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Dog Bites

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Dog Bites

Being a responsible dog owner is more than just taking care of the animal’s basic needs. It also means training the animal on proper behavior around people, disciplining behavior that could lead to injuries for others and properly warning people if there are suspicions that a dog could be dangerous.

Unfortunately, some dog owners do not take their duty of care seriously. They may not recognize clear signs that their dog is being territorial and intervene before the animal attacks. In other cases, a dog owner may actively train a dog to be aggressive, which can lead to devastating encounters with children and adults alike.

When dog owners in Texas and New Mexico are negligent in their duty of care, the personal injury attorneys at Salam & Associates, PC, will make sure they are held accountable for their dogs’ actions. We don’t believe in letting victims suffer catastrophic injuries, then pay the costs associated if a pet owner was responsible for the attack. With offices in Richardson and the ability to meet (by appointment only) in Las Cruces, we serve throughout the region.

Common Injuries Suffered in Dog Attacks

While some dogs display warning signs before they attack, others may attack without reason or cause, which can lead to:

• Teeth punctures

• Severe lacerations

• Torn tendons and muscles

• Bone fractures

• Broken bones

• Serious infections

• Scarring and disfigurement

• Nerve damage

• Fatal injuries

Considering the Costs of a Dog Bite

In many dog bite cases, extensive medical treatment is needed to treat catastrophic injuries, which can lead to:

• Steep medical bills totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases

• Lost wages because of missed work

• Multiple surgeries to correct scarring and disfigurement

• Prescription costs for painkillers, antibiotics and other necessary medication

• Costs for medical devices such as crutches, splints and wheelchairs

• Ongoing counseling to help cope with post-traumatic stress

• Costs for in-home care

• Costs for home modifications to accommodate permanent disability

Who Pays for Damages After a Dog Bite?

In most cases, a pet owner’s insurance company will pay for the damages suffered by a dog bite victim. Compensation typically covers economic damages, which are calculated by looking at hospital and psychologist bills, prescription receipts, wage statements and other financial records associated with a victim’s injuries.

Because insurance companies are businesses that are looking out for their bottom line and not victims’ best interests, offers made by insurers don’t always cover the full extent of a victim’s injuries. Complex and confusing language in a policy can make it difficult to identify a lowball offer, and inexperience handling negotiations with insurers can leave you incapable of fighting for compensation.

We Will Fight to Defend Your Rights and Needs

Personal injury attorney Fatima Hassan-Sallam is a skilled negotiator and litigator with 25 years of experience handling a variety of personal injury and premises liability claims, including numerous dog bite cases. Her focus is always on clients’ needs, often dropping everything to address a question, concern or emergency situation.

Our clients hold us in high regard because we will go anywhere in Texas or New Mexico to help you recover full and fair compensation after a dog attack. We will do everything we can to help you, including filing paperwork, handling negotiations with the insurance company, reviewing settlement offers and obtaining immigration documents for family members in other countries who want to stay with you while you recover.

Don’t Hesitate to Seek Justice

If you would like to discuss your case in private with a lawyer from our firm, contact us for a free 30-minute initial consultation. Let us explain your rights and fight to protect them. Call 972-437-1900 or send us an email to schedule an appointment.