Houston Dog Bite Lawyer

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer Reshard Alexander

Seeking a Free Consultation with one of Texas’ Houston Dog Bite Lawyers? Call the Houston Dog Bite Lawyer Reshard Alexander today at 713.766.3322.

Attorney Reshard Alexander will help you receive the compensation you deserve!

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates there are 4.5. million dog bites each year in the United States. Over 850,000 of these bites require medical attention. In 2012, State Farm Insurance reported that it paid more than $108 million as a result of nearly 3,700 dog-bite claims. Texas ranked third in the number of dog-bite claims filed with State Farm. In 2013, the estimated cost of dog-bite claims to all insurance companies was $483 million.

Two of the most deadly dog breeds in America accounted for over 75% of dog bite fatalities from 2005 50 2015. These dog breeds were Pit Bull Terriers and Rottweilers. A U.S. and Canada press composed report documented that 67 percent of dog bite attacks resulting in human deaths from 1982 to 2014 was caused by pit bull terriers and rottweilers.

A dog bite is a bite upon a person or other animal by a dog. More than one successive bite is often called a dog attack. Though many dog bites do not result in injury, they can result in infection, disfigurement, temporary or permanent disability, or death. Another type of dog bite is the “soft bite” displayed by well-trained dogs, by puppies, and in non-aggressive play.^[1] Dog bites can occur during dog fighting, as a response to mistreatment, trained dogs acting as guard or military animals, or during a random encounter.^[2]

There is debate on whether or not certain breeds of dogs are inherently more prone to commit attacks causing serious injury (i.e., so driven by instinct and breeding that, under certain circumstances, they are exceedingly likely to attempt or commit dangerous attacks). Regardless of the breed of the dog, it is recognized that the risk of dangerous dog attacks can be greatly increased by human actions (such as neglect or fight training) or inactions (as carelessness in confinement and control).

Significant dog bites affect tens of millions of people globally each year.^[3] It is estimated that 2% of the U.S. population, 4.5–4.7 million people, are bitten by dogs each year.^[4] Most bites occur in children.^[5] In the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. averaged 17 deaths per year.^[6] Between 2005 and 2018 approximately 471 people were killed by dog bites in the United States, averaging 37 deaths per year.^[7] Animal bites, most of which are from dogs, are the reason for 1% of visits to an emergency department in the United States.^[5]

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer – Types of Causes of Action

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer – Negligent Handling of Animals

Outline of Elements – The elements of a cause of action brought due to the negligent handling of an animal are the following:
1. The defendant was the owner or possessor of the animal.
2. The defendant owed a duty to exercise reasonable care to prevent the animal from injuring others.
3. The defendant breached the duty.
4. The defendant’s breach proximately caused the plaintiff’s injury.

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer – Remedies of Negligent Handling of Animals

Actual Damages
1. Injury to person – In an action for negligent handling of an animal, the plaintiff can recover damages for personal injury or death as in other tort actions.
2. Injury to property -In an action for negligent handling of an animal, the plaintiff can recover damages for harm to personal property. If the defendant’s negligent handling of its animal results in injuries to the plaintiff’s animal, the defendant can be liable for those injuries. The plaintiff is entitled to the market value of the injured animal; of no market value, then to replacement value; of no market or replacement value, then to the actual value to the owner (excluding sentimental value).

Seeking a Free Consultation with one of Texas’ Houston Dog Bite Lawyers? Call the Houston Dog Bite Lawyer Reshard Alexander today at 713.766.3322.

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer – Exemplary Damages
In an action for negligent handling of an animal, the plaintiff can recover exemplary damages.

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer – Interest and Court Costs
In an action for negligent handling of an animal, the plaintiff can recover prejudgment and post-judgment interest. In an action for negligent handling of an animal, the plaintiff can recover court costs.

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer – Limitations
The two-year statute of limitations for tort injuries to persons or property applies to an action for negligent handling of an animal.

Dangerous Domesticated Animals – Houston Dog Bite Lawyer
Domesticated animals are animals kept by humans in a tame condition. A domestic animal is an animal that is by custom devoted to the service of mankind at the times and in the place in which it is kept.

The elements of a strict-liability cause of action for injury by a dangerous domesticated animal are the following:
1. The defendant owned or possessed the animal.
2. The animal had dangerous propensities abnormal to its class.
3. The defendant knew or had reason to know the animal had dangerous propensities.
4. The animal’s dangerous propensities were the producing cause of the plaintiff’s injury.

Dangerous Domesticated Animals – Remedies – Houston Dog Bite Lawyer
1. Generally – the types of remedies available in a strict-liability action for injury by a dangerous domesticated animal are the same as the remedies for negligent handling of an animal: actual damages, exemplary damages, interest, and court costs.
2. Seizure & Destruction of Dogs – The Texas Health & Safety Code provides the rules for seizing and destroying dangerous dogs. If a dog attacks a person and causes serious bodily injury or death, a justice court, county court, or municipal court can order the dog to be seized and, after a hearing, destroyed.

Dangerous Domesticated Animals – Limitations – Houston Dog Bite Lawyer
The two-year statute of limitations for tort injuries to persons or property applies to a strict-liability action for injury by a dangerous domesticated animal.

Dangerous Domesticated Animals – Houston Dog Bite Lawyer – Wild Animals
Wild animals are animals that live in a natural state and that are not ordinarily tamed or domesticated. Wild animal is an animal that is not by custom devoted to the service of mankind at the time and in the place in which it is kept.

Dangerous Domesticated Animals – Outline of Elements – Wild Animals
1. The defendant either:
A. reduced a wild animal to its possession or control, or
B. introduced a nonindigenous animal into the area.
2. The wild animal had dangerous propensities characteristic of its class.
3. The animal’s dangerous propensities were the producing cause of the plaintiff’s injury.

Seeking a Free Consultation with one of Texas’ Houston Dog Bite Lawyers? Call the Houston Dog Bite Lawyer Reshard Alexander today at 713.766.3322.

Dog Bite Prevention

Human activities may increase the risk of a dog bite as does age, height, and movement. The CDC and the American Veterinary Medical Association have published recommendations which encourage those that are around dogs to:

not approach an unfamiliar dog^[23]^[24]
not run from a dog
remain motionless when approached by an unfamiliar dog
curl into a ball, while protecting your head and ears if knocked over
not panic or make loud noises
report dogs that are behaving strangely
do not disturb a dog that is caring for puppies
not pet a strange dog
not encourage your dog to play aggressively
not allow small children to play with a dog unsupervised^[24]
avoid the dog if it is ill
avoid waking the dog – call the dog by name
do not retrieve objects from the dog’s mouth
avoid face-to-face interaction with the dog
not disturb the dog while it is eating
reduce the dog’s interaction with children^[25]
not attempt to break up a dog fight^[26]

Houston Dog Bite Lawyer Reshard Alexander

Seeking a Free Consultation with one of Texas’ Houston Dog Bite Lawyers? Call the Houston Dog Bite Lawyer Reshard Alexander today at 713.766.3322.

It is imperative that you have effective legal representation if injured by a dog or other animal. Call today for a free initial consultation about your dog bite case and speak Houston dog bite lawyer Reshard Alexander at (713) 766-3322.

Winning Your Personal Injury Lawsuit Checklist

Texas Practice Areas
Houston Wrongful Death Lawyer
Houston Auto Accident Lawyer
Houston Work Accident Lawyer
Houston Dog Bite Lawyer

Texas Dog Bite Law Links
Types of Dog Bites
Types of Dog Bite Injury
Animal Attack
Dog Bite Lawsuit
County Animal Law
Texas Dog Bite Law
Dog Bite FAQ

Types of Dog Bite
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
American Cocker Spaniel
Boxer
Bullmastiff
Chihuahua
Chow Chow
Daschund
Dobermann
Dog Park
German Shepherd
Jack Russell Terrier
Papillon
Pit Bull
Police
Presa Canario
Rottweiler
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Siberian Husky
St. Bernard
Unprovoked Dog Bite

Types of Dog Bite Injury Law Resources
Amputation
Arm Injury
Bone Fracture
Brain Injury
Child Bit By Dog
Crushed Bone
Eye Injury
Emotional Scarring
Hand Injury
Head Injury
Infection
Laceration
Leg Injury
Nerve Damage
Puncture Wound
Scars & Disfigurement
Spinal Cord Injury
Wrongful Death

Houston Animal Attack Law Resources
Dog Attacks
Bystander Dog Attack
Negligent Handling of Animals
Domesticated Animal Attack
Wild Animal Attack

Houston Dog Bite Lawsuit Resources
Choosing A Dog Bite Lawyer
Recovering Compensation
Third Party Liability for Dog Bite
Homeowner Liability
Landlord Liability
Tenant Liability
HOA Liability
Bad Faith Insurance

County Animal Control Law Resources
Harris County Animal Regulations

Texas Dog Bite Law Resources
Texas Dangerous Dog Designation
Texas Dangerous Dog Act