Every year, approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. receive medical attention for dog bites. Children are particularly vulnerable to being attacked and bitten by dogs; they comprise over 50% of dog bite victims. Senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims. A dog bite can be a traumatic experience and can cause severe injuries and even death.
If a dog has previously bitten someone or acted like it wanted to bite someone and the dog’s owner was aware of the dog’s previous conduct (dangerous propensities), the dog bite victim can recover compensation from the dog owner. Even in situations where the dog has not previously bitten or acted like it intended to bite someone, a victim of a dog bite may still be able to recover compensation for their injuries resulting from a dog bite if the dog owner failed to exercise reasonable care to prevent the animal from injuring others.
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR DOG BITES
A homeowners’ or renters’ insurance of the dog owner typically provides insurance coverage for dog bites.
COMPENSATION FOR DOG BITES
In Texas, a victim of a dog bite is entitled to the following compensation:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses;
- Lost income or wages due to time away from work;
- The cost of hiring someone to do household chores while you are unable to do them;
- Any permanent disfigurement and disability;
- Emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and any interference with family relationships;
- Pain and suffering;
- Any other costs that were a direct result of your injury.
NECESSARY EVIDENCE
Evidence used to prove a dog bite injury claim often include:
- Photographs and video tapes of the incident scene, the incident, the dog and one’s injuries
- Investigative reports (including report(s) from previous bites by the same dog)
- Medical reports documenting injuries
- Testimony of witnesses, law enforcement and emergency personnel with knowledge of the incident
- Testimony from doctors and other medical caregivers, medical specialists, rehabilitation and occupational therapists, mental health professionals and others experts regarding the cause and extent of physical and mental injuries.
Call for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a dog bite, call the Law Offices of Alexander M. Gurevich at (713) 224-9600. We will also deal with the legal matters, so that you can concentrate on your medical treatment and the recovery from your injuries. If necessary, we can also help you find appropriate medical specialists to provide treatment. We may be able to arrange for your medical care providers to wait for payment until your case is resolved.
Your initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we work on a contingent fee basis. This means you pay for our services only when you receive a monetary award or recovery of funds.