An animal bite lawyer in Houston, TX will tell you animal bite attacks can be emotionally and physically traumatizing. They can also be deadly. In 2018 alone, 36 people in the U.S. lost their lives after a dog attacked them. Every day, around 1,000 people across the country must undergo emergency medical treatment as a result of animal bites. Every year, around 14,025 people must be hospitalized because of their dog bite attack injuries. The medical treatment required for animal bite injuries can be painful in and of itself, and the treatment is not cheap. Thankfully, when an animal bite occurs as a result of someone else’s negligence, recklessness, and or intentional behavior, they can be held legally responsible for their harmful conduct. The firm of John K. Zaid & Associates represents victims of serious animal bite attacks and helps them to obtain the settlement they deserve. If you live in Texas and have suffered harm as a result of an animal bite, contact a dog bite lawyer Houston, TX residents trust to learn how we might be able to assist you in filing an injury claim against the negligent owner and/or other responsible parties.
The Seriousness of a Dog Bite Injury
Despite the domestication of the species, a dog’s teeth are still capable of tearing into the flesh and bone of other animals, including humans. This is true whether the dog is a Pekingese or a pit bull. A dog’s jaws have a bite force of up to 4,610.75 PSI which may result in tremendous damage to a bite victim.
Most dog bite victims are children. The theory is that children can seem unpredictable and have a high degree of explosive energy, two things which can scare a dog and cause it to act more aggressively than with adults. Another fact is that most dog bite injuries result in injuries to the face and head. Because most victims are children, their heads are at approximately the same height as the average dog’s jaws. Among other injuries that the child (or adult) might sustain in the attack, damage to the jaw, teeth, or gums has a high probability. The good news is that children may suffer less long-term physical damage to their mouth and teeth as compared to adults because their skin is more pliable and tooth injuries may be limited to baby teeth.
However, it should be mentioned that the emotional injuries to the child could very well last their entire lifetime and cause a lifelong fear of dogs. This type of damage can also be recovered by an injury claim and can be explained in more detail by an experienced animal bite lawyer in Houston, TX.
In addition to the initial injury to the mouth area, the victim may develop a serious or life-threatening infection of the mouth, teeth, or gums due to the high percentage of bacteria contained in a dog’s mouth. As a result, the total cost for medical treatment may be far higher than originally thought at the time of the dog bite attack. This is why it is so important to connect with an experienced animal bite lawyer in Houston, TX as soon as possible following an attack. If the insurance provider for the responsible party reaches out with a settlement offer and you accept it before understanding the full extent of the injuries caused by a dog or other animal attack, you risk receiving far less compensation than you deserve. Please, don’t wait. Connect with an animal bite lawyer Houston, TX residents recommend from our firm today to learn more about your rights and options in the wake of an attack.