Dogs are people's companions when they have a problem or need support, and they are even helpful when someone needs medical recovery due to how happy they can make everyone. However, that doesn't mean all dogs are nice to people since some of them are more dangerous than most dog owners would think. Dangerous dog breeds such as rottweilers or pit bulls have ended many people's lives just because their owners didn't know how to restrain them or train them to be nice to others. Even if a dog owner is not directly liable for a dog bite, victims still need money to pay for medical bills when they get a dog bite injury. These injuries are dangerous and can lead to emotional distress, facial disfigurement, and even death. Victims of a dog bite in Dallas, TX, should get in touch with experienced Dallas dog bite attorneys as soon as they can. Dallas dog bite injury lawyers know how to fight insurance companies and help their clients get the compensation they deserve for their injuries. Any dog bite victim in Dallas, TX, can count on Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys to take their case and help them throughout the legal process, so they should call this law firm now!
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What Our Clients Have To Say
I have worked with Schuerger Shunnarah twice and they have been very helpful on my personal injury cases. They went above and beyond my expectations and did a great job both times.
- Ashley C.
Schuerger Shunnarah helped me receive a settlement on my case in just months. I was treated with respect and dignity. Thanks to their help, I have been able to get my life back to normal.
- Michael S.
They provided me with excellent service throughout my personal injury case. They were available to answer my questions and helped me understand the process. I am very grateful for them!
- Deshawn B.
What Should I Do After a Dog Bites Me?
The first thing to do after suffering a dog bite is to get medical attention. Dog bites can lead to infections if not treated on time, and even if they don't, a medical professional can give victims all the evidence they need to win a personal injury claim.
Dog attacks concern animal control agencies, so it's good to call one after suffering a dog-related accident. Animal control agencies will ask both parties for a report and see if they need to keep that dog from harming other people. Victims can also use that report as evidence in dog bite cases.
Taking pictures and videos of what happened can also help with the case, so most Dallas dog bite lawyers recommend victims to do it. They should also contact any witnesses of what happened and take their personal information since they could testify against the negligent dog owner if the case goes to trial.
Once victims do all that, they should get in touch with a professional dog bite injury lawyer ready to take their case. It's essential to talk to someone certified as a personal injury attorney since professionals with other specialties may not be as effective at negotiating with insurance companies or anything related to the dog claim-filing process.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys work with experienced, licensed, and qualified lawyers to handle dog attack cases. The only thing its clients need to do is call (833) 692-5038 to schedule a free consultation with someone from the law firm.
Victims of dog attacks shouldn't, by any means, talk to insurance adjusters unless their lawyer is there to help them. The insurance company will always try to convince victims to not call an attorney since it wants to save as much money as it can by offering an unfair deal people who don't know that much about dog bite laws would take.
How to Get Compensation After a Dog Attack in Texas
Similar to other personal injury cases, dog bite victims need to file a personal injury claim against the negligent party's insurance company or sue them directly to get money for economic and non-economic damages. What changes in a dog bite claim is what the victim needs to prove to get compensation since even the Texas legal process to do it is different from other states.
Why is Texas different from other states when dealing with a dog bite case? Because it has the one-bite rule, which changes the terms in which victims can get compensation for a dog bite injury.
Understanding the One Bite Rule
The one-bite rule states that if victims with dog bite injuries want compensation for the accident, they need to prove some of the following:
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That the dog's owner knew their pet had aggressive tendencies.
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That the dog's owner knew their dog had bit someone in the past.
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That the dog's owner didn't control nor restrain the animal.
If the dog that bit the victim hadn't bitten anyone in the past but had shown aggressive behavior before, dog owners would still be liable for what happened since they were negligent by letting the dog near other people.
Does Compensation Come from Dog Owners or Insurance Companies?
After a dog bites someone, most people would think the compensation for dog bite injuries comes from the owner of that animal. Things are not that way, though.
Compensation for a dog attack comes from the homeowner's insurance company that covers the dog owner. Hence, negotiations mainly involve insurance adjusters. The problem with that is those adjusters will try to do everything in their hands to keep victims from getting the money they deserve for their injuries.
Regardless of that, if pet owners in dog bite injury cases are not affiliated with any homeowners insurance company, the victim can hire Dallas dog bite lawyers to sue them. In this case, the defendant would have to pay the victim with their own money.
Is the Dog Owner Always Liable in a Dog Bite Case?
Most states deal with dog attacks by automatically holding dog owners liable for them, even if they tried to control their pets or didn't cause the attack in any way. However, Texas laws are a bit more protective of pet owners due to the one-bite rule.
Thanks to it, no law holds people liable for what their pets do unless they know their dog could hurt other people. However, victims still need to hire a dog bite lawyer to take the case and look for evidence of what happened.
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What Do I Get Compensation for in Dog Bite Cases?
Regarding compensation, victims of a dog attack often need money for the same things any other personal injury case victim would need it. This includes economic and non-economic damages.
How much money can someone get by filing a dog bite injury claim? Everything depends on how severe the injuries the vicious dog caused were. Most people with a decent Dallas dog bite lawyer get from $30,000 to $50,000, but people have gotten less or more than that in other cases.
Naturally, compensation policies are a bit different when dealing with fatal dog attacks since the compensation is directed to burial expenses.
Here's a brief explanation of the economic and non-economic damages dog bite lawyers can get for their clients:
Economic Damages
Economic damages represent anything the victim can prove or show to another person. In a nutshell, this includes things with a physical form.
People in a car accident, for example, can take car damage as economic damage.
Victims filing Dallas dog bite claims to get compensation for economic damages often get money for:
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Medical bills
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Physical rehabilitation
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Reconstructive surgery
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Assistive devices
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Therapists and other mental health specialists
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Lost wages
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Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-Economic Damages
Things are a bit more complex when talking about non-economic damages since they consist of things the victim can't prove or show as they don't have a physical form. Why is this complex? Because insurance adjusters need to calculate an estimate of how much these things are worth.
Naturally, the Texas dog bite lawyer the victim hires will need to submit some evidence to prove that those non-economic damages exist or that the bite caused them. These are some examples of non-economic damages:
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Pain and suffering
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Emotional distress
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Inability to enjoy life
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Disability or disfigurement
Dallas Dog Bite Information Center
Client Testimonial
They were polite and really cared throughout the entire process and made me feel like my case was important. I would highly recommend them to anyone that didn’t get a fair offer from the insurance company like me!
- Brian D.
Why Should I Hire Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys to Take My Case?
There are many personal injury law firms in Texas, and most of them have qualified lawyers to file a dog bite lawsuit, so why should victims of dog bite hire Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys? Mainly because this law firm has a different way to work than others.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys hires former insurance attorneys who worked in personal injury cases in the past to fight against their former employees now. Why is that helpful? Because those lawyers know all the tricks insurance companies have to save money on insurance claims, so they can use them against them.
Final Thoughts - Get a Free Consultation with Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys Now!
Pit bulls and other dangerous dogs are often adopted as pets, but that doesn't mean they will bite any person that goes near them. Responsible dog owners need to train their dogs to be friendly to others, and if they don't, they shouldn't walk them in public places.
If a dog owner with an untrained dog takes their pet near other people, they are the negligent party in a further accident, but victims need the right lawyers to prove that.
Anyone looking for a dog bite lawyer in Dallas, Texas, can call Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys now! This law firm offers a free case review to its clients, so there's nothing to lose when calling it.