Go to navigation Go to content
Toll-Free: 800-354-6275
Phone: 817-294-1900
Anderson Law Firm
A- A A+

Injuries Commonly Resulting From Dog Attacks


Dog attacks can result in a wide range of different injury types of wilding varying severity. Small children attacked by a breed know to have vicious propensities, for example, will usually suffer injuries that are significantly more life-threatening than an adult more capable at defending themselves. Regardless of your personal situation and the apparent extent of your injuries, however, it is important that you consult with an experienced Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyer so you may be informed of your legal right to compensation under Texas law.

Perhaps those injuries most common associated with dog attacks are cuts and abrasions from a canine biting and clawing at their victim. Every dog attack is different, so such wounds vary from punctured skin to avulsion and tissue loss. Almost all wounds resulting from vicious dog attacks will result in sever scarring which will never completely heal. Given that almost a third of dog attack injuries are concentrated in the facial area (according to data compiled by the Texas Department of Health), such disfigurements are not only obviously noticeable, but also act as ever-present reminders for the victim of their attack.


One of the most frequent dog attack scenarios our attorneys have seen in the past involve injuries suffered by a dog owner when their pet is attacked by another animal. This usually occurs when the victim is out walking their dog, which is then attacked by an unleashed dog. In such situations, it is common for victim to become tangled in the leash, which often presses deep in their skin as it tightens around their legs, causing noticeable laceration of the skin. These type of attack incidents often regularly result in the human victim suffering sprained ankles too.

Children are much more likely to be attacked by a dog than an adult. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) estimates the odds of a child being injured at 3.2 to 1. Kids are generally powerless to defend themselves against an attacking dog, which is more often both larger and stronger than them. Therefore, it is very common to see significantly more serious injuries in child victims of dog attacks. Facial fractures are extremely common in such cases, as are crush injuries and other fractured bone injuries. By no means are such injuries exclusive to child victims.

Physical injuries are just part of the story, of course. Rabies is a primary concern whenever someone is bitten by an animal - even a domestic pet. While it is a legal requirement for Texas pet owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats annually, the Texas Department of Health's report shows that 66% of attacking dogs did not have their shots up-to-date. If you believe you have been attacked by a rabid dog, it is essential that you seek emergency medical treatment immediately. The only way to prevent contraction of the disease is to receive a series of injection as soon as possible after coming into contact with the dangerous animal. Other diseases frequently suffered by dog attack victims are Cellulitis and C Canimorus Infections.

It is also important that the psychological wounds of being violently assaulted by an animal are not discounted. Dog attack victims regularly suffer from anxiety after their experience, for example, but they are also liable to suffer from a range of other mental and emotional injuries which typically increase in severity based on any visible disfigurations they have suffered. It is not uncommon for dog attack victims to not only develop a deep-seated Cynophobia but also a fear of walking alone or even of leaving the house at all.


Other Articles You Might Be Interested In:
Winning Your Texas Dog Attack Case: Proving Owner Negligence
Strict Liability: Making a Claim against a Vicious Dog Owner
Making a Personal Injury Claim on Behalf of Your Child
Making a Claim For Scars, Lacerations and Facial Disfigurement
Be Thorough When You Talk to the Doctor




One of the most common questions a new client has is “What is my case worth?”

The truth is that it is extremely difficult to estimate any injury claim's value until the injured party has ended medical treatment and is either well or as well as he or she is going to get. Only then can you truly put a figure on the damages that should be sought.


There is nothing worse than settling a claim too soon because once you settle, it's final. If your conditions worsen after prematurely accepting a settlement then you have no choice but to pay any additional medical bills yourself. Once your case settles, you cannot force the insurance company to also pay for your medical care in the future.