DON’T LET AN INJURY DICTATE YOUR FUTURE
Blog | Car Accident Attorney Houston | O'Hara Law Firm
While some states have specific laws regarding injuries caused by dog bites, most states also permit an injured person to recover compensation for injuries caused by a dog bite through the theory of negligence. Common fact scenarios where dog owners are found liable for a bite include: dog escapes from yard, dog on walk without a leash, dog escapes through front door and dog bites a second time.
The O’Hara Law Firm represents a woman who was injured at a Walmart store located in Houston, Texas. The woman was returning to her car when she fell in the parking lot. She tripped over bolts protruding out of the asphalt parking lot. The elderly woman injured her knees, back, neck and leg in the fall. The incident was reported immediately to Walmart management. The woman sought medical treatment after she returned to her home town.
If you have been injured by a dog, there are important steps to take to address the physical injury. Obviously, the very first thing a dog bite victim must do is escape from the dog to a safe location where the dog cannot attack again. After the person is safe from further attack, he or she can address the wound. Unless the wound is a minor scratch, the injured person will likely need medical attention.
Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. A city this large has its fill of accidents. However, some intersections are more dangerous than others. The top ten most dangerous intersections in Houston are listed below:
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) conducted a study and concluded that German Shepherds were one of the most dangerous breeds based on bite severity and frequency of biting. This is not surprising given the fact that German Shepherds have one of the most powerful bites of all breeds.
Houston has an epidemic of drunk driving. Over the past fifteen years, Houston had the highest number of fatal car crashes caused by alcohol or drugs when compared with the twelve largest metropolitan areas. Houston had 50% more fatal crashes involving drugs and alcohol than Los Angeles even though Los Angeles has approximately twice as many people.
Rottweilers, over the last fifteen years, are responsible for the second highest number of serious dog attacks in the country (See Dog Bite Study). The number of serious injuries caused by this breed is highly disproportionate to the number of Rottweilers in the United States.
The O’Hara Law Firm has handled many dog bite cases, and the overwhelming majority of claims are Pit bull bites. Pit bulls and Pit bull mixes have a reputation for being aggressive because of the disproportionate number of catastrophic dog attacks involving Pit bulls. Historically, Pit bulls were selected and bred for their fighting ability. This selective breeding increased their likelihood of attacking other dogs. When a Pit bull attacks another dog, there is a high risk of a person getting bit if someone attempts to protect a dog or separate the fight.
After representing numerous clients injured at different stores, there are common patterns that emerge. Most people are familiar with slip and fall situations where a customer falls while stepping on a slippery surface. However, another common scenario is a customer tripping over an unexpected object on the floor. Often, the object is placed on the floor by an employee of the business, consequently, making the business liable for the injuries caused by the object. This exact scenario has occurred in stores such as Wal-Mart, CVS, HEB, Sam’s Club and other retail stores.
A homeowner association may be liable for a dog attack that occurs on its property. An attorney experienced in handling dog bite cases will consider HOA responsibility if the dog bite occurs on HOA property. The O’Hara Law Firm in Houston has successfully resolved cases against HOAs for clients who were members of an HOA and attacked on HOA common property. There are a variety of situations where a HOA could be found culpable for a dog bite.