In the blink of an eye, a dog bite can change your life, and our El Paso dog bite lawyer will help you recover from it. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite or animal attack, contact Zinda Law Group for a free consultation with an experienced attorney from our team of over 25 experienced attorneys.
Our El Paso personal injury lawyer has a long history of helping those bitten by dogs and other victims recover the compensation they need from the liable party.
What to Do After a Dog Bite
When dealing with the aftermath of a dog bite or animal attack, it is critical to take legal action as soon as possible. Your first priority is receiving any necessary medical treatment following the dog bite. If your injuries from the dog bite are serious enough, you may also end up admitted to the hospital, unable to work or fulfill other obligations for a duration of time.
Your dog bite accident may lead to significant medical bills and other expenses such as lost wages. If your insurance will not cover all of these costs or you do not have insurance, you may need to file a lawsuit to recover the expenses to which you are entitled. Contacting an experienced and reliable El Paso dog bite attorney to recover your costs and any awardable damages is strongly recommended.
Our dog bite lawyer in El Paso, TX, has the experience you need to pursue full compensation for the losses you have. Trust in our experience and dedication to our clients. We have recovered millions of dollars in losses for our clients.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHow Your Dog Bite Attorney in El Paso, TX, Can Prove Negligence
After a dog bite, you may have the right to seek compensation for any losses you suffered. Texas allows a person to seek compensation when the dog owner is negligent. To prove dog owner negligence, your lawyer will work to show that:
- The person at fault owned the dog
- The person at fault had a duty of care toward you to ensure that the dog does not bite you
- The person at fault breached their duty of care by failing to prevent the dog from biting you
- You were injured as a result of that breach on the part of the dog owner
For example, in many parks, dogs must be within sight of and in sound control of owners at all times, and a dog in heat must not be allowed in off-leash areas. If you are in an off-leash area and an owner who is aware their dog is in heat lets their dog off their leash, and their dog bites a person, the owner may be deemed negligent and liable for the injuries. As an experienced dog bite lawyer in El Paso, TX, expect us to help you use the law to your advantage.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationChoosing a Lawyer After a Dog Bite
When you have severe injuries from a dog bite, you need a trusted, experienced attorney ready to fight for you. Our dog bite attorney in El Paso, TX, offers the guidance you need. With years of experience, we help our clients with the entire process:
- Determining your losses
- Proving your case is negligence
- Fighting the insurance companies
- Going to court when necessary
When it comes to hiring a dog bite lawyer to take on your case, you will want to research and explore your options. You should look for an injury lawyer who has experience with dog bites and animal attack cases in the area of El Paso. By doing so, you will have the best chances of success when it comes to receiving fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related expenses as well.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHow Much Is My Case Worth?
Dog bite compensation is typically determined by combining economic and non-economic damages. “Damages” refers to losses that you have sustained as a result of the attack. The following are some of the economic damages you may suffer, which include any bills you have had to pay or money you have lost because of your injury, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
Economic damages are one component of the losses you have suffered. In a serious case, you may need ongoing medical care and support. Our dog bite lawyer in El Paso, TX, can help you in those situations as well.
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationNon-Economic Damages
Another type of loss you may have is called non-economic damages. These are often some of the most important to seek help with from an El Paso dog bite lawyer. These damages are based more on the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the dog bite incident.
If a child sustains a facial injury, their non-economic damages may be quite large, as they might have to deal with ridicule and stress from facial scarring that they otherwise would not have had to deal with had the bite not happened. If the dog bite is especially gruesome, or the injuries severely impact your enjoyment of life, this might also affect the amount of non-economic damages you may receive. Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Emotional loss
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of quality of life
Can I Get Compensation for a Dog Bite?
You may be able to receive compensation for any losses you have. Your dog bite attorney in El Paso, TX, can help you determine what those losses are. A person may seek compensation when it can be proven that the dog owner knew of the dog’s aggressive tendencies, the dog had bitten somebody before, and the dog owner was negligent in letting the dog bite you.
If these criteria are met, and you sustained a physical injury that led you to lose money by way of medical bills and other expenses, then you may have a case against the dog owner. Our El Paso attorney can help determine who to blame for a dog bite and provide guidance on what your rights are in this situation. Other factors include
- The date of the accident: If the bite happened more than two years ago, it may be barred from moving forward as it would fall outside the Texas Statute of Limitations.
- Trespassing: If you were trespassing on another person’s property and were bitten by their dog, this may exclude you from making a claim.
Our El Paso Dog Bite Attorneys Can Help
By working with an El Paso dog bite injury lawyer from Zinda Law Group, you can always expect the highest level of dedication during your case. And as one of our clients, you will pay us nothing unless we win your animal attack case. There is no risk in contacting us for help.
- We listen to what happened in your case.
- Our legal team provides an opportunity to find evidence to back up claims.
- We fight the insurance company.
If you have been injured in an animal attack, we are ready to get started helping you recover the compensation you need and deserve. Set up a free consultation with one of our skilled El Paso dog bite lawyers. Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.
Five Mistakes to Avoid in a Dog Bite Injury Case
When pursuing compensation after a dog bite, there are many mistakes you can make that can harm your case without you even realizing it. Knowing the common errors that are made in these types of cases is the easiest way to avoid them. We recommend contacting our dog bite attorney in El Paso, TX, for immediate help:
- Not Pursuing a Claim: The biggest mistake dog bite victims make is failing to pursue a claim entirely. This mistake might result from the victim not realizing they have the right to claim damages. Dog owners are liable for their pets’ actions, regardless of whether the animal has displayed aggressive tendencies in the past.
- 2. Not Hiring an Attorney: Another mistake victims make is not consulting a personal injury lawyer with experience in dog bite injury cases. Hiring an experienced lawyer is essential to ensure you understand the law as it applies to your case and are aware of the options you have moving forward.
- Interviewing Witnesses Incorrectly: When interviewing witnesses, it is essential to ask the right questions to ensure that their testimony is specific and useful. For example, a witness describing a dog attack as “scary” won’t help your case nearly as much as if they detail exactly how the dog behaved (barking, growling, lunging, showing teeth, etc.)
- Failing to Get Medical Treatment: A doctor can assess your injuries and can note the difference between a quick bite and sustained clamping and tearing of skin, tissues, and muscles. This can affect the amount of compensation deserved for pain and suffering and is necessary to determine the extent of the injury and the amount of the victim’s future medical expenses.
- Settling Too Soon: One major mistake you must avoid is accepting a settlement deal before you understand the full length of the damages you incurred. It is critical to wait until the victim knows all the injury costs, such as plastic surgery, physical and emotional therapy, loss of income, etc., before discussing or accepting a settlement.
Talk to our dog bite attorney in El Paso, TX, if you were hurt. Our team of honest and aggressive injury attorneys will fight to help you get the compensation you need to get back on your feet. We offer free consultations 24/7 and never collect a fee unless we win your case, so there is no risk in contacting us.
Use Caution When Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Dog Bite in El Paso
When dealing with an insurance company after suffering an injury, caution is key. It is critical that you remember that these companies are in the business of making money, not spending it. Insurers will go to great lengths to deny or devalue your claim.
Insurance adjusters have a whole book of tricks they will employ in an effort to pay you as little money as possible. If you aren’t careful, you could easily miss out on the compensation to which you are entitled. Do not fall for their claims.
The best way to protect yourself against these companies is by declining to speak with them until you have secured the services of an experienced dog bite attorney. By hiring a lawyer, you will force the insurer to go through your legal representative, preventing them from using the tactics they would normally employ against you. Contact our dog bite attorney in El Paso now.
Types of Dog Bite Lawsuits
Dog bite cases are typically personal injury lawsuits. These cases can range from incredibly mild injuries to severe, life-threatening ones. The different types of cases often involve how aware the dog owner was of their dog’s aggressive tendencies and what precautions they took (if any) to prevent the attack.
Most lawsuits will either be based on a “One Bite” rule or “Strict Liability Rules.” El Paso follows Texas dog bite laws, and Texas is a “One Bite” law state. To seek compensation, your attorney will work to prove that the owner knew that the dog had bitten somebody before or had shown aggressive tendencies in the past or that they were negligent and failed to control their dog.
For example, if you were walking down the street, and a neighbor’s dog ran from their garden and bit you, your lawyer would work to prove that the owner knew the dog was aggressive or had bitten somebody and that the dog owner was negligent by letting the dog roam free without restraint which led to the bite. Unsure about your case? Let our El Paso dog bite attorney help.
Why Choose Our Firm as Your El Paso Dog Bite Accident Lawyers
If you were bitten by a dog in El Paso, our personal injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact our El Paso dog bite lawyer for your free consultation today, and we can help you form a plan for your case. You can also call us to make an appointment to visit our El Paso office, located at 2300 George Dieter Dr, El Paso, TX 79936.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
