A dog attack can suddenly change the entire course of your life. If you are like many people, you probably did not see the attack coming or the countless hours you would spend in the emergency room. Insurers add insult to your injuries by lowballing your insurance settlement, preventing you from getting the compensation you need.
In this situation, get legal advice from San Antonio dog bite attorney Michael Garatoni. Garatoni Law Firm holds negligent dog owners accountable for their actions by securing a civil award on your behalf. Learn more about your rights and options during a free consultation at (210) 964-3873 with our dog bite lawyers in San Antonio today.
Our San Antonio Dog Bite Lawyers Help People Recover After a Dog Bite or Attack Injury
Dog attacks should never happen. Owners know that Texas and the City of San Antonio are very strict about dog ownership requirements since an attacking dog could cause severe injuries and fatalities. If a dog bite leads to an unfortunate fatality, reaching out to a wrongful death attorney in San Antonio would be very beneficial.
Our legal team of San Antonio dog bite attorneys helps people recovering from dog bite and attack injuries, including:
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Bruises and contusions
- Facial injuries
- Heart failure
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ damage
- Myocardial infarction
- Punctures and wounds
- Soft tissue damage
- Spine and spinal cord damage
- Wrongful death
- Other injuries
Common Causes of Dog Bite Injuries
A dog bite injury happens when an animal reacts in an aggressive manner, biting another person. It is not possible to say that this happens for any simple reason. Every situation requires careful investigation by your dog bite attorney to better understand the factors involved. Our San Antonio dog bite lawyer often sees these accidents for causes such as:
- The dog was afraid. In some cases, dogs will bite like this if they are afraid of the sudden circumstances.
- Dogs may be afraid of children. Children can be rough without expectation. Some may be loud. This can startle the dog and cause the dog to bite.
- Some dogs have aggressive behaviors. It is important to know that dogs tend to bite because they are afraid, but it is possible that some dogs are trained to behave in an aggressive manner.
- Protective behavior. Some dogs will see a person on their property as an intruder or a risk to their family. Many dogs will attack as a direct result of this threat.
- The dog lacks training. It is not uncommon for a dog bite to happen because the dog did not have the necessary training to know how to act in the situation.
Dogs are animals. We cannot reason with them. If put into dangerous situations, without protection and safeguarding others, dogs can hurt others for reasons we may not be able to fully understand.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Dog Bite Attack?
After a dog bite, take action immediately to protect yourself. That means moving away from the dog to minimize the risk of being bitten again. Avoid chasing after the dog or making other startling movements. The key to remember here is that dogs will continue to react as long as they are afraid.
Consider the steps to take after you are no longer at risk of being harmed.
- Call 911. If there is significant injury or a threat to others, call the police to have them come to the location.
- Take photos of the injury you have. Take photos and video of the surrounding area, including where the dog bite occurred, any debris or blood, and the dog itself.
- Do not admit fault. If the dog owner is still present, get their name and contact information, but do not admit fault.
- Seek out medical care after any dog bite. Doing so can protect your health and minimize the risk of complications later.
- Call your attorney for immediate help after a serious dog bite occurs. It could be critical to protecting your future.
Evidence Proves That You Were Attacked in San Antonio
The recovery of financial compensation for dog bite injuries depends on your ability to prove dog owner negligence. In Texas, this means proving—in line with the parameters of the one-bite rule—that the owner knew or should have known the dog could bite. This evidence can be challenging to obtain without the help of a San Antonio dog bite attorney.
If you hire one of our personal injury lawyers in San Antonio who specializes in dog bites from Garatoni Law Firm to represent your case, he will investigate your attack for signs of negligence, including:
- Animal control records
- Police reports
- Veterinarian records
- Your medical records
- GPS and cell phone data
- Photographs
- Video
- Expert testimony
- Eyewitness testimony
Without legal help from a dog bite attorney in San Antonio, the dog’s owner may use common defenses to avoid liability. For example, they could say you were trespassing or that they had no clue the dog was vicious. Texas is a modified negligence state; even if you were somewhat at fault, you could still receive compensation for your losses.
Texas Law Provides for Injury Victim Compensation Rights from Dog Bites in San Antonio
Our San Antonio dog bite lawyer understands the difficulties in recovering from an attack. We are ready to help you get compensation for current and future medical expenses and much more.
After a thorough case review, you could be entitled to:
- Medical bills
- Future healthcare costs
- Lost work wages and benefits
- Lost future earnings
- Property damage
- Bad faith damages
- Exemplary damages
- Wrongful death damages
- Pain and suffering
- Other civil awards
Our legal team will fight for every dollar you are owed under TX Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.001. It takes many legal resources and hours to ensure you receive a fair outcome. As such, we operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing until you win.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in Texas?
Under Texas law, a victim has two years from the date of the accident to take action in a court of law. This is the statute of limitations for dog bite claims in Texas. It means you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim in a court of law, though insurance companies may require you to file sooner than this.
Two years may seem like a long time. However, there is a significant amount of work your San Antonio dog bite attorney has to do to build your case, negotiate compensation, and then seek legal action in a court of law if required.
Our San Antonio Dog Bite Attorney Is Ready to Help
To arrange a free consultation with San Antonio dog bite attorney Michael Garatoni, please contact us by calling or texting (210) 964-3873. You can also send us a message online. Our legal team of San Antonio dog bite attorneys would happily arrange an in-person, telephone, virtual, or house call (if you are too injured to travel) visit.