The injuries that result from a dog bite can be devastating physically, emotionally, and financially. Even a seemingly minor attack—a single bite, for example—can cause lacerations that leave the victim permanently disfigured.
While no amount of money can erase the trauma of an animal attack, securing compensation can make it easier to pick up the pieces in the aftermath. If you were bit by someone else’s dog and you’re thinking about filing a personal injury claim, these are the kinds of damages you can seek by doing so:
1. Medical Bills
Texas tort law recognizes virtually all the health care expenses that claimants incur over the course of their recovery. In addition to hospital bills and office copays, reimbursable expenses might include things like prescription drugs and wound care.
When building your claim, you can also account for the costs associated with any anticipated plastic surgeries you’ll need in the future to address the scarring.
2. Lost Wages
If you’re unable to work while recovering from the attack, make sure to track every missed paycheck. You can include this lost income in your claim.
In cases of catastrophic injuries that keep the victim from returning to the workforce at all, lost earning capacity is also a recoverable damage. Vocational experts, industry leaders, and economists can all speak on a claimant’s career trajectory to determine a justifiable figure for this loss.
3. The Cost of Reasonable & Necessary Replacement Services
Generally speaking, any expenses you wouldn’t have incurred had you not gotten hurt are recoverable. If you need to hire a housekeeper, for example, you can include the cost of doing so in your claim. The same goes for enlisting help with meal preparation, errands, child care, and pet care. As long as you can present compelling evidence that the service was reasonably necessary, you can seek compensation for it.
4. Non-Economic Damages
The non-economic damages that result from a dog bite may be intangible, but they’re every bit as devastating as their economic counterparts. Pain and suffering are the most common non-monetary losses. Other examples include diminished quality of life, mental anguish, and physical impairment.Scarring and disfigurement, which can be especially severe for dog bite victims, are also considered non-economic damages and, consequently, warrant compensation.
Discuss Your Claim with a Dog Bite Attorney in Houston
Were you attacked by someone else’s dog? Did the owner know their pet had a propensity for aggression but fail to take reasonable measures to protect those in the vicinity? To see if you might have grounds for a personal injury claim, turn to Chelsie King Garza, P.C.
For more than 18 years, attorney Garza has been advocating for those who were wronged by others. A compassionate and tenacious professional, she’s determined to secure every dollar her clients deserve. To schedule a free initial consultation with this Houston dog bite lawyer, call 713-893-8808 or fill out the Contact Formon her website.
