Who Do I Call to Report a Dog Bite in Houston, Texas?
To report a dog bite within Houston city limits, call 311 to be connected with BARC Animal Enforcement. For life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 immediately. To report non-emergency bites outside of Houston city limits, use the Harris County Pets online form; a representative will follow up within 24-48 hours.
Am I Required to Report a Dog Bite in Houston, Texas?
Yes, the Texas Department of State Health Services requires that all dog bites be reported immediately due to the risk of rabies. Any dog has the potential to carry rabies, and if you are bitten, there is a possibility that you may contract and spread the virus. When you report the bite, animal control will initiate a mandatory 10-day quarantine of the dog to monitor for rabies and check the dog’s vaccination records. This process ensures that the dog bite victim can be certain whether they need to seek rabies treatment. Additionally, reporting the bite to animal control creates a vital record of the incident and the injuries caused by the dog, which will be crucial for proving liability in a dog bite lawsuit.
What Can I Expect After I Report a Dog Bite?
After you report a dog bite in Houston, Texas, you can expect a BARC or local animal control representative to come meet with you. The representative will take your statement and begin an investigation to determine who owns the dog, whether the dog has been vaccinated for rabies, whether the dog currently has rabies, and whether the dog has attacked before and/or is a dangerous dog. The representative will also determine whether it is necessary to quarantine the dog to monitor for rabies. If the dog is quarantined, the victim will be notified of the rabies determination.
Unlike a car accident investigation, the animal control office does not determine whether the dog owner has liability insurance coverage through homeowners, renters, or canine liability insurance. The Animal Bite Report that is created will not contain insurance information on it. However, the Bite Report will have valuable information such as statements taken from the owner, the owner’s full name, address, and phone number, and the dog breed, vaccination history, veterinary information, and sometimes notes about the dog’s bite history. Additionally, the Bite Report will be assigned a Bite Number that is cataloged in their system. If you are the victim, be sure to ask for the Bite Number, as it will make finding the report easier when you need it.
How Do I Obtain a Copy of an Animal Bite Report in Houston, Texas?
To obtain a copy of an Animal Bite Report, you will need to contact BARC if the incident occurred within Houston city limits or the local animal control that created your report if the bite happened outside of Houston city limits. When you contact BARC or your local animal control, you need to include the victim’s name, the date and time of the bite, where the bite occurred, a description of the animal, and the Bite Number if you have it. If the report is not immediately provided to you, you may need to submit an open records request. In some cases, it may be difficult to find where to access a copy of the Animal Bite Report, and submitting an open records request may seem complicated. At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., our personal injury attorneys have been assisting dog bite victims in obtaining bite records and navigating dog bite cases since 1979. Let us help you with your case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for a Dog Bite?
The Statute of Limitations under Texas law requires dog bite victims to file their personal injury lawsuit no later than two years after the day the incident occurred. Typically, if you have not filed a lawsuit before the Statute of Limitations expires, you will be barred from recovering any compensation. However, this is not the case for minors. Minors will have until their 20th birthday to file a lawsuit for pain and suffering and future medical bills, but this is only for a minor to make a recovery once they are an adult. For parents who want to seek compensation for the child’s medical bills until they are 18, the Statute of Limitations is two years from the date of the attack.
Talk to a Houston Dog Bite Lawyer for Free
If you have been attacked by a dog in Houston, you need an experienced lawyer who understands the physical and emotional harm a dog bite can inflict. At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., we have proudly represented and fought for the rights of dog bite victims for over four decades. Our dedicated and compassionate dog bite lawyers will help you with investigating your claim and gathering evidence, talking to medical experts and witnesses to strengthen your case, handling insurance companies on your behalf, fighting for maximum compensation, and taking your case to trial if necessary. Contact our Houston dog bite lawyers today at (713) 932-0777 to discuss your rights and how we can pursue the compensation you deserve. Consultations with our experienced attorneys are always 100% free.
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Other Dog Bite Resources
Here are some other helpful resources to help you understand your dog bite case:
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