KENS 5 Eyewitness News recently filed a report about the growing problem of roaming dogs in certain San Antonio neighborhoods. An anecdote comes from the United States Postal Service, which tracks dog bite injuries among its large fleet of letter carriers. They report that San Antonio ranks near the top of the list for dog bites. In the 2015 fiscal year, 3847 dog bites were reported in the city. The city is trying to encourage citizens in high risk neighborhoods to use the free spay and neuter program. Dog bites can cause very serious injuries and dog owners owe everyone the duty to keep their dangerous dogs away from the public. If you have been injured by a dog, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact an experienced San Antonio dog bite attorney to learn more about your legal options.
The Highest Risk Neighborhoods in San Antonio
The most notable aspect of the KENS 5 dog bite report is the wide variation in reported dog attacks between different areas of the city. The biggest dog bite problems have been caused by roaming dogs in the west side of the city. Dog bites are tracked by zip code, and zip code 78207 reports the highest incident rate. Authorities report that the problem is not typically caused by stray dogs, but instead by dogs which have been allowed to roam free or have escaped. Dog owners need to make sure that they keep their dogs contained.
Dog Bite Law in Texas
Texas dog bite law is continually developing. Like most areas of Texas personal injury law, it generally comes down to negligence. The three basic areas that govern Texas dog bite law are:
- One bite rule : This is the common law. It essentially gives every dog one ‘free’ bite. In Texas, dog owners are liable for their dog causing injuries if they should have known that the dog had the potential to cause injuries. Once a dog bites a person, or even displays any aggressive action towards a person, that dog owner should be on alert going forward and has a legal duty to be more careful with the dog.
- Local Ordinances : Some Texas municipalities, like the city of San Antonio, have independently created their own, more strict, rules for dog ownership. In San Antonio, all dogs must be leashed.
- Lillian’s Law: This relatively new law, created serious criminal penalties for the negligent owners of dangerous dogs when those dogs cause serious injuries, or worse kill someone. A criminal conviction under this law could relevant in your civil case.
Understanding these laws can be confusing, to learn more about how them and how they might apply to your case, you should speak to an experienced Texas dog bite lawyer.
Contact An Experienced San Antonio Dog Bite Attorney
It is unfortunate, but dog bites are still a serious problem. Dogs can make for great pets, but dog owners have a legal responsibility to ensure that their animals are not putting the safety of others at risk. Dog attacks can have very serious consequences for high risk victims like young children and the elderly. We need to make sure that everyone is protected from dangerous dogs. If you, or a family member, has been injured by a dangerous dog you are owed full compensation for your injuries. At the Law Offices of Ronald A. Ramos we have extensive experience handling Texas dog bite injury cases. Please do not hesitate to contact our office today to set up a free legal consultation.
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