San Antonio Dog Bite Laws

San Antonio is known for being a dog-friendly city– with the sheer amount of outdoor patio restaurants and breweries, many customers bring along their canine companions for a fun day in the sun. However, if dog owners knowingly bring a dangerous or aggressive animal in public without taking precautions, innocent bystanders can get seriously hurt.

If you or a loved one are among the hundreds of dog bite victims in San Antonio, you have the right according to Texas law to seek fair compensation for your injury. With the help of a Carabin Shaw personal injury lawyer, you could receive a financial settlement that covers the full cost of your losses.

If you are interested in pursuing your legal rights, it may be helpful for you to become familiar with San Antonio dog bite laws. For reference, the following information is summarized from the State of Texas’ Health and Safety Code.

If you have further questions pertaining to establishing liability for your specific dog bite or the damages you are eligible to claim, schedule a consultation with an experienced dog bite injury lawyer.

If you report a dog bite injury, the city of San Antonio will provide a certified Animal Care Officer to investigate the circumstances of your dog bite. They are required to assess the potential dangers the animal presents (including exposure to rabies or likelihood of continued aggressive behaviors). Their documentation of the incident will become important when filing your claim.

In the majority of dog bite lawsuits, the owner or possessor of the dog is considered the liable party. However, in order to establish that the dog’s owner can be held financially responsible for your losses, your San Antonio dog bite attorney must prove:

• The owner was aware of their dog’s previous violent or aggressive behavior
• The owner took no precautions to ensure their dog did not injure bystanders

Because any compensation from your settlement depends on how sufficiently the dog owner’s liability is established, it is highly important that you hire quality legal representation.

The state of Texas allows accident victims to claim physical, financial, and emotional losses in their injury lawsuit. In the case of a dog bite injury claim, these damages could include:

• Disfiguring scars
• Contraction of rabies
• Infected wound
• Loss of income-earning ability
• Emotional distress

These are only the most common examples; however, any losses you have suffered as a direct result of your dog bite injury can be claimed in your personal injury lawsuit.

The law states that any warm-blooded pet (including dogs) that bites a human in the state of Texas must be quarantined for ten days or euthanized. If the dog in question has an up-to-date rabies vaccine, the owner will be allowed to keep their animal at home during the quarantine period. At the end of this period, the dog will be examined by a veterinarian to ensure they do not carry the rabies virus.

To learn more about San Antonio dog bite laws and filing a personal injury lawsuit, contact the injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw. Our team of English and Spanish-speaking staff are available 24/7 to help you schedule your no-cost, no-obligation case review with a Carabin Shaw dog bite injury lawyer.

Call toll-free today at 800-862-1260 to schedule your initial consultation or visit our website to see Carabin Shaw’s client reviews.