Dog bites can be dangerous for many people. Many American homes have dogs, and yet dog bites hospitalize thousands of people annually, though deaths are rare.
Dogs are sometimes brought up by cruel owners, which can lead to a tragic accident for both dog bite victims and the dog. The damage of an aggressive dog bite can scar, disfigure, or even end lives. Such injuries are addressed when courts calculate damages, such as:
- Medical bills paid
- Therapy invoices
- Pain and suffering
- Missed paychecks
- Any permanent scars
Dogs are known for being “man’s best friend,” but they also stand eye-to-eye with children. This size comparison poses special vulnerabilities for our younger loved ones in the presence of canines. Due to their shorter stature, children are more often bitten in the face by a dog, which can cause permanent facial scarring.
If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog and suffered serious injuries, the team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins may be able to help. Permanent scars left by a canine attack can be difficult to quantify for financial damages.
A McAllen dog bite lawyer from Loncar Lyon Jenkins may represent you in legal proceedings if you were bitten by a dog. A team member will be able to discuss your case with you and provide legal analysis.
Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777.
What to Do After a Dog Bite
Medical and legal attention are the first two areas of focus. The dog owner may be held liable if their dog has done this before. The law is clear about dogs who have biting problems, and the dog may have to be put down if this already happened to someone else. A McAllen dog bite lawyer may be your opportunity for justice if you or a loved one suffered from an unwanted canine chomp.
Seeking Medical Attention
Visiting your healthcare provider is a crucial step if someone in your family suffered a dog bite. If you’re waiting to see if you get better on your own before seeking medical attention, this decision may not damage your case. However, it is not advisable to wait before visiting the hospital if you have serious injuries. If you wait to seek medical attention for a serious injury, you might risk getting:
- Bacterial infections, like MRSA
- Viral infections, such as rabies
- Deepening of scars
- Other infection, decay, or risk of amputation
Loncar Lyon Jenkins represents people bitten by dogs in the McAllen area. If you or a loved one was harmed by a dog bite, you might be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. To inquire about this, call Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777.
Additional Damages the Dog Owner May Be Liable For
The owner of the dog has a duty to restrain their animal in public. According to “Lillian’s Law,” also known as HB 1355, which defines the law about unprovoked dog attacks in Texas, a dog owner is responsible for their dog’s behavior, especially if the dog has a history of aggressive behavior. If a dog owner was already warned about their dog’s biting problem, they might owe you extra damages. Dog owners who know their dogs have a biting issue are supposed to muzzle their pets and keep them on a leash.
The damage of a dog bite may potentially injure a person enough that they might need to seek extensive medical treatment, miss out on work, or even receive psychotherapy for the trauma they received from the attack. If the dog owner is found at fault for the dog bite accident, you may be able to hold the dog owner liable for your pain and suffering.
In your legal settlement, you may request to receive financial compensation for the following types of damages::
- Pain and suffering, or mental and emotional anguish
- Lost wages or earning potential
- Medical bills or co-pays, including for emergency care and hospitalization
- Physical therapy costs
- Mental therapy costs
- Relevant transportation, parking, or other costs
- Medications prescribed to treat your injuries
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving McAllen, call 800-777-7777
How Damages Are Calculated
Often the total sum of relevant expenses related to the accident is used to calculate pain and suffering damages.
Pain and Suffering Damages
It is important to keep records, photos, videos, and journal entries about your trauma related to the dog bite. This helps strengthen your account of events in the eyes of potential jurors.
Dog owners may have a legal obligation to control their animals. There could be a number of extenuating circumstances that have an impact on the issues of your case.
For example, if a dog was off its leash in an area where dogs are required to have leashes, the owner of the dog might be exposed to legal liability of the damage and injury caused by their off-leash dog.
A McAllen dog bite lawyer may analyze the local laws when preparing your dog bite case. Dog bites can be traumatic for victims, so having a dog bite attorney from Loncar Lyon Jenkins might bring the comfort and support they need to bring their case. A Loncar Lyon Jenkins team member may review the facts of your case, analyze everything, and explain your legal options.
Limitations on Time and the Importance of Photo Documentation
According to Texas’ Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, injured people have two years to file a lawsuit related to a dog bite. After two years, there is no remaining legal avenue for restitution.
However, your lawyer may be able to explain your legal options if you were waiting to file a claim after your injuries fully healed. Photographs of injuries are important to collect, for example. If an injury starts healing, it could be too late to show the full extent of a plaintiff’s pain and suffering. Photographic quality matters with the jury, so it’s important to have professional-grade care put into these types of photographs.
There are a number of other factors that can limit one’s ability to collect compensation after a lawsuit, so it’s important to get started early if you expect to pursue your legal rights.
McAllen Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me 800-777-7777
Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins to File a McAllen Dog Bite Claim
If you or a loved one was bitten by someone else’s dog, you may want to work with an attorney from Loncar Lyon Jenkins.
Call Loncar Lyon Jenkins today at 800-777-7777 for a free case review.
Call or text 800-777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
