Have you been injured in a dog attack in Cypress, Texas? Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help when you call (281) 843-9777. We offer a free consultation with a Cypress dog bite lawyer so you can understand your options and begin taking steps to protect your rights.
If you or your child was recently bitten, remember the dog’s owner can be held accountable. You shouldn’t feel pressured to accept less than your case is worth. Skilled legal guidance can help you pursue fair compensation and protect your rights. Contact our office today to discuss your case.
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Why Hire Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers if You’ve Been Attacked by a Dog in Cypress, TX
Dog bite victims in Cypress, TX, turn to Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for help because we’re a trusted and successful personal injury law firm that’s committed to achieving the best possible case results for our clients.
Here’s why you should choose us for help:
- We’re backed by over 45 years of combined legal experience and possess an unrivaled ability to litigate high-stakes disputes and emerge with life-changing financial awards.
- Led by a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist, our law firm has successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars in personal injury settlements and jury awards.
- Our top-tier client service and outstanding case results are why members of our team have been recognized as Best of the Best by The Houston Chronicle, Avvo Top Attorneys, Avvo Clients’ Choice Award recipients, Super Lawyers, and more.
- You’ll want us in your corner as you fight for compensation for your dog bite injuries, but you don’t have to take our word for it. More than 1,500 five-star reviews from former clients highlight the unrivaled benefits of enlisting the help of our dedicated legal team.
We’re here to answer your questions, offer helpful legal advice, and do everything within our considerable resources to help you secure every cent you deserve after a terrifying dog attack in Cypress. Contact us to set up a free consultation with a Cypress personal injury attorney today.
What Could My Dog Bite Claim Be Worth?
The value of a dog bite claim depends on factors that shape the strength of your case and the extent of your losses. Reviewing the evidence, your injuries, and how the attack has affected your daily life can help you understand your potential compensation.
Key factors that may influence your claim’s value include:
- The strength of your evidence and documentation
- Clear liability and any history of aggression
- The severity of your injuries
- Medical treatment costs and future care needs
- Scarring, disfigurement, or permanent impairment
- Lost income or reduced earning ability
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- How the injury affects your daily life
- Insurance coverage and policy limits
Every dog bite case involves different circumstances, so your claim’s value will depend on how these factors apply to your situation. A thorough evaluation of your injuries and evidence can give you a clearer picture of what your case may be worth.
Understanding Texas Dog Bite Law
Texas handles dog bite cases differently from states with automatic or “strict” liability. Instead, liability depends on what the owner knew about the dog and whether their actions contributed to the attack.
The “One-Bite” Rule
Texas follows the “one-bite rule,” meaning a dog owner is not automatically liable for a bite unless they knew—or reasonably should have known—that the dog had shown aggression before. If the dog had a history of vicious behavior, the owner can be held strictly liable for resulting injuries, regardless of precautions taken.
Negligence Theory
If a dog without a history of aggression bites someone, the owner can potentially avoid responsibility for the victim’s injuries. However, the victim can sue the dog’s owner for negligence and still hold the owner accountable. In these situations, the dog bite victim would have the burden of proving that the dog owner’s actions were unreasonable and contributed to the dog attack.
For example, if you were bitten by an unleashed dog in public, you could argue that the dog’s owner was negligent for not having their dog on a leash as required by local Harris County law. Since the dog was unleashed, the owner breached the duty of care owed to you and created a situation in which their dog could bite you.
Once a dog bites someone, the owner can then be strictly liable for all future dog bites, regardless of any steps that the owner has taken to prevent the animal from causing harm.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Cypress Dog Bite Victims?
When you file a dog bite lawsuit in Cypress, Texas, you can ask for the dog’s owner and/or their homeowners’ insurance company to pay compensatory damages for your economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages may include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
You may also be able to recover for your non-economic damages, including:
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
In Texas, juries are also permitted to award punitive damages to punish a defendant for particularly heinous actions and to deter similar conduct in the future if there’s proof that they acted with malice or consciously disregarded another person’s safety.
What Are the Most Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries?
Millions of people across the United States are attacked by dogs every year. Hundreds of thousands of dog bite victims suffer injuries bad enough that they require emergency medical treatment at the closest hospital. Thousands are injured so severely that they have to be hospitalized.
Some of the most common dog bite injuries include:
- Crushing injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Cuts and lacerations
- Infections
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Brain injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Eye injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Leg injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
Texas regularly ranks as one of the top states for dog bites in the nation. Houston, in particular, is a hot spot for dog attacks. In fact, Houston ranked first among all cities in the United States for dog attacks on postal workers in 2022.
If you’re bitten by a dog in neighboring Cypress, don’t hesitate to call Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers. Our Texas dog bite attorneys can offer the resources and strategies you’ll need to make the most of your dog bite lawsuit.
What Does It Cost To Hire a Dog Bite Attorney in Cypress?
It won’t cost a thing until we’ve won compensation for your dog bite case. Our dog bite attorneys in Cypress, TX, handle claims on a contingent basis. If we take your case, we’re confident we’ll win. So confident, in fact, that we’ll stake our fees on the outcome.
You won’t ever pay us anything up front. When we win compensation for you, our attorney fees are deducted from that monumental settlement award or jury verdict. If we don’t win your dog bite case, you pay nothing to our law firm at all.
When Will I Have To File My Texas Dog Bite Claim?
Texas applies a two-year statute of limitations to most dog bite cases. So, you have until the second anniversary of the date you were attacked by a dog in Cypress to seek damages from the dog’s owner, a negligent property owner, or an insurance carrier.
There can be exceptions. You could have less time to seek damages if you’re suing a negligent government agency, or more time to sue if the victim of the dog attack was a child. One thing is certain – your right to pursue compensation is forfeited once the applicable statute of limitations runs out.
Call Our Cypress Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Focus on your health and your road to recovery. Count on Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers to take charge of your dog bite lawsuit and fight to achieve the very best case results possible. Our Cypress dog bite lawyers appreciate that you have a single opportunity to recover compensation.
We’re committed to making the most of it for you. We’ll conduct a thorough investigation, gather critical evidence, enlist the help of highly-regarded experts, and build a claim that forces the dog’s owner to stand up and take responsibility for the catastrophic injuries their animal has caused.
We offer a complimentary case evaluation, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our law office serving Cypress, Texas, to discuss your dog bite claim today.