Houston Dog Bite Lawyer

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer

Have you suffered a dog bite in Houston, TX? You may have the right to pursue compensation from the dog’s owner, a business, or even a landlord. The money you recover can help to offset your medical bills, make up for lost wages, and compensate for your suffering. An experienced Houston dog bite lawyer can help you fight to secure all of the money you deserve.

Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers in Houston, Texas to discuss your dog bite injury case. We have over 45 combined years of experience, a winning track record, and the financial strength required to take on the insurance company on your behalf. Contact our office today at (713) 500-5000 for a free consultation. 

Why You Should Hire Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help After a Dog Attack in Houston

Why You Should Hire Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help After a Dog Attack in Houston

Dog owners do not usually think about the possibility of dog attacks. They believe only a vicious dog or a dangerous dog will bite. But any dog can bite, even if they have never bitten before, and dog bite injuries can be severe.

If you have suffered a dog bite injury, the experienced Houston personal injury lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to get you the compensation you deserve. 

Attorney Brian White is Board-Certified in Texas Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This personal injury attorney specialty certification is one earned by only 3% of lawyers. 

We have a depth of experience that can make all of the difference for an injury victim’s physical and financial recovery. 

When you hire our law firm to help you with your Houston dog bite injury case, here’s what you can expect:

  • We’ll handle every aspect of your injury case. From start to finish, we handle all paperwork, telephone calls, filing with the court, and dealing with attorneys and insurance companies. You are free to focus on your recovery. 
  • We determine the dog’s history of aggressiveness and biting. Applying dog bite laws is a complex exercise that depends on the facts. We make sure we have the right facts in place to develop the proper legal strategy for your case. 
  • We consult with leading experts in Texas. Dog bite injuries can be significant and medical treatment can be costly and complex. We work with experts as we investigate, build, and value your case to make sure that we get things right.
  • We evaluate liability and fight to hold all liable parties accountable. It’s not just the dog’s owner who could be on the hook for your injuries. We’ll work hard to identify all liable parties and fight to hold them accountable.
  • We defend our clients against accusations of blame. Insurance companies are always looking for a way to blame the injured party. We step up for our clients.
  • We negotiate with insurance companies to secure a full financial recovery. If a settlement is not achievable, we are prepared to take your case to court. 

If you have suffered a dog bite injury, it is recommended to establish an attorney-client relationship as soon as possible after your accident. Contact our office 24/7 to get started with your case. 

Houston, TX Dog Bite Statistics

An analysis of dog bites in unincorporated Harris County from 2013-2016 shows a fairly steady and slightly increasing number of dog bites each year. On average from 2013-2016, 1671 dog bites occurred each year in unincorporated Harris County. 

Other and informative data from the study shows:

  • The highest incidence of bites in March, April, and October of each year
  • About 20% of bites were sustained by children between ages 1 and 10
  • People under 10 and over 70 years old are at the highest risk for severe injury 

Texas and Houston rank among some of the worst regions in the nation for dog bites and fatal dog attacks.

Interestingly, one-fourth of all dog bite victims in the Harris County study were bitten by their own dog. A disproportionate amount of dog-owner bite victims were middle-aged. Although only 6% of total dog bite victims were aged 40-44, the percentage of victims aged 40-44 who were bitten by their own dog totaled 12%.

What Causes Dog Bites in Houston, Texas?

Texas law recognizes three kinds of dogs that are likely to cause dog bite injuries: dangerous, aggressive, and public nuisance dogs. Dangerous and aggressive dogs show tendencies to unprovoked assaults, bites, and attacks. 

In 2016, over half of the dog bites in unincorporated Harris County were provoked. In general, the data showed that provoked dog bites were much more frequent than unprovoked ones. 

Are Certain Dog Breeds More Likely to Bite?

Studies have shown that pit bull breed dogs are more likely to bite. Importantly, due to a pit bull’s extremely strong jaw, their bites are more likely to send dog bite victims to the hospital. 

Unincorporated Harris County data on dog bites from 2013-2016 evaluated which breeds bite most frequently. 

The top ten most frequent biters were as follows: 

  • Pit bulls
  • Labrador Retrievers
  • German Shepherds
  • Chihuahuas
  • Boxers 
  • Belgian Malinois
  • Dachshunds
  • Rottweiler
  • Australian Cattle Dogs
  • Shih Tzus

Intact dogs were almost twice as likely, on average, to bite than spayed female or neutered male dogs. 

What Are Some Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries in Houston, Texas?

Depending on the size of the animal and the circumstances of the attack, dog bite injuries can range from moderate to severe to fatal. 

Our attorneys are ready to help you seek damages for all of your dog bite injuries, including:

Contact our law offices in Houston, TX to learn more about how our dog bite injury attorneys can help you during this difficult time. Your first consultation is free.

How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit in Houston, TX?

After an accident that causes injury, a dog bite victim has up to two years to file a personal injury claim. Once the two-year deadline passes, the injured victim may be unable to recover the compensation they deserve.

What Happens If I’m Blamed For My Texas Dog Bite Injuries?

What Happens If Im Blamed For My Texas Dog Bite Injuries

Since some dog bites are provoked, it is important to understand the law of comparative negligence in Texas. If a dog bite victim shares some of the blame for their injury, their recovery will be reduced. If the victim is assigned 51% or more of the blame, a financial recovery will be prohibited.

However, comparative negligence does not apply if the dog owner knew or should have known about the dog’s propensity to bite. That’s because Texas has what’s sometimes called a “one-bite rule.” Once a dog has shown that it has a tendency to be aggressive, the owner is strictly liable for any injury caused by the dog. 

What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation For My Houston Dog Bite Injuries?

If a dog owner was negligent in handling their dog or if the owner knew the dog had aggressive tendencies, a person injured by a dog bite may be entitled to full damages. 

Under Texas’ one-bite rule, to recover damages after a dog bite, a person must show:

  • The animal had an unusual ability to do harm
  • The owner was aware of the animal’s unusual ability to do harm before the attack
  • The animal’s ability to cause harm in fact caused the injuries in question

Although dog bites are common in the media, you may be able to recover compensation if you have been bitten by any dangerous animal kept as a pet. 

Keep in mind that under Texas state law, the dog’s owner isn’t the only one who could be financially responsible for your dog bite injuries. If you were injured on someone else’s property – a business, a friend’s house, or even at a local government-run park – you could hold the property owner accountable. 

Our premises liability lawyers in Houston will work diligently to identify all potentially liable parties – and the fight to make them all take responsibility for your injuries and suffering. 

What Damages Are Available for Dog Bite Injuries in Texas?

In dog bite cases where an injured victim can establish the pet owner’s fault, they may be able to recover economic damages (financial costs and losses) and non-economic damages (intangible, personal consequences). 

Typically, dog bite victims in Texas can seek compensation for:

Valuing damages for losses like pain and suffering and disfigurement can be tricky. An insurance company may offer low estimates of these non-financial damages. An experienced dog bite lawyer can give you the information you need to make an informed decision about whether to settle your claim. 

Contact Our Houston Dog Bite Lawyers Today

If you have been injured by a dog bite, you should contact a reliable dog bite attorney, even if you believe you may have been at fault. Often, dog bite victims cannot know what the dog’s owner does–including if the dog has a history of dangerous or aggressive behavior.

Do not hesitate to reach out to the Houston dog bite lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers. We are available 24/7 for a free case consultation. Call today!

Our personal injury law firm in Houston, TX also handles: