With the help of an Austin Dog bite lawyer, you can receive fair and just compensation for any injuries you may have suffered from a dog attack.
Being bitten by a dog can be a terrible experience. Dog bites can leave both emotional and physical scars. The saliva of the dog can cause infections like tetanus, septic arthritis, septicemia, tendonitis, meningitis, peritonitis and osteomyelitis. Most infections from dog bites are polymicrobial and often include anaerobes that can survive without oxygen. Sometimes, the injuries that dog bites bring require medical intervention in the operating room. Because of these injuries, anyone who has been bitten by a dog in Austin, Texas may be entitled to file a claim against the dog owner. However, dog owners are protected from liability, hence, an experienced Austin dog bite lawyer can be of help if you wish to pursue a claim for your injuries.
Any dog can bite no matter how small or big it is or what breed it may have. Precautions should be taken with any breed of dog. If you have been injured as a result of a dog bite, you should get prompt medical attention at once. Not only does it help with the recovery process, seeking medical attention could also affect the eligibility of your injury claim. Among the things you may need for your claim are the following:
- the name of the dog owner and his contact information
- insurance information of the dog owner
- contact information of the dog owner’s insurance company
- contact information of those who have witnessed the incident
- photographs of injuries
Since Texas observes the “one bite rule,” getting compensation for your injury is not that simple. Under this rule, you cannot just sue a dog owner, especially if his pet has never attacked anyone. The only exception to this is if the dog owner is aware that his dog had vicious tendencies and failed to act accordingly. In any dog bite cases in the city of Austin, proving the dog owner’s awareness of his pet’s tendency to harm people is important. If this is not possible, you can base your claim on negligence. Determining whether the dog owner is liable is at times hard. Proving negligence can be tricky but this can be done effectively by an Austin dog bite lawyer.
You may think that by hiring an Austin dog bite lawyer you may be subjected to an extensive case in civil court. But this is not always the case as most dog bite claims are settled without trial. Working with an Austin dog bite lawyer does not mean that your case has to be litigated in court. Austin dog bite lawyers are there to give you a better chance of having your rights fully protected and consequently have more chance of recovering full compensation. If necessary, your Austin dog bite lawyer can take your case to civil court but this is only done if negotiated settlement cannot be reached and if this is in your best interest.
With their in depth knowledge of the law surrounding dog bites and their years of experience handling dog bites claims similar to yours, an Austin dog bite lawyer is an invaluable asset to have by your side when making a claim.
For more information on other areas of Austin personal injury, please visit our Austin personal injury law page