ArticlesAfter a dog bite, many victims are left with catastrophic physical injuries and substantial emotional trauma. You may feel overwhelmed and anxious as you try to determine the best way forward.
Your physical wounds may heal, but you may never fully recover from the psychological aftermath of a dog attack.
You may be a changed person, but your dog bite lawsuit payout may help ease some of the financial and emotional burdens you are experiencing.
Understandably, victims may be curious about Texas dog bite settlement amounts.
A qualified personal injury attorney in your corner can assist you in pursuing fair compensation for your damages. Here’s some guidance on what the average settlement amount could be for dog bite injuries in Texas.
What Is the Texas Dog Bite Law?
Texas is a “one bite” rule state when it comes to dog bites. The “one bite” rule means that an injured person must show one of the following after experiencing a dog attack:
- The dog’s owner knew the dog was aggressive or had bitten someone, or
- The dog’s owner negligently failed to use reasonable care to control the dog or prevent the bite, and you suffered a bite.
Texas dog owner liability also extends to other injuries caused by a dog. For example, a dog may cause injury by jumping on a person and knocking them over.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Depending on the dog’s size and circumstances surrounding the attack, dog bites may vary significantly in severity. Typical dog bite injuries include the following:
- Broken bones,
- Lost digits,
- Soft tissue injury,
- Eye injuries,
- Brain injuries,
- Lacerations,
- Infections, and
- Death.
After an attack, Texas law gives you two years from the date of the attack to file your claim. Obtaining a complete medical evaluation is vital to obtaining a fair dog bite lawsuit payout.
What Are Average Dog Bite Settlement Amounts?
Most attorneys know that there are no average dog bite settlement amounts. The amount of your dog bite settlement depends on multiple factors particular to your situation.
Severity of Injuries
If a dog caused broken bones, deep lacerations, spinal cord damage, or head trauma, these injuries would garner larger Texas dog bite settlement amounts.
However, even if you suffered minimal physical injuries, you may experience severe emotional trauma after a dog bite.
A qualified personal injury attorney values your claim based on the specific circumstances of your case.
Lost Wages
A severe injury caused by a dog bite may make it difficult to continue working the same job you held before the attack.
For example, if you suffered a severe laceration and infection to your arm, this injury may prevent you from working a job requiring significant physical strength.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering or emotional damages also impact Texas dog bite settlement amounts. Not all harm caused by a dog bite is physical.
After being attacked, you may find it difficult to walk down the street out of fear of being attacked by another dog.
This fear is not unusual and may grip you in unexpected ways. Mental and emotional injuries, as well as physical ones, can be part of a dog bite lawsuit payout.
Contact Us
Any dog has the potential to cause serious injury to a person. If you experienced a dog bite, you deserve answers about Texas dog bite settlement amounts.
With over 85 years of combined legal experience, the attorneys at The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. fight to obtain favorable results for all clients, regardless of their circumstances.
Our focus is on helping you move forward with the compensation you need to take that first step.
Contact our office today for a free case review to learn how The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. can help you!
Michael Zimmerman
Michael was born in Houston, Texas. His education at Baylor and Texas State Universities earned him a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. His major was in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He finished his legal education at Texas Southern University in 1990, earning a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990.
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