Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog

Last week Charmion Bell, a Dallas woman, was attacked by two pit bulls as she rode her bike. The dogs mauled Bell in her Oak Cliff neighborhood.

Bell was riding her bicycle when the pit bulls assaulted and knocked her from her bike into a ditch. Once in the ditch, the aggressive dogs kept biting. She tried to fend them off but her attempts were ineffective. Covered in blood, Bell had over 60 bites before neighbors came to rescue her.

Bell’s body is now covered in bandages. She has to use a crutch to get around.

Police could not immediately locate the vicious dogs. They are currently in the process of investigating whether the dogs are strays or pets. Neighbors say the dogs have been terrorizing the neighborhood for weeks. Bell hopes that no one else will become a victim to these ferocious dogs, especially a child.

Aggressive and vicious dogs that attack humans can cause many different types of injuries. The most common injuries from dog attacks involve bites which can cause unsightly scarring. These bites can also result in serious tendon tears and ligament damage. Pit bulls, as Bell situation would agree, are some of the more uncontrollable dogs.

A while back I wrote an article about the Post Office’s movement to publicize Dog Biting Prevention week. Stories like Charmion Bell’s just enforce to reality and pain of dog biting. Best wishes to a speedy recovery for Bell. Hopefully her story will help convince the public that dog attacks can happen anywhere and they are a serious concern.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. If you have been injured in a dog attack or from a dog bite, feel free to take advantage of the free consultation offered by the Anderson Law Firm. We can be reached in Dallas at 214-328-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900.

On May 13th Luis Trujillo became a hero to an 8-year-old Corsicana boy who was being attacked by two violent pit bulls. Trujillo heard children screaming in the neighborhood and ran to find out what was going on. As he ran around the corner he found the children standing outside a gate all of them to afraid to go inside where the dogs were aggressively biting the little boy. Trujillo knowing he had to act grabbed a broom and held off the dogs until other help arrived.

The boy was flown to a Dallas hospital and the brutal canines were quarantined. Two days after the vicious dog biting the boy is still recovering in the Dallas hospital.

Corsicana police are still in investigation determining whether or not the dogs were up to date on their rabies vaccinations. There is no word yet on whether or not charges will be filed.

Two percent of the United States population is bitten by a dog every year. Dog biting is a serious concern in the United States, especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It is always sad to read these stories about a young boy being attacked by dogs. This one especially because it was near fatal, luckily a Good Samaritan, a handy man, was able to save the boys life. The family of the injured child will have the right to pursue a civil claim if the dogs owners knew or should have known of the dangerous propensities of the dogs.

I personally love my two dogs. I have a golden retriever, Andie, and a Labrador, Ellie. Regardless of how great a pet is, sometimes defense instincts can kick in and dogs attack. Dogs can attack in many different scenarios. The majority of attacks happen on the property of the dog owner, which is what happened in this case. Canines can cause many devastating injuries which is why we have to be careful around them.

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Child Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. Mark can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you or someone you know has a question on dog biting please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week is an annual event meant to increase the awareness of the health issue while providing everyone with information on how to be responsible pet owner. Over 4.7 million Americans are bitten annually by dogs; over 2,860 of those are Mailmen.

The Postal Service considers the safety of its staff a top priority. Postal Service letter carriers who are afraid of an unrestrained pet may stop delivery and ask the owner to pick up their mail at the nearest Post Office until the carrier can be guaranteed the pet is restrained.

Dog attack is a serious health concern in America. Given the right circumstances any dog can bite. It is very important that everyone be aware of the Typical Scenarios When Dog Bites or Dog Attacks Happen. The Anderson Law Firm has several resources on what Insurance is available to compensate for dog attack or dog bite injuries and damages recoverable in Texas dog bites or dog attacks

This information and commentary is provided by Dallas/Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson. Mark can be reached in Dallas at 214-327-8000 or in Fort Worth at 817-294-1900. If you or someone you know has a question on dog biting please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.

If you have been injured in an automobile wreck, truck collision, motorcycle crash, or any other type of accident which causes personal injuries in Texas, you must be aware of the relevant law called the Statute of Limitations. This law requires you to file a lawsuit at a local Texas Courthouse within two years of the date of the accident. If you have not resolved your injury case before then, it is absolutely imperative that this very strict two-year deadline is complied with. Failing to file a lawsuit within the two-year time frame eliminates your right to pursue a claim forever.

And it's imporatant not to wait until the eve of your two years to think about purusing an injury claim. If you've been injured as the result of another person's negligence, you should consider hiring a Board Certified Injury Attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Sooner is better because crucial evidence must be collected before it disappears. Plus, it's very common for injured parties to make mistakes on their claims if they don't have the guidance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

The common mistakes injury victims make are discussed in detail in the newly released book by Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson. It's appropriately titled, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case. This informative book is available for FREE to Texas residents who may order it by calling 817-294-1900 or by visiting: www.DontWreckYourCase.com.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, or any other type of accident for that matter, you have a ton of options when it comes down to hiring a lawyer for your Texas accident claim. Hiring an attorney is a very important decision and it's sometimes very difficult to try and weed through all of the attorneys out there who hold themselves out as being “injury attorneys.” So how do you know you're making the right decision? The best thing to do is to limit your search to only attorneys who are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This is a designation held by only 2% of the roughly 80,000 lawyers who practice law in Texas.

What does it mean to be Board Certified? It means that the attorney has passed a rigorous test on injury topics, has tried a certain number of cases to a jury, has been recommended by local attorneys and judges and has been practicing a certain number of years. There are plenty of qualified attorneys in Texas who are Board Certified, so there's no reason that an injury victim should settle for a lawyer who is not Board Certified.

The importance of hiring a Board Certified Injury Attorney is discussed in Mark A. Anderson’s new book, 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck your Texas Accident Case. This book is full of information which is helpful to accident victims. The Anderson Law Firm is offering a copy of the book FREE to Texas residents. To order your free copy, please call the firm at 817-294-1900. The book can also be ordered online at www.DontWreckYourCase.com.

Police had to shoot and kill two pit-bulls in San Antonio, Texas Tuesday after they mauled an infant to death before attacking their owner. A woman left her 7-month-old grandson, Izaiah Gregory Cox alone for a minute while she went to retrieve him a bottle from her kitchen. When she walked away, the dogs attacked the baby and killed him. When the woman tried to free the baby, the dogs attacked her also.

It always amazes me when people keep dangerous dogs in their homes with young children. It's one thing when a dog injures a child after jumping a fence or getting loose from its leash, but it's another to own and keep threatening dogs--like Rotweillers and Pit Bulls, in your home with kids around. This was just an accident waiting to happen. And now that poor woman has to live with the guilt from her grandson's tragic and untimely death.

If you or someone you know has suffered severe injuries or has died as the result of a dog bite or some other type of personal injury accident, please contact the Anderson Law Firm at 817-294-1900 for a free consultation on your rights.

Dog bites are relatively rare personal injury cases. However, when they happen, the damages are usually pretty bad. Not long ago, I wrote about the law regarding dog bite cases, and yesterday, the two came together, literally, when a judicial candidate who was out campaigning was attacked by a pit bull.

Former Dallas Democratic Party head, Ken Molberg, was walking door-to-door Monday on a sidewalk when a pit bull came running up and attacked his leg. The dog bit him near his groin on his upper leg and Molberg sustained 11 puncture wounds, causing him to have 17 stitches.

The dog hadn’t had his rabies shots either. Part of the law surrounding dog bites requires owners of dogs designated as “dangerous” to stay current on vaccinations, including the rabies vaccination. That dog chose the wrong person to attack.

Molberg didn’t give up, though. He will continue campaigning through today by phone and email. He is running for Judge of the 95th Civil District Court. Click here for a link to his Web site, which has a nice video clip explaining his philosophy and credentials.

For information on injury cases or dog bite claims, feel free to call me at 817-294-1900, or Contact Me Online.

**Photo courtesy of kenmolberg.com

A new Texas dog bite law was put to good use recently when the owners of four dangerous killer dogs were sentenced to seven years in prison. Back in May, their four pit bulls were found surrounding the dead body of a 7-year-old boy in a ditch near the couple’s house. Two of the dogs were killed by police at the scene; the other two were taken away by animal control at the reluctance of the owners.

The new Texas law states that unsecured dogs that attack are the responsibility of their owners, holding the owners liable if the dogs injure or kill a person.

In this case, a Texas jury found the couple guilty of the second-degree felony (a dog attack resulting in a death), which means a maximum of 20 years in jail. Since this sentence was for less than 10 years, the two were each up for $150,000 bail, but neither has posted it yet.

About two weeks ago, a Rotweiller attack in Fort Worth prompted me to examine the law surrounding dangerous dogs. Under the new (and much stronger) dog laws, owners of “dangerous dogs” are required to carry liability insurance for their dogs, keep rabies and other vaccines current, make sure their dogs are secure at all times and pay an annual fee for keeping a dog designated as “dangerous.”

I applaud our state legislature for strengthening these dog laws. The change came at the urging of the family of an elderly lady who was killed in a dog attack as she was gardening over the Thanksgiving holiday back in 2005. The new law has been referenced to as “Lillian’s Law” after this lady.

I represent people who have suffered personal injuries as a result of a dog bite or attack. Should you have any questions about a dog attack, please give me a call at 817-294-1900.
Dog attacks are always preventable, which is what makes the resulting deaths so tragic. So if you’re going to own an aggressive-by-nature dog, please, do everyone else around you a favor and keep it secure.

A 78-year-old Fort Worth, Texas man was attacked by three Rottweilers in his front yard last weekend after they escaped through the fence of their nearby backyard. The man was luckily able to scare the dogs off with a stick after running into his garage, but he didn’t escape personal injury.

The man suffered dog bites to his hands and wrist and bled all over the driveway. He said he was lucky because it could have been a lot worse.

There has been some recent strengthening of the criminal laws regarding dangerous dogs. First, the dog (or dogs, in this case) must be designated as “dangerous dogs” by the local municpatity. This finding also mandates that the owner of the “dangerous dog” register the dog with the local animal control authority and provide proof of liability by: (1) carrying at least $100,000 of liability insurance to cover any injuries suffered by a dog attack; (2) have current rabies vaccine of the dog; and (3) have a secure enclosure in which the dog is kept. The owner must also pay an annual fee for keeping a dangerous dog.

If a dangerously-designated dog makes an unprovoked attack causing bodily injury on another person outside of the pet’s secured enclosure, then the dog owner can be charged with a Class C Misdemeanor (Texas Health and Safety Code § 822.44). Also, if a person is found guilty under this law, then the court may order the dangerous dog to be destroyed.

I handle dog bite cases and I know that vicious dogs are something to take very seriously—especially Rottweillers, which are known to be an aggressive breed. And three of them all attacking at once?? It’s very fortunate that this man’s dog bites weren’t any worse.
In the present case, I have no idea if Fort Worth had already designated these particular dogs as dangerous. But that designation does not address whether the owner can be held civilly liable for the damages. That is a completely different standard.

If you have questions regarding civil liability on a dog attack, please call Fort Worth, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Mark Anderson at 817-294-1900, or feel free to Contact Me Online.

A quirk in the law has allowed a dog bite to go unpunished. Earlier this month, a five-year-old Denton County boy was attacked by a pit bull after the dog dug under a neighboring fence. The child’s mom rushed him to the hospital where his significant wounds were treated. The doctor advised that if the dog had some sort of disease, that the stitching could make things worse as the disease would be trapped in him. The mom decided against stitching, which makes complete sense.

The dog was properly quarantined for 10 days, but because there were no stitches, he was released to his owner with no further repercussions. Last night, KXAS reported that if the child would have had stitches, then the dog would have possibly been put down after a hearing by a judge.

Who would have thought that the mother’s decision to not let her son have stitches would let the dog off? Why do stitches make a difference? Since the dog’s fate would not be decided until a hearing is held, then the fact of stitching should make no difference. I am not saying this dog needs to be put down, but that should certainly be considered--stitches or not. Here we have an innocent five-year-old playing in his own backyard. I would assume that he will be absolutely petrified to go back there and play again. It's like her son is being punished and not the dog! Sounds like a quick in the law which needs to be fixed.