Dog Attack / Dangerous Dog

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Years Of Experience

Dog Attacks

Civil Advocacy for You and Your Recovery

Texans love animals and we tend to bring them with us everywhere. Unfortunately, some dog owners are irresponsible even when they know their animals are aggressive. Other dog owners don't do their part to restrain their dogs behind a fence to prevent injury to others. Dog bites and dog attacks are traumatic experiences that leave victims physically and emotionally scarred.

Critical steps to take after a Dog Attack

Seek Medical Attention

Your safety comes first. Call 911 for serious injuries and puncture wounds. If an animal has not been vaccinated, your wounds may become infected – it’s so important to seek medical care!

Contact Animal Control/Police

You should report the dog bite as soon as possible. We recommend contacting law enforcement and/or filing a report with animal control.

File a Dangerous Dog Affidavit

File a dangerous dog affidavit with your local Justice of the Peace court and adequately describe the incident so it is preserved within the County’s records. This is will also start the official process for a dangerous dog hearing to decide whether an animal should be deemed dangerous.

Document Your Injuries

If you or a loved one are able to, take photos and videos of your injuries, including any and all wounds you have, as well as areas of clothing that have been ripped or torn or areas on the ground/clothing that have saturated blood. Document any pain you are experiencing even if it’s not visual by photograph. Your documentation should capture any of the following:

Exchange Contact Info

Ask for the contact information of the dog’s owner; be sure to get the owner’s name, address, phone number and other contact details. If the owner will not share details, contact law enforcement and they can help you gather that information when they are writing their report.

Gather Evidence

If any witnesses were present, ask them for their contact information and also provide that to the police. Additionally, note all of the details you remember – including what led up to the attack, how the animal approached you, etc.

Call an Experienced Attorney

An experienced dog bite/dog attack attorney can help you file insurance claims, pursue a lawsuit, and help you build your case. The sooner you contact an attorney after the attack, the better. In the immediate aftermath, your lawyer will help collect evidence, file claims, and begin the process of pursuing compensation.

What Compensation are You Entitled To?

Beyond the trauma and physical pain you might be experiencing, dog bites also cause financial suffering. Medical bills, counseling and the lost wages add up quickly, leaving victims struggling with new financial burdens. Negligent dog owners may be liable for any costs a victim incurs after the biting incident. After a dog bite, you may be entitled to compensation for:

In addition, keep detailed records of the financial costs of your suffering. This might include medical bills, pharmacy receipts, and any other records. Documenting these costs will help your lawyer properly file for the maximum compensation for your injuries.

We're Here To Help With Your Dog Attack Advocacy Needs

Dangerous Dog Hearings

If your dog has bitten a person or another animal and you have been served with a Dangerous Dog Notice of Hearing, you need an experienced dangerous dog attorney to represent you and your dog. Dangerous Dog hearings in Texas are serious and can result in your dog being deemed dangerous and ordered euthanized. At a minimum, you may be ordered to build costly and secure enclosures to prevent future dog bites. These orders require rapid compliance to protect individuals in your neighborhood.
Further, Texas law allows for criminal charges against an animal's owner if the owner was negligent in securing his/her dog and the dog has caused the death of or serious bodily injury to another human. Additionally, substantial claims may be made against you and your insurance company to cover the cost of medical fees and damages caused by the dog bite.
If your dog has been involved in a dog bite incident or you have been served with a notice of dangerous dog hearing, contact Milligan Law to represent your interests and your dog.

Is Your Insurance Treating You Right?

After an attack, you may choose to file an insurance claim with your insurance provider. This can help you cover medical expenditures and other costs related to your injuries if done right. Remember, though, insurance companies are businesses and even your own insurer may bully you, delay payments, or undervalue the costs of your pain and suffering.
We recommend contacting a qualified dog attack attorney prior to talking with your insurance company. Your lawyer will aggressively defend you against this bad behavior, and protect your financial and legal rights. When you hire an attorney, your lawyer will lead all negotiations with insurers, fight for the maximum compensation, and defend you against the aggressive behavior of attorneys as well.
After an dog bite attack, the last thing you want to worry about is insurance claims and getting the compensation you deserve. Milligan Law can help you move forward confidently and protect you during this process.

Punitive Damages

If you choose to file suit against a negligent dog owner, you may be entitled to punitive damages. This is a form of financial punishment for negligent owners awarded to victims on top of compensatory damages for medical bills and other costs. If your case goes to trial, punitive damages may be one avenue of compensation to pursue. Your lawyer will help you determine if that is appropriate to your case.

You probably didn't know this prior to being charged, but Texas dog owners can be charged with a criminal offense if an owner's dog attacks a person and the attack causes serious bodily injury or death. Of course, there are other very specific and intricate elements that have be to proven by the State beyond a reasonable doubt in order for a dog attack prosecution to stand up in Court.
Most prosecutors and police officers have experience investigating dog attack cases and they do not know how to collect the proper evidence or break down the elements of this crime to present a dog attack case in court. Milligan Law does.

Milligan Law has a great deal of experience handling dog attack cases from the investigative stage through disposition in criminal court. To protect your liberty with an experienced dog attack attorney, contact Milligan Law.