Dog Bite Injury
Personal Injury Attorney in Abilene, Texas
Personal Injury Attorney Tara Gilmore-Low represents families and individuals in Abilene and across West Texas.
Every day more than 1,000 people sustain injuries from dog attacks in the United States. These incidents are one of the leading causes of injuries here in Texas. Dog attack victims are often forced to undergo emergency medical treatment for their injuries. Dog bites are likely to cause muscle and tissue damage, permanent scarring, and traumatic consequences for victims. A dog bite injury in Abilene, Texas can be very serious, especially when a small child is involved in the incident. There are specific city and state regulations pet owners must follow when they own a dog. If you have been the victim of a dog bite, you need to talk to an experienced dog bite injury attorney regarding your legal options.
The owner of a dog who attacks a person can be brought up on criminal charges. In the criminal case, the victim of a dog bite is not eligible to recover financial compensation per Texas criminal laws. A dog bite injury attorney is needed to help a victim obtain financial compensation. A personal injury attorney can bring a claim in civil court against the dog owner which can lead to an award for your expenses, damages, and injuries. Your costs may include lost wages, medical expenses, and pain & suffering. Working with a skilled Abilene personal injury attorney immediately after you are injured will increase your chances of recovering full and fair compensation.
Attorney Tara Gilmore-Low at Low Law Firm is dedicated to helping victims who are injured by dogs get the justice and compensation they need moving forward. Our team of knowledgeable and responsive personal injury attorneys in Texas fight to ensure our clients are in the best position possible to obtain the maximum amount of compensation available for their legal claims. This will allow the victim to get the medical treatment necessary for their injuries and cover financial obligations for present and future medical expenses. If the victim of a dog bite does not pursue legal action promptly they run the risk of losing the ability to obtain compensation for their injuries. Contact Low Law Firm today to see how we can help you.
In general, people who fail to hire a dog bite injury attorney receive less than those who are represented by an attorney.
A dog bite injury attorney can help build a solid case, investigate the facts surrounding your case, and determine if the dog owner was criminally negligent. Our attorneys at Low Law Firm will go to the scene of where your attack occurred and collect critical information to help prove the defendant was at fault for your injuries.
An animal owner is responsible to ensure their pets, or livestock are unable to injure the public. If you are attacked by a dog or any other pet, seek medical assistance immediately for treatment of your injuries. It is important to record the time and date the injuries occurred and any additional details or information about the scene or what led up to the attack, then contact a dog bite injury attorney. The attorneys at Low Law Firm provide our clients with a variety of services to ensure we are able to protect their legal rights and get the justice they deserve following a dog attack. Some of the services our dog bite attorneys in Abilene provide for clients include, but are not limited to:
- Investigating the dog to determine if they have ever attacked someone before
- Investigate the owner to see if they have had any dogs that have attacked others in the past
- Documenting the injuries our clients sustained and the appropriate treatment plans set out by their doctors, specialists, and other medical professionals who care for their injuries
- Maintaining open communication with our clients to ensure all of their questions are answered and that they have a copy of every document and file involved with their claim
- Handling communication between insurance companies
- Preparing their case and aggressively negotiating full and fair settlements for our clients to ensure they are able to cover the financial burdens they face moving forward
- Aggressive legal representation in negotiations or trial whenever necessary
It is crucial that victims are able to maximize their financial recoveries after being harmed. Dog bite injuries often require ongoing treatment, which can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. In order for a victim to receive the appropriate treatment for their past, present, and future injuries, it is mandatory that victims obtain the maximum compensation available. Personal injury laws are very complex which makes the help of an attorney useful in presenting you with a path to follow. Criminal courts in Texas may punish a dog owner for an attack, but that will not help with any of the expenses or injuries you have sustained. A civil court claim can potentially provide a monetary award helping to get you back on your feet again. If you have been injured by a dog, don’t delay in contacting a personal injury attorney today. Our knowledgeable and experienced dog bite attorneys at Low Law Firm in Abilene are ready to meet with you at your earliest convenience and discuss the circumstances surrounding your dog attack. Schedule a free case evaluation as soon as possible so we can determine the best legal options for you moving forward.
Common Injuries from Dog Attacks
People who are injured by dogs can sustain a variety of injuries. Although some injuries are minor, many incidents result in victims needing both immediate and long-term care for their injuries. In severe cases, victims have to go through several surgeries to address any nerve or muscle damage they sustain. Some of the most common injuries our Abilene dog bite attorneys have helped victims file legal claims for include, but are not limited to:
- Muscle damage or impairments
- Tissue loss
- Broken or severed bones
- Extensive scarring
- Permanent disfigurements
- Rabies
- Lacerations, cuts, and abrasions
- Cellulitis
- Permanent nerve damage and injuries
- Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
- Depression
People attacked by dogs often endure a variety of mental, emotional, and physical traumas. Many victims are required to go through extensive medical treatment while spending weeks or even months off of work to recover.
What to Do After a Dog Attack in Abilene, Texas
If you have been injured in a dog attack, it is crucial that you take specific steps moving forward. Our law firm recommends that you take the following steps after being bitten by a dog in Texas:
Contact the Police: Dog attacks are often complex, from a legal standpoint. Conflicting stories from victims, pet owners, and other parties can make it difficult to determine the circumstances surrounding an attack. Reaching out to law enforcement immediately will allow them to interview people at the scene of the incident, document injuries in their report, and determine the cause of the attack.
Take Pictures: The more evidence you have after being attacked by a dog, the better chances you have of recovering financial compensation. Taking pictures of your injuries, the dog, the area where the attack occurred, and other pertinent details can help provide critical insight as to what happened during the attack. Showing that a dog was unleashed, it got loose, it was running in a public area, or other relevant details can assist in proving you sustained injuries as a result of another person’s negligence.
Take Notes: Take notes documenting when the attack occurred, where it occurred, if there was fencing, or any other details that may be important in your case. This type of information can further prove negligence when filing for reimbursement of medical costs and other economic and non-economic burdens you face.
Gather Witness Information: Witnesses to your attack can provide useful information should you decide to file a legal claim against the dog owner. Gather the names and contact information of people who witnessed you being attacked by the dog. In the future, these witnesses can provide statements and testimony about what they saw leading up to and during your attack.
Speak to the Owner of the Dog: You will need to get the full name, address, and contact information of the dog owner. This information is critical during the investigative process.
Seek Medical Attention: Even if it does not seem like the dog bite is serious, it is crucial that you seek medical attention as soon as possible to let a medical professional evaluate your injuries. What may appear to be a superficial injury could possibly have deeper internal injuries requiring surgery or other extensive medical treatment.
Contact an Attorney: Seek the legal guidance of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in Abilene to explore options available for you to collect compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and more.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, and you face stacking medical costs, lost wages, and a variety of other damages moving forward, contact Abilene personal injury attorney Tara Gilmore-Low at Low Law Firm as soon as possible. You may have legal options available to help you recover financial damages.
Recovering After Your Dog Attack
People who are attacked by dogs are often left with overwhelming pain and suffering and mounting financial burdens moving forward from the attack. Although there is no amount of compensation that could ever take away the traumatic experience you have been forced to endure, having the financial resources necessary to tackle the costs involved can help to alleviate some of the emotional sufferings you experience. We at Low Law Firm are committed to helping our clients maximize their financial recoveries for damages, including:
- All past, current, and future medical expenses
- Long-term costs for therapy, hospitalization, medication, medical equipment, and more
- The costs for counseling, surgery, and therapy whenever necessary
- Lost income due to having to take time off work
- Lost earning capacity and benefits for being forced off work indefinitely due to permanent disabilities
- Mental, physical, and emotional pain and suffering
- Permanent scarring and disfigurements
If your loved one lost their life as a result of a vicious dog attack, we are dedicated to helping you get the maximum amount of wrongful death benefits available. In addition, you may likely be able to receive compensation to cover funeral services, burial arrangements, loss of companionship, and other costs. In general, damages resulting from dog bites are covered under the dog owner’s insurance. This can be coverage provided by a renter’s insurance policy, home owner’s insurance, landlord insurance, business insurance, or another type of general liability insurance policy depending on where the attack occurred.
Our Abilene personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping those impacted by a dog attack move forward with their recovery in the best way possible. We provide effective and knowledgeable legal representation to ensure our clients are able to cover the financial burdens they endure. If you were attacked or bitten by a dog as a result of another person’s negligence, contact Low Law Firm as soon as possible to see how we can assist you.
Low Law Firm Can Help You
Every year, numerous people throughout Texas are left with life-changing injuries after being bitten by a dog. Being attacked by a dog not only results in physical pain and suffering, but it can have an overwhelming mental and emotional impact on victims. In many cases, victims require extensive medical treatment. When victims are injured in dog attacks as a result of an owner’s negligence, they should seek the legal guidance of a skilled and knowledgeable legal team as soon as possible. Victims may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the costs they face moving forward.
The Abilene dog bite attorneys at Low Law Firm work diligently to help our clients move forward and protect their best interests after being injured as a result of a dog attack. Our lawyers provide competent and effective legal representation that ensures victims are able to protect their legal rights and get the justice they deserve after being injured in an avoidable incident. We provide individualized attention for each client to ensure their unique needs are represented and that they are able to achieve the goals outlined in their recovery process. If you have sustained injuries from being bitten or attacked by a dog, contact our law firm today at (325) 455-1889. Schedule a free case evaluation with our team, at your earliest convenience, to explore the legal options available for you.