Anderson Injury Lawyers | March 19, 2025 | Personal Injury
The choice to get a tattoo is deeply personal and often holds significant meaning. For many, tattoos serve as a form of self-expression, commemorating important life events, honoring loved ones, or showcasing artistic creativity. Others may simply enjoy the aesthetic appeal of body art. Regardless of the reason, when you decide to get a tattoo, you trust that the artist will provide a safe and sanitary experience.
Reputable tattoo studios follow strict hygiene protocols to prevent infections and complications. Licensed tattoo artists are trained in proper sterilization techniques and are expected to uphold industry safety standards. However, when these precautions are neglected, the risk of infection rises significantly. A tattoo is essentially an open wound, making it vulnerable to bacteria if not handled correctly. If an artist fails to maintain a clean environment, use sterile equipment, or provide proper aftercare instructions, clients can suffer painful and sometimes severe infections.
If you’ve developed an infection due to an artist’s negligence, you may face serious complications requiring medical treatment. In such cases, speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Fort Worth may help you understand your legal rights and options for seeking compensation.
Your Artist Has an Obligation to Prevent Infection
Any time your skin is broken, you risk bacteria entering your body and causing an infection. Given the nature of a tattoo, preventing infection is a significant part of appropriate service provision that starts at the beginning. The Texas Department of State Health Services provides guidelines for your tattoo artist to comply with to prevent complications like infection. Some of the prevention strategies you can expect to see in every licensed tattoo shop include:
- Well-maintained and clean studio
- Uses germicidal soap
- Artist wears clean clothing
- Artist uses PPE, including single-use gloves
- Instruments are one-time use or appropriately sterilized (practices should be posted)
Diligent use of these practices, along with appropriate storage and use of supplies such as needles or ink, can minimize the chances of infection by preventing unnecessary bacteria from being introduced during the procedure. This includes sanitizing the area of your body with an antibacterial solution, such as rubbing alcohol. Additionally, the TDSHS requires artists to report any known infection or allergic reaction to a tattoo or piercing studio, which provides an added layer of accountability.
Preventing Infections Through Aftercare
Once you get your tattoo, the artist has much less control over preventing a tattoo infection. However, they should provide you with aftercare instructions to ensure you know how to appropriately care for your tattoo to prevent infection and promote healing. They will often review this with you verbally before you leave and on a sheet of paper or e-mail so you can refer back to it.
Aftercare instructions may often include instructions to wash the area a few times a day with some kind of antibacterial soap and to keep it moist with a medicated or antibiotic ointment. They may also advise you to ensure you sleep on clean sheets or wear clean clothes and minimize how much you touch the area while it heals.
Every artist and shop is likely to have their own versions of these generic instructions to keep you healthy and help you heal. While your artist cannot control how well you abide by these guidelines, they should ensure they have provided you with the information necessary to prevent a tattoo infection.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today if Your Artist Failed to Protect You
Not every adverse reaction to a tattoo is the result of negligence—sometimes, the human body simply reacts unpredictably. However, when an infection occurs due to unsanitary conditions or improper practices, the consequences can be serious. Medical bills, scarring, and even permanent disfigurement are all potential risks.
Tattoo artists are legally required to follow strict hygiene standards, including proper sterilization and providing clear aftercare instructions. If your artist fails to uphold these standards, you may be entitled to compensation. Don’t navigate this alone—contact a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our personal injury lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 820, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
