Dog Bites / Animal Attacks

En Español

Every year, millions of Americans are bitten by animals. In fact, in 1994, over 4.7 million people were bitten by dogs alone. In many cases, a person bitten by a dog may have a legal right to recover damages from the animal's owner or another responsible party. If you’ve experienced this, you want to contact a San Antonio dog bite lawyer as soon as possible.

According to State Farm Insurance, dog bite victims suffer over $1 billion in monetary losses every year. If you believe you have suffered economic harm as a result of a dog bite, contact the experienced attorneys of Carabin Shaw today.

There are a number of reasons a dog will bite someone. Sometimes it’s a puppy who is still developing in its interaction with humans and has a tendency to chew on everything. Other times, a person may be walking down the street and come in contact with a strange dog.

If you’ve experienced a dog bite, in addition to contacting a dog bite lawyer in San Antonio, there are certain things you can do depending on the exact circumstances and how serious your injury is. Regardless of how it happens, here are some steps you should take:

• For a small skin break or scrape, run some water over it then use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on the affected area. It’s also a good idea to apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage.
• If you have a puncture wound, you can allow it to bleed for a few minutes as this will assist in washing it out. You can then attempt to stop the bleeding with direct pressure. If the wound is serious and won’t stop bleeding, or is to the neck or head, call 9-1-1 immediately. Puncture wounds heal more slowly and don’t need to be bandaged. If you do bandage it, be sure to clean it thoroughly first.
• If you’re bitten by a stray or unknown dog, do not try and capture it. After caring for your wound, contact your local animal control agency to report the stray animal. If you observe the animal acting in a peculiar manner or notice it is especially aggressive, it could be rabid. Be sure to call 9-1-1 immediately and seek rabies vaccinations.
• If you know the dog’s owner, be sure to exchange information and contact the animal’s veterinarian to make sure it’s rabies shots are current. You will also want to get the owner’s insurance information.

A dog bite lawyer serving San Antonio will ask you for detailed information about the circumstances surrounding your animal bite. At a minimum, you should provide the name and phone number of the animal's owner. If you don't have this information, a neighbor or a witness might be able to provide it to you. Also, if there were witnesses, you should get their names and contact information as well.

If you’ve experienced a dog attack in San Antonio, the medical expenses you incur may be covered by the dog owner’s insurance. You can be sure that the insurance company will employ attorneys to help them minimize what they will pay out. You need a lawyer ready to fight on your behalf and make sure you receive the compensation to which you’re entitled.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite or other animal related injury, please contact the attorneys of Carabin Shaw in San Antonio today. We offer free initial consultations and work on a contingent fee basis, which means that there is never a fee unless we successfully resolve your case. Our experienced San Antonio dog bite lawyers will know how to deal with the insurance companies so you don’t have to.

For immediate assistance and to set up a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers, call us toll-free at 800-862-1260.

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