—whichever location is most convenient for you
- Make sure you understand your rights and obligations under the law by explaining them as many times as necessary
- Updating you every time there is a major change in your case
Start Your Dog Bite Case Today
For a free case evaluation from D. Miller & Associates, PLLC™, please call us today. Members of our team are always on standby to assist personal injury victims just like you. If you have a valid case for damages, we will tell you and put you in contact with a dog bite attorney from our firm who serves Arlington.
