Anderson Injury Lawyers | May 16, 2017 | Car Accidents
When you think about dogs causing injury, most people automatically imagine dog bites. Unfortunately, dog attacks aren’t the only way dogs injure people – loose dogs on the road can pose serious hazards to the dog, your car, you, your passengers, and other drivers.
For this reason, victims who have been bitten by loose dogs or have experienced an accident as a result of a loose dog should contact a personal injury attorney to discuss their options.
The Law on Loose Dogs in Texas
In Texas, it’s illegal to allow your dog to roam loose. Dogs must be securely contained either in the home, inside a fenced yard or on a leash. Sadly, not all dog owners are diligent and many dogs escape and end up on the road – the last place we want them.
Drivers who encounter a dog on the road automatically swerve to avoid it, causing them to wreck into other cars, pedestrians, trees, mailboxes, and so on.
As a personal injury attorney, I’ve also seen cases where a driver slammed their brakes to avoid hitting a loose dog, causing the driver behind them to rear-end them. This, of course, leads to unnecessary property damage and injury.
Who’s Responsible When a Loose Dog Causes an Accident?
If the car accident was a single-car accident (meaning your car was the only one involved), then it’s likely that the dog’s owner will be found at fault for the wreck and their insurance will be responsible for paying for your damages and injury.
As I mentioned, it’s an owner’s job to keep their dog from harming others. By allowing their dog to escape – whether or not it was by mistake – they neglected to protect others from their dog. Any damage done (including the damage to your car and injury to your body) will be their responsibility.
If multiple cars were involved in the accident, then it’s likely that more than one party will be found at fault. So, let’s say you’re rear-ended by another driver as you slam on your brakes to avoid hitting a dog in the road.
The driver who rear-ended you could be found partially at fault for driving too close behind you, but the dog’s owner could also be found at fault for the reasons listed above.
Unlike some states, Texas allows multiple people to share fault in an accident.
What If I Don’t Know Who the Dog Belongs To?
You need to find out. Ideally, after a wreck, you’ll be able to use the dog’s collar to identify the owner. This is a bit of a task, especially if the dog is uncooperative or aggressive if you’re hurt if the dog runs away or isn’t wearing a collar if you forget to think about it, and so on.
If you’re unable to get the dog’s information, you might try asking people in the area if they recognize the dog or know who it might belong to. You can also take the dog to your local shelter to see if it’s been microchipped, which will give you the owner’s information if the dog doesn’t have a collar.
What If I Know The Dog Owner?
Some people worry about making a claim against someone they know. Since most dog-on-car accidents happen around familiar settings – like in neighborhoods – there’s a chance you’ll know the person who you’re claiming against. So what if you don’t want to cause bad blood between you?
You need to make a claim anyway.
The claim will go through their homeowner’s insurance policy, not their auto insurance, so their rates won’t go up.
Making a claim against someone’s home insurance is not the same as making a claim against their car, motorcycle or truck insurance because it will not count against them or hurt their premiums. Besides, this is why we all carry insurance in the first place – to use it when there’s an accident!
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Not all accident victims need an attorney. However, if you’re having trouble getting the other parties to cooperate or if you have serious damages and injuries, you could benefit from a free consultation. There may be compensation available to cover any accident-related medical expenses, lost wages (due to missing work because of caring for your injuries), emotional pain and suffering, and much more.
If you do not want to be stuck paying medical bills because someone’s dog bit you, it may be time to contact our firm today.
Related posts:
- Vehicle Towed After an Accident | What You Need to Know About Towing and Storage Fees
- What Is the Difference Between a Lawyer and an Attorney?
- Driving Without a License Versus Driving Without a License on Your Person in Dallas
- Do I Have To Go to Court After a Car Accident in Fort Worth?
- How Much Can I Receive After I’ve Sustained a Neck or Back Injury in a Texas Car Accident?
Contact 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 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
