San Antonio Dog Bite Lawyer
The San Antonio dog bite lawyers and animal attack lawyers at Janicek Law assist dog attack victims and animal attack victims in filing personal injury claims. Animal attacks can result in serious injuries, leading to mounting medical costs, lost wages, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and lifelong scarring and disfigurement. Our experienced personal injury attorney team has a proven track record of securing fair settlements for those with severe injuries sustained in animal attacks or who have lost a loved one in fatal animal attacks.
If an animal attack happened because the animal’s owner failed to exercise reasonable care, and you sustained serious injuries, a dog bite injury attorney can help you hold the responsible party accountable and seek a fair dog bite settlement.
Our San Antonio personal injury lawyers handle animal attack cases on a contingency fee basis. This means dog attack victims and their family members don’t owe any legal fees unless we’re able to recover fair compensation on their behalf.
Call 210-366-4949 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced dog attack lawyer in San Antonio, TX.
Texas Dog Bite Laws
While there is no specific Texas dog bite law, there are Texas Supreme Court cases, namely Marshall vs. Ranne (1974) and Lewis vs. Great Southwestern Corporation (1971), that set a legal precedent for all personal injury claims related to dog attack injuries.
Additionally, San Antonio pet restraint ordinances require all dogs to be confined to the animal owner’s property unless they are leashed. It also allows Animal Care Officers to enter unenclosed front yards to impound dogs.
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822, if a dog attacks a person unprovoked, and the animal owner knowingly did not confine the dog, the owner may be charged with “negligent handling of an animal” and may be held liable in lawsuits and insurance claims.
Additionally, if someone has a dangerous dog and their dog bites someone, the dog owner is strictly liable.
To learn more, contact a San Antonio animal attack lawyer from our personal injury law firm for a free case evaluation.
Beth Wins: Our San Antonio Dog Bite Attorneys’ Results
One Bite Law in Texas
Does Texas follow the one-bite rule?
The One-Bite Rule in Texas is a dog bite law that addresses a dog owner’s liability. This essentially means that a dog gets “one free bite” before its owner is presumed to be on notice of its dangerous behavior. However, it doesn’t mean the owner is automatically off the hook for the first bite; they can still be held liable under certain conditions.
Owner’s Knowledge: The injured person must prove that the dog’s owner knew or should have known about the dog’s aggressive tendencies (for example, growling, snapping, or prior attacks happened).
Owner’ Negligence: Even if no prior attacks happened, an owner could be held liable if their negligence caused the attack, such as failing to secure the dog or violating leash laws.
Exceptions and Strict Liability: If the dog is classified as “dangerous” under local dog bite laws or ordinances, the owner can be held strictly liable for any dog attack injuries caused, regardless of whether prior animal attacks happened or not.
Dog attack injury victims may pursue insurance claims based on negligence or violations of local animal control ordinances, even if the one-bite rule doesn’t apply.
How Many Times Can A Dog Bite Before Being Put Down in Texas?
There isn’t a set number of bites before a dog is put down in Texas. Instead, decisions are made based on the dog attack injuries, the dog’s history, and whether the owner complies with legal requirements. To learn more, contact an animal attack lawyer in San Antonio.
Dog Owner's Strict Liability for Dangerous Dogs
In Texas, strict liability for dangerous dogs applies when a dog has been officially classified as “dangerous” under the Texas Health and Safety Code, making the owner automatically responsible for dog attack injuries.
Definition of a Dangerous Dog: A dog is classified as “dangerous” if it has attacked a person, caused physical injury, or acted in a way that a reasonable person would believe poses a serious threat of harm. This classification is typically through a report to local animal control authorities.
Strict Liability: Once a dog is officially deemed dangerous, the dog owner’s liability is automatic for any subsequent personal injuries sustained because of the dog. Personal injury victims don’t need to prove negligence; liability is based solely on the dog’s dangerous nature.
Owners of dangerous dogs must follow strict requirements, including:
Registering the dog with local authorities.
Restraining the dog in a secure enclosure.
Using a muzzle and leash in public.
Carrying liability insurance or showing financial responsibility to cover potential damages (minimum $100,000 in coverage).
Dangerous dog attack victims should consult an experienced San Antonio dog bite attorney to understand their legal rights to pursue compensation.
Comparative Negligence in Texas Dog Bite Claims
In Texas, comparative negligence applies to dog bite claims, meaning the injured person can recover financial compensation as long as they are not more than 50% at fault for the animal attack.
If animal attack victims fail to exercise reasonable care—such as provoking the dog or ignoring warning signs—their compensation may be reduced based on their percentage of fault. However, they may still hold the responsible party accountable for their role in the attack.
Victims should seek medical treatment immediately and consult a San Antonio dog bite attorney to understand their legal rights to hold the responsible party accountable and seek compensation for animal attack injuries and related losses.c
Attractive Nuisance and Wild Animal or Dog Attacks
The Texas attractive nuisance doctrine holds property owners responsible for keeping their premises safe from hazards that may attract and harm children, including dangerous dogs or wild animals. If a property owner knows their wild animal or dog poses a risk and fails to secure it properly, they may be liable in injury claims for child injury victims who are too young to recognize the danger.
A San Antonio child injury attorney can help families pursue compensation and hold owners of dangerous dogs or wild animals liable.
Common Dog Bite Injuries Our San Antonio Dog Bite Lawyers Handle
Crush Injuries and Broken Bones
Crush injuries and broken bones are common in severe dog bites, often leading to significant medical attention costs. Victims of dog attacks sustaining such injuries may face long-term recovery challenges, including mobility issues and ongoing care. A San Antonio dog bite injury attorney can help victims pursue compensation.
Nerve Damage and Internal Injuries
Nerve damage and internal injuries are serious consequences that can result from dog attacks or severe dog bites, especially when the injuries occur near vital areas. These types of trauma may lead to long-term pain, loss of function, or even permanent disability. A San Antonio internal injury lawyer can assist victims of animal attacks in holding the dog owner accountable and pursuing compensation for the harm caused by their negligence.
Eye Injuries
Eye injuries from an animal attack can result in serious damage, including vision loss or permanent disfigurement. When a dog owner fails to control their animal, they may be held liable for the harm caused. A San Antonio eye injury lawyer can help victims secure financial compensation for medical care costs, pain, and long-term impacts of the injury.
Secondary Injuries from Falls
Secondary injuries from falls during a dog attack or while avoiding animal bites can include fractures, sprains, or brain injuries. Secondary animal attack injuries often occur when victims are knocked down or fall while trying to escape an aggressive animal. A San Antonio fall lawyer can help victims seek fair dog bite settlements for the physical and financial damages caused by these incidents.
Fatal Dog Attacks
Fatal dog bites and wild animal attacks involve the most severe outcomes, classified as level 6 injuries, where the victim tragically loses their life. These incidents often occur due to negligence, such as failing to control a dangerous dog or preventing access to a wild animal. A wrongful death lawyer in San Antonio can help families hold negligent parties accountable and negotiate with the dog owner’s insurance company to secure financial recovery for their devastating loss.
What To Do After a Dog Bite in San Antonio, TX
If you’re involved in a dog attack or even a wild animal attack, use the following steps as a guideline:
- Dog attack victims should seek medical attention immediately. Seeking medical attention following an animal attack is critical to avoid infections. Severe injuries may require stitches, antibiotics, or vaccinations, including for tetanus and rabies. Additionally, medical records will serve as the basis for personal injury cases.
- Contact San Antonio Animal Care Services to report the animal attack and ensure the dog is evaluated for rabies and other risks.
- Take photos of the visible injuries, the scene of the animal attack, and the dog, if possible.
- Gather contact and insurance company information for the dog’s owner, as well as any witnesses.
- File a police report, as this creates an official record of the animal attack, which may be necessary for a legal claim.
- Speak with a personal injury lawyer to determine if you can seek compensation for medical treatment, pain and suffering, lost income, or other damages.
Our personal injury attorneys are often asked, “Can you get rabies from a dog bite?” The answer is “yes.” Rabies is more common in certain regions, especially in areas like Texas, where strays and wild animals are prevalent.
A seasoned San Antonio dog bite attorney can help you prove the dog’s owner was negligent, file an insurance claim, or take the animal attack claim to court if necessary to hold the responsible party accountable and help you secure a fair settlement.
Contact our personal injury lawyers for a free initial consultation to learn more.
Can Someone Sue You If Your Dog Bites Them On Your Property in San Antonio?
When animal attacks or dog attacks occur on someone’s property, serious injury victims may be able to sue if negligent dog owners failed to secure their animals or if the dog owner knew the animal posed a risk. These animal attack and dog bite cases can involve not only physical injuries but also emotional trauma suffered by the animal attack or dog bite victim.
San Antonio dog bite lawyers can work with animal control and negotiate with insurance companies to hold the responsible party liable and pursue fair compensation for medical expenses, lost income, physical therapy, and other damages.
Our San Antonio premises liability lawyers can assist injury victims in dog attacks and offer a free dog bite case evaluation to explore legal options.
Dog Bite Levels
Dog bite levels are categorized based on the severity of the dog bite injuries and the behavior exhibited by the dog during the animal attack.
Level 1 Dog Bite Injuries
Aggressive behavior without physical contact. The dog growls, lunges, or snaps but does not make contact with the skin.
Level 2 Dog Bite Injuries
Teeth make contact with the skin, but there is no puncture wound. This may leave minor scratches or marks.
Level 3 Dog Bite Injuries
One to four shallow puncture wounds from a single bite, typically less than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. Bruising or lacerations caused by the dog’s teeth may also occur.
Level 4 Dog Bite Injuries
One to four deep puncture wounds from a single bite, with at least one puncture wound deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. The dog may have bitten and held on or shaken its head, causing tears or additional trauma.
Level 5 Dog Bite Injuries
Multiple bites with deep punctures or serious injuries caused by a sustained dog attack. This level indicates severe aggression and lack of inhibition.
Beth Wins: Our San Antonio Dog Bite Attorneys’ Results
- $160 Thousand—Dog Attack Settlement
- $50 Thousand—Dog Attack Settlement
- $30 Thousand—Dog Attack Verdict
Texas Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Claims
Victims generally have two years from the date of the dog or animal attack to file a dog bite claim to recover damages.
If you have been the victim of an animal attack, call a San Antonio dog bite lawyer. Our personal injury lawyers will make sure you are able to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the dog owner within the correct time frame.
San Antonio Dog Bite Attorney
The San Antonio dog bite lawyer group at Janicek Law helps victims of serious dog attacks and other animal attacks seek compensation and secure adequate settlements or jury awards for their injuries, addressing financial and emotional hurdles for clients such as mounting medical expenses, physical therapy costs, lost wages, scarring and disfigurement, chronic pain and suffering.
We’re adept at proving liability and negotiating reasonable settlement amounts with insurance companies.
If you or your child has suffered serious or permanent injuries in a dog attack or animal attack, call an experienced dog attack lawyer in San Antonio for a free consultation.
Call (210) 366-4949 or contact us online to discuss your dog bite claim with an animal attack lawyer from our legal team.
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