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Who is Going to Pay for my Personal Injury Damages?


If you have been injured due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation under Texas law. This does not just apply to people injured in a car wreck or other accident - it also applies to dog attack victims. If the dog was a known vicious animal, or if your personal injury attorney can prove that the negligence of the owner or possessor of the dog was responsible for you being attacked, then you can make a claim for damages which can include all your costs related to the attack and your subsequent injuries.


You may be entitled to compensation for:
  • All medical expenses, doctor fees and hospital visits (both those already incurred and those anticipated as ongoing)
  • Any loss of income/wages/salary either because of time of work or if your injuries prevent you from working in the future
  • Any mental anguish or emotional suffering that you have endured
  • The very real pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life that your injuries have caused you

Who pays for this?
Just as a traffic accident victims would make a claim against the negligent motorist's insurance policy, so a dog attack victim (or the parents of the victim in the case of a child) can make a claim against the dog owner's insurance policy. In Texas, this usually means making a claim against the relevant home insurance policy.

It is important that you realize that you are not suing the individual dog owner personally. If you did, you would probably never see the money you were awarded by the court. We all purchase insurance just in case the worst ever does happen and so in dog attack cases we make a claim against the insurance which the dog owner has been purchased.

What if the dog owner is my friend or relative?
Even if the negligent dog owner in your case is a family member, close friend or a neighbor, you should not be dissuaded from making a claim. Remember that the claim will be against their insurance provider - not against them directly. Making a claim will harm them in no way whatsoever. Home insurance is significantly different from auto insurance in that if a claim is made against you, it will not affect your premiums. Home insurance rates are generally set by area averages, not on a case-by-case basis. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't make a claim for compensation. If you are entitled to compensation under Texas law, you need to consult with a personal injury and wrongful death lawyer to discuss your unique situation and understand your legal rights and responsibilities as a dog bite victim.

For a free, no obligation consultation with a lawyer at the Anderson Law Firm in Fort Worth, please call us toll free at 800-354-6275 or call locally at 817-294-1900.


Other Articles You Might Be Interested In:
Injuries Commonly Resulting From Dog Attacks
The Landlord's Responsibility In Dog Attacks
Beware of the Insurance Adjuster: How To Avoid Hurting Your Claim
Making a Dog Attack Claim When The Owner Is Someone I Know
Vicious Dog Attacks Resulting In Wrongful Death





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.