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Austin Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit Attorneys
Dogs have a special spot in Austin’s heart. We love to watch our dogs run around Zilker Park, splash through Barton Creek and fetch tennis balls in Lady Bird Lake.
However, dogs can also be dangerous if not looked after by a careful and responsible owner. A large dog’s jaws are powerful enough to break through your skin and fracture bones. Dog attacks can leave you with extensive scarring, disfigured facial features and years of painful recovery time.
Millions of dogs populate homes across Texas and the rest of the country. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious problems when certain dogs get loose and attack people, as these situations can lead to serious injuries or worse in many cases. If you or someone you love has been harmed in this situation, you need to seek the help of experienced Austin Texas dog bite lawyers as soon as possible.
The majority of dog attack victims also suffer from intense psychological trauma after the incident. Getting past the horror of a dog attack could require expensive psychological treatment and may keep you away from work for weeks or months. Often times, the terror of a dog attack can stay with victims for their entire lives.
Below you’ll find information regarding different types of dog bites that can occur, people who tend to be most affected by dog bites, common injuries that can result from a dog bite attack and finally how you should proceed if you or someone you love if you’ve been harmed in a dog attack and you need the help of Austin, Texas dog bite lawyers.
Types of Dog Bite Injuries in Austin and Travis County Texas
There are several different types of dog bites that can occur and lead to serious injuries, but there are certain types of dog bites that are more common than others. Below is a brief look at a few of these different types of dog bites:
- Punctures
- Tear lacerations
- Crush wounds
You Aren’t Alone
When you or someone you love is suffering from the mental and physical anguish of a dog attack, you need to seek the help of a dog bite attorney today. Our attorneys have been practicing personal injury law for over 20 years and have the experience you need to win your case.
Dogs can’t be held responsible for their actions. Dog owners, however, have the legal obligation to restrain their pets and keep them from harming others. Most dog attacks are the result of negligent and irresponsible dog ownership. Negligent dog ownership not only endangers people, it endangers dogs too.
People Most Vulnerable to Dog Bites in TX
Generally, children are far more vulnerable and likely to be injured in dog bite attacks than adults, and the majority of children who are bitten are boys between the ages of five and nine years old.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children under the age of 18 are more than three times as likely to be bitten in a dog attack as those who have reached adulthood. In addition, approximately 90 percent of serious injuries suffered by humans in dog bite attacks that require extensive medical attention occur with children who are under 10 years of age.
Injuries and Damages Resulting from Dog Bite Attacks in Austin and Jackson County Texas
There are certain injuries that are more common than others when it comes to the results of dog bite attacks. Below is a brief look at these common injuries:
Facial Injuries – More than 75 percent of dog bite attacks lead to facial injuries. This not only coincides with the reality that most dog bite attack victims are children, as their faces are at a lower height than adults and thus easier to reach, but dogs tend to attack in this direction when they feel threatened.
Severe Lacerations – Severe lacerations are obviously a common injury suffered in dog bite attacks, as the dog’s teeth tend to penetrate the skin tissue rather easily. In addition, the natural, instinctive reaction of a person who is being bitten by a dog is to pull back and away from the dog. This pulling action can exacerbate the laceration because the dog maintains his or her grip while this movement occurs.
Austin Texas Dog Bite Claim Lawyers Can Help
Dog bite attacks can be extremely traumatic and lead to serious injuries and fatalities. When these situations arise, it can be difficult to understand how to proceed. If you or someone you love has been harmed in this type of attack, you need to seek the help of Austin Texas dog bite attorneys who have held many dog owners accountable for the injuries they have caused by way of Texas personal injury lawsuits. Contact the Personal Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Dog Bites
Dogs are an important part of many families. They are treated as important family members and seem like harmless creatures. Unfortunately these kind animals can suddenly feel threatened and snap at someone. When a dog bites another person, the owner can be held responsible for the injuries they cause, often through their homeowner’s insurance.
Being bitten by a dog can be a traumatic event, especially if the victim is a young child. Statistics show that most people who are injured in dog attacks are 11 years old or younger. A child may want only to play with the dog but get a little too close to its face or play a little too roughly. The dog may not necessarily mean to hurt the child, but sadly, it does. Even if the dog has never had a history of biting or injuring a person, the homeowner is still responsible for the injuries caused by his or her dog.
Even the smallest dogs can cause serious damage when they bite. Some problems that can be caused by a dog bite include:
- Puncture wounds
- Nerve damage
- Emotional distress
Some states give dogs a “one bite free” rule, meaning they allow dogs without a violent history one free bite before the owner can be held liable for their dog’s injuries. Texas is not one of those states. If you have suffered an injury, whether this dog has a history of bites or if this is its first, you can recover damages. If, however, the dog has a history of biting, an Austin dog bite injury lawyer will work to uncover that history which can help bolster your claim.
If you have been bitten by a dog, the first thing to do is contact authorities. This is because the dog needs to be quarantined to make sure it does not have serious health issues such as rabies. It is also important to isolate it to make sure it does not bite anyone else.
Suffering a dog bite is a terrifying experience, especially for a child. But regardless of the victim’s age, it is important to hold the responsible parties accountable and make sure the injuries caused by the dog are fully compensated. Because it can take many months for the injuries to heal, and can in fact leave permanent scarring, it is important to hire an attorney who is familiar with these serious injuries. This way, a person can be confident that the amount they recover fully compensates them after this devastating injury.