Ryan C. Solis of the Law Office of Ryan C. Solis is one of McAllen’s most dependable dog bite accident attorneys.
Ryan is hard at work gathering information regarding these types of cases so that future clients are better prepared to fight off the onslaught of bad faith insurance claims adjusters and negligent property owners looking to undervalue—or deny—what is rightfully owed to them.
What Determines a Dog Bite’s Severity?
While even a minor nip can be traumatic, severe dog bites are often life-changing. Several categories defined by veterinarians exist to determine how much suffering a victim undergoes. They are:
- Pre-Bite – This occurs when a dog bites the air as a warning. No contact with human skin occurs in a pre-bite, but this behavior does signal to the dog owner that behavioral treatment should be sought before they put other guests/people at risk.
- Near Bite – During a near bite, the dog’s teeth make contact with a human’s skin but doesn’t puncture it. This is another serious warning that a dog will make if it feels threatened, and in certain states, it is required that a veterinarian reports this incident to animal control.
- Shallow Puncture – This type of bite is painful for the victim. The dog’s teeth sink just into the first few layers of skin, and the risk of bacterial infection and rabies is high. By law, dog owners and veterinarians are required to report the incident to animal control. After this type of incident, the dog will become a significant liability for the dog owner.
- Multiple Shallow Punctures – Same as before, just more shallow punctures inflicted upon the first few layers of skin.
- Deep Puncture – Like shallow punctures, there are two types of deep punctures: single and multiple. These types of bites often require surgery—even multiple surgeries—to treat the victim, and risk of infection or rabies is heightened.
- Death – This is the highest, most severe kind of dog bite there is. In this incident, a dog killed the victim and/or consumed his or her flesh.
Keep in mind that anything other than a pre-bite would be a good idea to get checked out by your local hospital. There, your doctor can mend any wounds and treat any infections while documenting what injury you sustained, what treatment you were given, and how much it all cost. This will prove valuable if you decide to file a personal injury claim in the future.
What You Can Win in a Dog Bite Injury Claim
Because dog bites often require multiple surgeries to correct, medical expenses can get pretty steep. When they begin to pile up, victims of dog bites can feel lost, overwhelmed, or unheard. Attorney Ryan C. Solis, however, hears your cries and fights negligent dog owners, as well as greedy claims adjusters, to get you the money you need to recover.
His specific set of legal skills can help you recover damages for but not limited to:
- Medical Expenses
- Pain and Suffering
- Lost Wages
- Property Damage (i.e. only related to the incident)
Aside from these expenses, a victim of a dog bite can sue a dog owner for punitive damages as a punishment. Don’t hesitate for long, however. In the State of Texas, dog bites have a two (2) year time period from when the injury happened to file a personal injury claim.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dog Bites?
Some homeowners and rental insurance policies may cover dog bites, with the amount of money you may receive reaching up to $100,000 to even $300,000. Any amount after that must be covered by the dog owner.
However, some homeowners and rental insurance companies will not offer coverage if the breed of dog is considered aggressive or that particular dog was deemed dangerous. If a dog does lash out, it may continue to be a risk that can cause a drop of coverage or raised premiums.
Insurance companies, however, are notorious for making up excuses to slash down or deny your personal injury claim, possibly even using the above as an excuse. That’s why you need an experienced dog bite injury attorney to fight for the money you deserve.
