Choosing the Right Houston Attorney for Your Dog Bite Case

If you live in Houston, you and your family face many risk factors for dog attacks. For instance, children who reside in urban environments in the South suffer more dog bites than those in other regions.

The Houston personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw observe firsthand the difficult consequences of dog bite injuries. Wounds to the head and neck are common, and many survivors need surgery. When a pet becomes a threat to you or a loved one, you deserve the representation of an attorney who’s deeply familiar with Texas laws.

Successfully litigating claims in Houston requires a comprehensive knowledge of various dog bite laws, including the following:

• City ordinances
• Ordinances specific to Harris County, or to Fort Bend or Montgomery County if applicable
• Statutory law, composed of formal laws that state or federal legislatures pass
• Case law in Texas, referring to judicial decisions that set legal precedents

By choosing the right lawyer for dog bite cases, you gain an advocate with proven experience in showing liability, addressing common defenses, and understanding the damages you deserve.

The concept of negligence is the basis of most Texas dog bite liability laws. In other words, you must prove that another person caused your injuries by failing to take appropriate precautions.

Your lawyer knows how to identify all parties responsible for the dog bite injuries, which could include the following people:

• Dog owner
• Pet sitter
• Childcare provider responsible for a bitten child
• Premises manager
• Landlord

A legal team then gathers the evidence to demonstrate liability beyond doubt.

To build a strong case, your Houston dog bite attorney should be familiar with common defense arguments and prepared to disprove them. These defenses might focus on factors such as the following:

• Provocation of the dog
• The “assumed risk” of participating in activities around dogs
• Inadequate parental supervision
• Trespassing

You can expect a qualified team of legal representatives to understand how evidence like witness testimony and dog bite analysis reveals the falsehood of such arguments.

Finally, our team at Carabin Shaw considers the complete picture when listing the damages that you seek to recover. The physical damages can be quantified as medical costs, but these injuries are frequently accompanied by other financial losses and psychological stressors.

For instance, you might lose income if you need to be hospitalized or care for an injured loved one. Many dog bite survivors also experience long-term mental consequences: anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and pain—to name a few. As a result, your damages should account for all of your losses.

About half of all American dog bite victims are children. Thus, your Houston attorney for animal attack cases should acknowledge the sensitivity of cases involving young people. And ultimately, people of all ages deserve care following an emotionally distressing event.

At Carabin Shaw, compassion is always a companion to the pursuit of justice. We believe you should never feel confused or pressured, so we’re dedicated to listening, answering questions, and providing guidance based on our understanding of you as a person.

Carabin Shaw’s client reviews illustrate our expertise and empathy, as well as our accessibility. For example, our toll-free phone line 1-800-862-1260 is available 24/7, and our team can help you set up a completely free initial consultation in Spanish or English. We also offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, so you don’t need to sacrifice financial security for quality representation in your dog bite case.

For additional information:

• Texas DSHS
• Jpedsurg
• Justice.org