Animal Attacks – Dog Bite Lawyers
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Animal Attacks – Dog Bite Lawyers
Over a quarter of a million dog bite, victims need to go to the emergency room each year at the cost of over one billion dollars. This is just a fraction of the people bitten by dogs, which the Centers for Disease Control placed at about four and a half million victims. Between 30 to 35 people are bitten so severely that they die of their wounds. Find more information about Dog Bite Injury Attorneys in San Antonio here
Texas Dog Bite Law
The state of Texas can hold a dog owner responsible if the dog bites and injures another human being. The owner of any dog that bites any person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private home, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such cruelty. One caveat is that the dog owner’s liability can be reduced if the victim’s negligence contributed to their being bitten, such as if they provoked the dog. More about our dog bite-animal attack Attorneys here
What To Do If Bitten
A dog bite can be a puncture wound from the animal’s fangs or a laceration in the skin. Sometimes the teeth don’t break the skin and cause a bruise. Dogs with mighty jaws can leave crushed wounds, especially in children. A bite that’s broken the skin needs to be treated. If possible, the person who treats the damage should wear latex gloves or try to find a place to thoroughly wash their hands before and after administering first aid. A wound not bleeding profusely should be washed with mild soap and running water. Then, it should be treated with a topical antibiotic and covered with a clean bandage. If the person’s been bitten on their hand, they should see a doctor right away. The person should also be taken to an emergency room if they’re bleeding severely and first aid measures don’t help. They should also see a doctor if they haven’t had a tetanus shot in five years. If the wound is bleeding profusely, a clean cloth should be pressed against it, and the area should be elevated. The damage should be watched for the next day or two to ensure it doesn’t become infected. This would present as swelling, redness, and pain in the bite area.
Compensation
Despite of the frequency of dog bites, only about 15,000 to 16,000 victims are compensated. The average compensation is a little less than $22,000 per victim, and it’s usually paid out of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.