When Dogs Attack
At 5 years old, a healthy little girl shouldn’t have a care in the world, especially when she is playing on the lawn in front of her home located in a safe neighborhood. Unfortunately, due to the negligence of others, this young girl recently sustained severe injuries and required the services of Parker Law Firm.
“In this case, the little girl was attacked by a Siberian Husky that had escaped from its yard. It ran straight for her and bit her face and neck causing serious injuries. The landlord at the dog’s residence was aware of the dangerous tendencies and failed to evict the dog from his tenant’s house,” Brad Parker says. “Therefore the landlord was also liable for the injuries sustained by the young girl.”
In another case handled by the firm, a teenaged girl was going over to her friend’s house for a slumber party. When she exited her parents’ vehicle, a neighbor’s German Shepherd attacked her. “At the time, the dog owners stated that they had no idea their dog was dangerous. However, upon investigating the dog’s veterinarian records, the vet had noted that this was ‘one of the meanest dogs she’d ever seen in her career.’ Because of this, we were able to hold the dog owners liable and get excellent compensation for the young girl’s medical bills and emotional anguish,” Brad says.
These types of incidents are not rare. Each year thousands of Americans are bitten by animals – most often dogs. In several of those cases, the person bitten has a legal right to recover damages from the animal’s owner or other responsible parties.
“Immediately following a dog bite, you should seek medical attention. If left untreated, a dog bite can cause serious injury, infection and possible death if the dog is diseased,” Brad says. After medical attention, it is wise to consult a lawyer with experience in dog bite cases.
In Texas, there is something called the “one bite rule,” which says that the owner of a domesticated animal will be held strictly liable for injuries caused by the animal only if the owner knew or should have known about the animal’s dangerous or vicious propensities, which have been manifested in the past. The burden of proof is on the injured party to show that the animal owner possessed this knowledge.
Brad says, “Determining whether an owner knew of an animal’s “dangerous propensities” can be tricky. The first question that often arises in making this determination is whether the owner needs to know of the particular animal’s potential for harm, or whether the owner only needs to know that type of animal is potentially harmful.” For example, when a person has a pit bull as a pet, does that mean the owner knows or should know the pet will be harmful, just because, in general, pit bulls can be harmful?
“There are instances where the owner’s liability is relatively cut and dry. For example, the dog owner is walking their dangerous pet without a leash or fails to make repairs to a broken fence,” Brad says. “The problem with dog bites is not necessarily an animal problem, it’s a people problem. It all boils down to being a responsible pet owner.”
Responsible Dog Ownership
- Research and speak with a professional (veterinarian, animal behaviorist or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for your household and neighborhood.
- Spend some quality time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a home with an infant or toddler. Dogs with histories of aggression are inappropriate in households with children.
- Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog and, if so, delay acquiring a dog. Never leave infants or young children alone with any dog.
- Have your dog spayed or neutered. It has been shown that dogs are three times more likely to bite if they are NOT neutered.
- Socialize your dog so that it knows how to act with other people and animals.
- Don’t allow children to disturb a dog that is eating or sleeping.
- Play non-aggressive games with your dog, such as “go fetch.” Playing aggressive games like “tug-of-war” can encourage inappropriate behavior.
- Avoid exposing your dog to new situations in which you are unsure of its response.
- Never approach a strange dog and always avoid eye contact with a dog that appears threatening.
- Immediately seek professional advice from veterinarians, animal behaviorists or responsible breeders if the dog develops aggressive behaviors.
Most Dangerous Dog Breeds
Studies into harmful interactions between canines and humans are often controversial. While not all dogs of a certain breed will exhibit aggressive tendencies, several studies conducted show a broad analysis of dog breeds involved in attacks over the last decade (see infographic below).
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Accident?
If you’ve been injured you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Bedford, Texas office directly at 817.440.3888 to schedule your free, no obligation consultation. We help personal injury clients throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington as well as all areas of Texas.
At Parker Law Firm, our experienced personal injury lawyers believe people matter. We are committed to our clients, not case numbers, and we believe in the power of the civil justice system. With years spent both representing accident victims and participating in the state legislative process, our founder, Brad Parker, has developed a deep understanding of the law and gained unique experience that helps him get results for his clients. We serve the Hurst, Euless, Bedford and surrounding areas.
