What to Do If You Have Been Bitten by a Dog in Texas
Bailey & Galyen—Experienced Texas Dog Bite Attorneys
According to statistics, Texas is consistently among the top ten states in the country annually for the number of people who have been bitten by a dog. In addition, Texas is one of the few states that doesn’t have a statute on the books identifying the responsibilities of dog owners and the rights of victims. In the immediate aftermath of a dog bite, you need to take the right steps to protect your health and safeguard your legal rights. Bailey & Galyen can help.
At Bailey & Galyen, we have four decades of experience protecting the rights of dog bite victims in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. We give top priority to the needs of our clients, striving to provide a level of client service you won’t find with any other firm. We understand that you’re a key part of our success, so we’ll work closely with you throughout the legal process, keeping you up-to-date on all developments in your case. We’ll help you understand your options and prospects for success, so that you can make the right decisions about how you want to proceed.
We know that personal injuries can cause uncertainty about the future. We’ll work hard to be there when you need to talk and to provide prompt and thorough answers to your questions. We’ll also strive to reply to phone calls and e-mails as quickly as possible.
To set up a complimentary initial consultation, contact us online or call our office at 844-402-4350.
Protecting Your Health after a Dog Bite
Regardless of the size of the dog or the perceived severity of the wound, you should always seek immediate medical treatment. If the injury is serious—you can’t stop the bleeding or you think bones may be broken—get to a hospital or urgent care facility immediately. Otherwise, make an appointment with your family doctor as soon as possible.
If you have to wait a few hours or a day or so to see your doctor, take the following steps at home:
- Compress any injury with a clean towel until the bleeding stops
- Carefully wash/clean out the injury with hand soap and water
- Liberally apply an antibiotic ointment to all wounds
- Apply a clean, sterile bandage to cover the wound
- Change the bandage every day, applying antibiotic ointment with the change
- Keep the wound elevated, if possible
Protecting Your Legal Rights after a Dog Bite
There are also steps you want to take to protect your right to pursue damages for your injuries:
- Immediately notify the dog owner/possessor that you have been bitten. Gather contact information, including name, phone number, address and e-mail address. You can also ask for the name of the owner’s homeowners insurance provider.
- Hire an experienced lawyer to protect your rights — The sooner you do this, the sooner you’ll have someone protecting your legal rights.
- Notify animal control or your local police department — This will benefit others who might get bitten, as it will provide documentary evidence that the dog has aggressive tendencies.
- Gather as much evidence as you can — If there were witnesses, get contact information from them, so that your lawyer can reach them and get a sworn statement. Take pictures of everything, from your injuries to the location of the attack to the state of the dog owner’s property, including dog pen or dog run.
- Acknowledge that you’ve been hurt — Don’t ignore your injuries or try to do more than you should. There’s a good chance the dog owner’s insurance company will hire a private detective to observe you.
Contact the Knowledgeable Dog Bite Lawyers at Bailey & Galyen
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we bring 40 years of experience to people in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth who have suffered a dog bite. Call us at 844-402-4350 or contact our office online to set up a private meeting. You can call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are available to meet with you evenings or weekends upon request. Se habla Espanol.
We handle all dog bite claims on a contingency basis. We’ll only bill legal fees if we are able to recover compensation for your losses.
