Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite in El Paso?

El Paso is a dog-loving city, with over 63 million households estimated to own dogs. Usually, meeting someone else’s dog can brighten your day. However, an unexpected bite can quickly turn what’s normally a pleasant experience into a painful, expensive, and anxiety-inducing debacle.

Dog bites are serious injuries, often resulting in medical complications, long-lasting pain, and physical disfigurement. The emotional impact of a bite should not be underestimated either: an unprovoked attack from a strange animal can cause long-lasting emotional trauma.

Your injury may leave you feeling helpless. However, legal options are available. A serious dog bite is valid grounds for a personal injury claim, and the Texas dog bite attorneys at Carabin Shaw have significant experience helping clients in your situation pursue settlements. To learn more about your legal options, call 800-862-1260 to set up your free, no-obligation initial case review and consultation. Our English- and Spanish-speaking staff are available 24/7 to assist you.

Anyone who’s spent time around dogs has likely experienced being playfully and harmlessly nipped. A serious bite, one that breaks the skin and draws blood, is entirely different.

A dog bite can have many impacts on your health, such as

• Nerve damage
• Muscle damage
• Blood loss
• Ongoing loss of mobility
• Chronic pain
• Severe infection
• Scarring

After suffering a bite, wash the wound as thoroughly as you can and seek medical attention immediately. A doctor may recommend tetanus and/or rabies shots. After you have received the necessary medical care, it is time to start thinking about a personal injury claim. A successful claim can help you cover the expenses of your medical care, and can compensate for the non-financial pain and suffering that you may have experienced as a result of your injuries.

You may be wondering who can be held liable for a dog bite in El Paso. Is the owner really at fault for the actions of their pet? In short, it depends. The success of your claim rests on several factors, such as the owner’s behavior, the dog’s previous behavior, and the circumstances around your injury.

Texas dog bite laws generally follow a “one-bite rule,” meaning that if a dog has demonstrated aggression in the past—for example, by biting someone—then the owner is more likely to be held liable for future acts of aggression on the part of their animal. However, this does not rule out liability for an owner whose dog has never attacked someone before. If they improperly secured their dog, goaded it to attack, or otherwise exhibited negligence or malice, your claim is more likely to be successful.

However, you are less likely to receive a settlement if the attack was a result of your own actions, such as acting aggressively toward the dog or ignoring warnings from the owner. If the attack occurred while you were trespassing on the owner’s property, the owner is also much less likely to be found liable. Discuss the details of your case with an El Paso dog bite lawyer to determine your best course of action.

If you are considering legal action after a dog bite, you probably have several worries and unresolved questions about the process of pursuing a personal injury claim. That’s why the experienced personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw offer free consultations for all potential clients. In your consultation, you can get an estimate for how long it might take to resolve your claim and how much compensation you might receive.

Carabin Shaw’s client reviews speak for themselves: our legal team is knowledgeable, experienced, and invested in our clients. Our contingency contracts offer a way for you to seek the legal aid you need at no financial risk. To get started, call 800-862-1260 at your earliest convenience.