If you or someone you love was bitten by a dog, its owner could be responsible for covering your medical bills and related expenses and losses. To hold them accountable you have to prove their negligence. A Dallas dog bite lawyer in your area will have familiarity with local laws, your rights, and the dog owner’s responsibility.
A lawyer can also fight for all the types of damages that can be sought in a dog bite lawsuit and how they will prove the monetary value of your lawsuit. In addition to helping you pursue multiple types of financial damages, they can help an injured loved one or the family of a dog bite fatality.
Recoverable Medical Bills and Economic Damages in a Dog Bite Lawsuit
Depending on the extent of your injuries, treating and recovering from a dog bite can entail short- and long-term medical care. In addition to past, current, and future medical care, your recoverable economic damages can include:
- Past, current, and future lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Assistive medical devices
- Damaged or lost personal property
Your law firm’s legal team will substantiate your claim by collecting bills and receipts for all the economic damages you have or will incur.
Pain and Suffering and Other Non-Economic Damages in a Dog Bite Lawsuit
Like all personal injury claims, your dog bite lawsuit could entitle you to a range of non-economic damages. These typically include:
- Pain and suffering, and inconvenience
- Mental and emotional trauma and anxiety
- Physical disability and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Non-economic, or intangible, damages can be more challenging to document than their tangible counterparts. Your legal team will collect your medical records, written prognosis, and other evidence of their monetary value.
Wrongful Death Compensation when a Dog Bite Leads to a Loss of Life
If a dog bite or attack causes the loss of a loved one, your family can seek wrongful death damages. These can include:
- Funeral, burial, or cremation expenses
- Loss of your loved one’s financial support
- Loss of your loved one’s domestic services
- Loss of consortium, companionship, and guidance
While nothing can atone for your loss, your lawyer will request the following damages to help your family cope with the financial havoc of an unexpected loss.
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Collect Evidence That Documents the Monetary Value of Your Dog Bite Lawsuit
Understanding the types of damages that can be sought on your behalf is only one aspect of your dog bite lawsuit. Your lawyer will also substantiate your claim with evidence of its financial value, including:
- Rehab bills
- Medical bills
- Injury photos
- Proof of income
- Your written statement
- First responder reports
Your lawyer will also prove the emotional distress you suffered, and collect proof of the value of any personal property that was lost or damaged during the dog bite incident.
Collect Evidence That Documents Your Right to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit
To hold the at-fault dog owner financially accountable for their animal’s actions and collect any compensation at all, you are required to prove the negligence that led to the dog bite or attack.
Your lawyer will compile:
- Police report
- Medical records
- Expert testimonials
- Animal control report
- Eyewitness statements
- Photos and video footage
Your evidence collection can do more than prove the cause and costs of your case. Its weight and substance can also steer your case toward an out-of-court settlement versus a trial.
The Benefits of Filing a Dog Bite Lawsuit With a Lawyer Versus on Your Own
A dog bite is a traumatic event that can have a lasting physical and psychological impact. The resulting trauma can make dealing with all the moving parts of a lawsuit difficult on your own.
When you hire a dog bite lawyer to represent you, they will:
- Investigate the dog and its owner
- Build a strong collection of evidence
- Document the monetary value of your case
- Negotiate with the insurance company
- Represent you in court, if needed
While you can pursue the negligent dog owner on your own, there are benefits to hiring a lawyer, including letting them handle the legalities of your case while you focus on getting better.
A Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You Understand the Applicable Filing Deadline
Investigating and preparing a dog bite case can be detailed and time-consuming. In Texas, you have a limited amount of time to file your resulting lawsuit. Generally, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 gives you two years to meet the personal injury or wrongful death statute of limitations.
Your dog bite attorney will clarify the steps involved in your case, the timing of each step, and how long it typically takes to settle a dog bite claim. They will also clarify the potentially costly risks of not filing your lawsuit on time.
Additional Dog Bite Laws That Could Affect Your Financial Recovery
The statute of limitations is only one state law that governs your case. Additional dog bite laws you should be aware of include:
- Texas Health and Safety Code § 822.041 describes a dangerous dog as one that causes injury or death without provocation or one that acts in a way that causes a belief the dog will attack.
- Texas Health and Safety Code § 822.005 defines the owner’s responsibility if their dog is defined as dangerous and for the security of their dog.
You do not have to research the laws of your state or how they impact your case on your own. The lawyer handling your case will identify each of these laws and their effect on your case.
800-285-HURT (4878)Available 24/7 | 356 Days | se habla español
Contact Our Dog Bite Team for a Free Case Review
If you or a loved one was injured by a dog bite, our results-driven team will review your case and fight for your rights as the injured party. We also negotiate the types of damages that can be sought in a dog bite lawsuit.
At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, we have recovered compensation for thousands of injured clients. Contact our consultation team today to find out how hard we will fight for your financial recovery.