Have you been attacked by a dog?

Dog owners are responsible for their pets.

Many of us are dog owners, and we love our dogs. To many, they are like members of the family. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that Americans own 77.5 million dogs and that nearly 40 percent of U.S. households own at least one.

But not all dogs are your best friend.

Dogs can be a great source of laughter, joy, and personal fulfillment. But they are animals, and they can attack or lash out with a severe bite. In fact, more than 4 million Americans, many of them children, are victims of dog bites each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An attack or even just a bite can cause serious scars resulting in permanent disfigurement and emotional trauma. Daniel Stark can help you get compensation for resulting injuries and suffering.

Who’s responsible for my injuries?

Texas has laws in place that hold dog owners responsible for the pain, suffering, and medical bills following biting incidents. However, Texas does adhere to the “one free bite” rule. This ancient law shields a dog owner from liability until he has a certain degree of knowledge that his dog is dangerous or vicious. This is a double-edged sword because if the owner has knowledge that a dog is dangerous, they can be held strictly liable. 

The dog bite team at Daniel Stark has helped numerous victims receive compensation for their injuries, even when the dog had no history of biting. Don’t let this one free bite rule keep you from contacting our office to see if we can help you.

Why should I hire a lawyer?

The insurance adjustor is not on your side. Their job is to reduce the value of your case. Most insurance adjustors will attempt to pay you only 10 to 20 percent of the value of your case.

How will I pay for a lawyer to protect me?

With our No Fee Guarantee, we work for free unless we win your case. We also cover all of the case expenses that must be invested in order to build your case. These expenses often include costs for obtaining medical records for the injured, veterinary records for the animal, hiring a professional photographer to take photos of the victim, and retaining an investigator to learn the history of the attacking dog.

These costs can easily exceed $1,000, but they ensure that your claim is presented to the insurance company in the best light possible. There is no reason why a family that is already experiencing extra expenses from medical bills should have to carry these costs. 

The attacking dog was owned by my friend/family and I don’t want to sue them.

This is a common issue that arises because we are usually around dogs that are owned by our friends, neighbors, and/or family members. The fact that you know the individual is reason enough to hire a lawyer. Direct contact with the dog owner who is also friend or family can be very uncomfortable. This is when it is helpful to just tell the owner that you have a lawyer that is going to handle this stressful situation with the owner’s insurance company.

The likelihood that you would have to sue to settle your case only rises when a lawyer is not involved. An experienced lawyer knows how to present the evidence and facts in such a way that places the risk on the insurance carrier and forces them to settle. Remember, the money we are seeking for your injury is from the dog owner’s insurance carrier, not from the dog owner directly. When the claim has been paid, the dog owner will realize that it is his or her insurance company that paid the claim, not him, and his initial anger over the situation will vanish. He will realize you are really just doing what is in the best interest of the injured person and are not out to get him personally. If he is a good friend, he will understand that you shouldn't bear the financial responsibility of his dog’s attack. 

Is the insurance company treating me fairly?

There is no free resource that will tell you the value of your injury claim. Only an attorney who is experienced in these matters can make a fair assessment of the value of your case. If you or your child has been injured by a vicious dog, don’t simply guess at the value of your case. Hire an experienced dog bite lawyer to make sure you are compensated fairly.

Let us put your mind at ease—at Daniel Stark we are experienced dog bite lawyers and we are passionate about protecting people from vicious animal attacks, especially children! We can help you evaluate your case and we won’t take your claim unless we are confident we can help you. Call us toll-free at (866) 241-4861 or fill out an online consultation form to get a free review of your case.

With three offices to serve you, we are your Texas dog bite lawyers. We have offices in Bryan/College Station, Waco and Austin, so we can help you wherever you’re located, including outlying areas such as Austin, Bastrop, Bellmead, Belton, Brenham, Bryan, Caldwell, College Station, Georgetown, Harker Heights, Hearne, Killeen, Madisonville, McGregor, Navasota, Pflugerville, Rockdale, Round Rock, Temple, and Waco.

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