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Personal Injury Law: Dog Bite Injuries

With an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occurring in the United States each year, nearly 800,000 of which require medical care, approximately two-thirds of bites occur on or near the victim’s property and most victims know the dog and the insurance industry paying out more than $1 billion in dog bite claims each year. Texas is among the majority of states that have legislation on the books that specifically pertain to dog bites. The Dog Bite Law might stipulate how a dog bite victim might recover damages, but it does not address those critical steps a victim should take immediately after being bitten. Considering these staggering statistics, please take the following information seriously in order to avoid your child being one of 82% of children under 15 years old being rushed to the emergency room from a dog bite. If you or anyone you know has been the victim of a dog bite, please contact our Law Firm for a free consultation. Unless they recover a settlement or judgment, you will not have to pay any fees. So, make that call today!
ore about our San Antonio Dog Bite Injury Attorney here

If Bitten by a Dog

The first thing you should do if you are bitten by a dog is to seek medical attention immediately. If you are not treated, a bite can cause serious injury, infection, and even death if the animal was diseased. With 50% of dog bite victims being children under 12 years of age, it is crucial that you educate your child on how to behave even with dogs they know well.

Educate your Children.

Studies have found that the number-one dog-bite prevention measure is education. Children who understand how to act around dogs, how to play with dogs, when to leave dogs alone and how to properly meet a dog are much less likely to be bitten. To address this need, the American Humane Society has created American Humane KIDS: Kids Interacting with Dogs Safely, a dog-bite prevention program specifically for children ages 4 to 7.

Supervise your Children.

Unsupervised children may innocently wander too close to a dangerous situation. Eighty-eight percent of fatal dog attacks among 2-year-olds occurred when the child was left unsupervised. Supervision of children, especially around dogs, is one way to help ensure they are safe.

Safe Rules of Behavior for Kids

Never Treat A Dog Unkindly. At the core, this means to treat all animals with the respect you would treat another living being. Never hit, kick, slap, or bite a dog or pull on his ears, tail, or paws. Don’t bother a dog when she is busy. Never bother dogs with puppies or dogs that are playing with or guarding toys, eating, or sleeping. Always leave service dogs alone while they are working. Don’t approach a dog you don’t know. Call the police if you see a dog that is tied up, being treated abusively, or left in a hot car. Do not approach the dog on your own. If you want to meet a dog, first ask the owner for permission. If the owner agrees, hold out your hand in a fist for the dog to sniff. If the dog is interested, you can give him a little scratch under the chin (not over the head) and say hello. If a loose dog approaches you, stand still like a tree. Keep your hands at your sides, and stay quiet and calm. Look away from the dog. If you are on the ground, curl up into a ball, like a rock. Keep your knees to your chest and your hands over your ears. Stay quiet and calm. Look down at your knees, not at the dog. Always make slow movements, set things down carefully, and dont run when youre around dogs, as this gets them excited and they may accidently hurt you.

Get Help

If an animal has bitten you or a loved one, you may be entitled to recover damages for any injuries that resulted. Determining your legal rights can be complicated. It may be unclear against whom to bring a claim and to what sort of damages you are entitled. To ensure that you receive just compensation, you should consider contacting an attorney with experience handling dog bite cases. Please contact the experienced Dog Bite Lawyers at our Law Firm for a free consultation. Unless they recover a settlement or judgment, you will not have to pay.