If you are bitten or injured by a Golden Retriever or Golden Retriever mix, it is vital to know what steps to take to protect yourself. If you need assistance with the recovery or claims process, you can count on a Texas dog bite lawyer at Hill Law Firm. We have years of personal injury claims experience and a 99-percent case success rate. We’ll connect you with a lawyer who’s experienced with dog bite injury cases in your area, such as a Houston dog bite attorney or a San Antonio dog bite attorney.
Seek Professional Medical Care
Always put your personal safety first after a dog attack. Get to a safe location away from the offending Golden Retriever to check yourself for injuries. If you notice signs of an injury, such as teeth marks, bleeding, bruising, scratches, or puncture wounds, get professional medical care.
While you can wash your wounds with mild soap and clean water and apply bandages in the meantime, it is important to go to a hospital or urgent care center. Dog bite injuries that break the skin come with a risk of infections and diseases, including rabies. Professional care may involve antibiotics, a tetanus or rabies shot, and stitches.
Document the Golden Retriever Attack
While you are still at the scene of the attack, do your best to document the incident. Start by speaking with the owner of the Golden Retriever. Ask for his or her name, contact information, and details about the dog, such as its vaccination history. If any eyewitnesses saw the dog bite you, get their information. Take pictures of the dog and of your injuries.
Make a Dog Bite Report
In Texas, all animal bites must be reported to the authorities under Texas Health and Safety Code § 826.001. In most cities in Texas, you can call 311 to report a Golden Retriever bite. You can also file a report with your local animal control office. Reporting a dog bite injury is important for public health and safety. The Golden Retriever will be quarantined for 10 days to check for rabies.
Follow Up With Your Care
Although Golden Retrievers are not known for involvement in severe and fatal dog attacks, injuries such as puncture wounds and broken bones can occur. Follow your doctor’s orders and treatment plan recommendations as you heal from your injuries. Tend to any mental or emotional effects, as well. If you are experiencing post-traumatic stress or a new phobia of dogs after the incident, for example, consider seeing a therapist or psychiatrist.
File an Insurance Claim
Texas does not have a dog bite statute. Instead, it uses two main legal doctrines to determine liability, or legal responsibility, for a dog bite injury. The first is scienter or the one-bite rule, which states that a pet owner can be held liable for an attack if he or she knew of the dog’s vicious propensities; for example, if the Golden Retriever had bitten someone in the past.
The second legal rule is negligence, or a pet owner’s failure to exhibit ordinary care in the control of the dog. If the owner of the Golden Retriever allowed the dog to run at large, for instance, this could be proof of negligence to support an injury claim. If you have grounds to hold a pet owner liable for a dog bite injury, you can typically file a claim with the owner’s property insurance policy.
If you need help filing an insurance claim, seek advice from an experienced lawyer such as this Kernville dog bite attorney.
Consult With a Texas Dog Bite Lawyer
Bringing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit for a Golden Retriever attack in Texas can involve complicated statutes and city ordinances. The best way to protect your legal rights as an injured victim is by hiring a dog bite lawyer in Texas to represent you.
Hill Law Firm’s Texas dog bite attorneys have years of experience handling dog bite injury cases in Texas. Find out how we can help you after a Golden Retriever attack. Call (210) 960-3939 for a free consultation.