Getting bitten by a dog in Round Rock, Texas can be a frightening and overwhelming experience. You may suffer serious and painful injuries, as well as permanent scars and emotional distress. At Hill Law Firm, we help dog bite victims seek justice. Our attorneys are passionate about holding pet owners accountable for preventable attacks. Contact us to begin your case with a free consultation.
Reasons Clients Choose Hill Law Firm
- We have experience. Our Round Rock personal injury attorneys have represented injured victims and surviving family members in civil claims for many years.
- Our past case results include a $300k settlement for a pregnant woman attacked by a dog, $155k for a child attacked by a neighbor’s dog and $100k for a dog sitter attacked by a dog.
- You won’t pay us unless we win your case. Our dog bite injury lawyers in Round Rock operate on a contingency fee basis, with $0 charged upfront in fees.
How a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in Round Rock Can Help
It can be difficult to protect your legal rights as the victim of a dog attack in Texas. The dog owner’s insurance company may try to avoid paying what you are owed using tactics such as low settlement offers or wrongful claim rejection. A dog bite attorney can take over insurance claim negotiations on your behalf to fight for the best available case results. If necessary, a lawyer can take your case to trial in Williamson County.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
When dogs attack, the effects can be catastrophic. This is especially true if the victim is a vulnerable person, such as a child or senior citizen. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, around 4.7 million people suffer dog bite injuries each year, with an estimated 800,000 that require medical care.
A dog attack can cause a variety of severe injuries, including:
- Avulsion (the tearing away of skin)
- Broken bones
- Bruising
- Crush injuries
- Cuts and scratches
- Facial injuries
- Infections
- Puncture wounds
- Rabies and other diseases
- Severe lacerations
- Significant scarring and disfigurement
- Skull fractures
It is also common for a victim to experience psychological trauma from a dog attack, such as a new phobia of dogs or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sadly, not all dog bite victims survive their injuries. According to DogsBite.org, seven Texans died from fatal dog attacks in 2023.
Who Pays for a Dog Bite Injury in Texas?
Suffering any type of injury in a dog attack in Round Rock could make you eligible for financial compensation under Texas’s dog bite laws. Although Texas does not have a specific dog bite injury statute, the courts have established what is known as a “one-bite rule.”
A one-bite rule states that the owner or controller of a dog will be held liable (financially responsible) for injuries caused by the dog if the owner knew or had reason to know of the dog’s vicious propensities.
If the dog had previously shown aggressive behaviors but the owner did nothing to prevent foreseeable attacks, he or she could be liable for the injured victim’s medical bills, property repairs, lost wages, and pain and suffering through a dog bite injury claim.
Dog Bites and Negligence
Texas also permits a dog bite victim to recover financial compensation on the basis of negligence. This legal doctrine refers to the failure to exercise reasonable or ordinary care, resulting in harm to others.
A dog owner might be negligent if he or she ignored the signs of a vicious dog, carelessly harbored a dangerous dog, allowed a dog to roam off-leash or engaged in other acts that increased the odds of a dog bite injury.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one was recently bitten by a dog in Round Rock, contact the attorneys at Hill Law Firm for a free consultation to learn more about your rights under Texas law. Our lawyers are prepared to listen and help you move forward. Call (210) 762-4396 today.