MOTT & MOFFETT LLP
LEGAL BLOG

Should You Sue if Your Neighbor’s Dog Bites You?

Many people fear dogs and other animals for one reason or another. If a neighbor’s or friend’s dog bites you, this makes your fear and concern feel all the more overwhelming. Suddenly, a dog with many opportunities to harm you in your day-to-day life has a past of seriously hurting you. This can require you to face high medical bills, take time off work to heal, and add further stress.

If you receive a dog bite from a neighbor’s dog, you may wonder if it makes sense for you to sue and take legal action against this person. Many of us are afraid that taking legal action may result in broken friendships or other relationships. Is legal action and compensation for your injuries worth your relationship? While this may confuse you or make you feel split in your decision, we can help you by providing additional helpful information. We want you to know your priorities and focus on your recovery, and we have your best interests at heart.

Should You Sue Your Neighbor or Friend if Their Dog Bites You in Texas?

If you receive severe injuries due to a dog bite, we recommend you take legal action against the liable party. Your well-being should be your priority, and you should not need to worry about your financial situation to recover well. If you need to take time off work and pay steep medical bills, but the incident is not your fault, we believe you should not be responsible for these unforeseen expenses and losses.

Most injury-related lawsuits pull the compensation in question from homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies first. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your dog bite incident, your neighbor or friend may not necessarily pay for your losses out of their own pocket. They may face increased insurance premiums, but their financial loss may be less than you would initially expect.

Further, your neighbor or friend lacks control over their dog’s behavior and cannot protect individuals who come into contact with their animal. This is incredibly irresponsible. Taking legal action may lead to court-ordered dog destruction or other activity, leading to increased safety for anyone who comes in contact with your neighbor or friend.

What Steps Should You Follow After Receiving a Dog Bite in Texas?

After a dog bite incident in Texas, you may not know what steps to take. Especially if you want to receive compensation for medical bills, time off work, and other losses, we have a few suggestions you can consider. Please consider the following steps if you are open to taking legal action and wish to collect adequate recovery:

  • Receive medical attention
  • Collect evidence
  • Request copies of incident reports, if applicable
  • Log out of and disable social media accounts
  • Contact a dog bite lawyer

If you need assistance constructing solid strategies for your dog bite legal case, we strongly recommend you work with a lawyer. Please refrain from representing yourself, as this introduces many risks that may lead to reduced compensation for your losses. We also encourage you to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible to improve your chances of success.

You should know that you can often collect compensation for legal fees in addition to your other losses. This means you don’t have to pay your lawyer out of pocket, reducing your financial strain during this stressful and challenging time.

Facing Dog Bite Injury in Texas? Get the Compensation You Need With Help From Mott & Moffett Dog Bite Injury Lawyers

If you face a dog bite injury in Texas and your neighbor or friend is at fault, we recommend you contact the lawyers from Mott & Moffett. Our dog bite injury lawyers have extensive legal experience, including cases and litigation involving dog bite and injury laws. We encourage you to get in touch with us at your earliest convenience.

You can reach us when you call (888) 596-6582 or complete the contact form available on our website, whichever you prefer. When we work together, we can begin discussing your case in greater detail, estimate the compensation you may receive, and answer any questions and concerns you may have. Our team is looking forward to hearing from you and fighting for the recovery you deserve.

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