When a dog attacks, the effects can be disastrous, with severe injuries that result in permanent scarring or disability. However, even minor dog bite injuries can be painful and run the risk of related health complications, such as infections. If you sustain a minor dog bite injury in Texas, you still have the right to file a claim with the pet owner’s property insurance provider. Make sure to speak with a San Antonio dog bite attorney for legal guidance.
What Are Texas’s Dog Bite Laws?
Texas uses a law referred to as a “one-bite rule” when determining liability or financial accountability for a dog bite incident. Under this law, a dog bite victim can hold the owner or controller of the pet liable in two main scenarios:
- The pet owner was negligent, or did not use reasonable care to control the dog and prevent the incident.
- The pet owner knew or should have known of the dog’s vicious propensities because the dog had bitten someone previously, but failed to prevent a subsequent attack.
There is no minimum amount of damage that must be done to give a dog bite victim the right to file a claim in Texas. A pet owner can be held liable for the victim’s medical bills, lost wages, physical impairment, scarring, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other losses even after a minor bite injury.
Steps to Take After a Minor Dog Bite Injury
If you get bitten by a dog in Texas, even if the injury appears minor, document the incident in as much detail as possible. Write down the pet owner’s name and contact information, as well as a description of the dog. If the bite breaks the skin, you are required to report it to San Antonio’s Animal Care Services. They may order a 10-day quarantine of the dog to check for rabies.
It is in your best interest to go to a doctor for an inspection of the injury. Some injuries that seem minor at first escalate into more serious injuries, such as a bite wound that becomes infected due to bacteria in the dog’s saliva. If the dog’s teeth did not break the skin, pressure from its jaws may have still caused nerve damage or fractured a bone beneath the surface. Keep copies of your medical bills and health care records.
Does Property Insurance Cover Minor Dog Bite Injuries?
In Texas, dogs and other pets are viewed as property for insurance purposes. Most property insurance companies cover losses caused by a dog. A homeowners or renters insurance policy will most likely pay for a dog bite injury, even if it is minor. However, there may be some policy exclusions, such as for individuals living in the policyholder’s residence or injuries caused by a dog that is on its restricted breed list.
How to File a Claim for a Minor Dog Bite Injury
If you wish to file a claim against a pet owner in San Antonio for a minor dog bite injury, start by contacting the pet owner’s insurance company. State that you wish to file a claim for an incident involving the policyholder’s dog. Follow the company’s instructions for filing a claim. However, do not trust the insurance company; it will be more concerned with protecting its own profits than giving you fair compensation for your losses.
You will most likely need to provide proof of your damages, such as copies of medical bills and photographs of visible injuries. While most minor injury claims are resolved with insurance settlements, if a pet owner’s insurance provider is refusing to offer fair compensation for your losses, you may need to hire a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio to go up against the insurer for you. An attorney can help you protect your rights as you seek justice for a dog bite injury.