Texas Dog Bite Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been attacked and injured by a dog in Dallas or anywhere in North Texas, do not hesitate to get in touch with our Texas dog bite lawyer. Our award-winning legal expertise at Attorney Jeff is at the disposal of injured victims.

If you’ve received medical treatment for a dog bite, contact our Texas dog bite attorneys for a free consultation. Our personal injury law firm can help you understand your legal rights and fight for the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. 

Table of Contents

Common Dog Attack Injuries That Can Be Compensated
What Can Be Compensated in a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit
Texas Dog Bite Laws That May Affect Your Life
How Long You Have to Sue after a Dog Bite in Texas
The Role of Insurance in Texas Dog Bite Claims
Common Defenses in Texas Dog Bite Cases
Do I Need to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney?

Representing Dog Bite Victims in Texas

Annually, more than 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs, with nearly 800,000 of those victims requiring medical attention for their injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Texas is one of the states most affected by this problem. Insurance data compiled by the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm show that California, Florida, and Texas led the nation in dog-related injury claims in 2024, with U.S. insurers paying out $1.57 billion for these claims that year.

Many dog bite injury cases are serious. Dog attacks can even be fatal. Your losses are both financial and personal, and can include lasting emotional trauma and psychological trauma long after the wounds heal.

You are not alone. At Attorney Jeff Car Accident Lawyer, our law firm represents dog bite victims throughout Texas, including Dallas and the surrounding North Texas communities. We know that victims need fair payment for their losses, and the personal injury lawyer you choose may significantly impact your case results.

Adults and Children Following Dangerous Dog Attacks

Dog bite victims may include adults–but most commonly involve children. Because of their smaller size, children are especially likely to have serious injuries, and national data shows that more than half of all dog bite victims are children under 14.

Our dog bite attorneys take cases involving children, and we understand the issues that may be especially important for young victims, like future damages, loss of lifestyle, and long-term care needs.

To see how we can help, ask us for a personalized free case review about your situation. Our Texas dog bite lawyers are here to advocate for you and see that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Common Dog Attack Injuries That Can Be Compensated

If you suffered any of the following types of dog bite injuries, you may be entitled to financial compensation: 

• Puncture wounds, torn skin, and bleeding
• Ligament and deep tissue damage
• Mobility difficulties, paralysis, and loss of limb
• Broken bones
• Disfigurement and scars
• Infection, including rabies and tetanus
• Nerve damage and chronic pain
• Mental health injuries, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, trouble sleeping, and a fear of dogs
• Wongful death 

Our dog bite lawyer team takes your dog bite case seriously. We want you to receive compensation for the ways your life has been impacted, including the emotional distress that often lingers well past the healing process.

What Can Be Compensated in a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit

You may recover various compensatory damages for the different types of losses you have endured, including:

• Medical bills and medical expenses
• Medical supplies like dressings and bandages
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Procedures to minimize scars
• Lost wages and replacement income if you’re unable to work
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Disfigurement and permanent scars
• Loss of lifestyle and physical limitations

A dog bite injury lawsuit can be worth a significant sum based on the victim’s losses. Pain and suffering and other non-economic damages often make up a significant amount of a claim.

If you’re wondering what your dog bite claim may be worth, contact our injury lawyers for a personalized case evaluation.

Punitive Damages

In situations involving gross negligence—such as when an owner permits a dog with a known history of violence to roam unleashed in a public area, causing catastrophic harm—Texas law may permit punitive damages to penalize the responsible party and deter future wrongdoing.

If you’re wondering what your dog attack case may be worth, contact our lawyers for a personalized case evaluation.

Texas Dog Bite Laws That May Affect Your Life

Texas handles dog bite cases differently from many other states, and understanding these Texas dog bite laws is critical to building a strong personal injury claim.

Strict Liability Laws

Strict liability can apply in narrower circumstances, including when:

• The dog has already been legally declared a dangerous dog by a court or animal control authority
• The owner violated a local leash law, tethering ordinance, or containment requirement
• The dog was kept in violation of state or municipal dangerous dog restraint rules

When strict liability applies, you generally do not need to prove the owner was careless. You only need to show that the attack happened and that it caused your injuries. 

In these cases, a property owner or pet owner may be strictly liable regardless of the dog breeds involved, though certain dog breeds, including pit bulls, are more frequently the subject of dangerous dog declarations and breed-specific ordinances.

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822

Texas addresses dangerous dogs directly through Chapter 822 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. Under this chapter:

• A dog may be formally declared dangerous after making an unprovoked attack that causes bodily injury outside of a secure enclosure
• Owners of dangerous dogs must comply with strict registration, containment, insurance, and signage requirements
• An owner who knowingly keeps a dangerous dog and fails to properly restrain it can face criminal charges if the dog later causes serious bodily injury or death, under Section 822.005

• A court may order a dangerous dog seized and, in some cases, destroyed following a serious attack, under Section 822.002

A criminal case against a dog owner is separate from a civil personal injury lawsuit. Even if criminal charges are never filed, you may still have grounds to pursue civil compensation and seek justice through the legal process.

Local Leash Laws and Negligence Per Se

Cities across North Texas, including Dallas, require dogs to be leashed or confined on the owner’s property. Dallas city code requires owners to restrain their dogs at all times, whether through a fenced yard, a secure enclosure, or a leash, and imposes additional requirements once a dog is designated dangerous or aggressive, including liability insurance and secure confinement.

When an owner violates a leash law or containment ordinance, and that violation leads to a bite, this can support a negligence per se claim. In simple terms, breaking a safety law designed to prevent this exact type of harm can itself serve as evidence that the owner knew, or should have known, that proper training and containment were necessary.

Comparative Fault in a Texas Dog Bite Claim

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, officially called proportionate responsibility, under Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Here is how it works:

• If you are found partially at fault for the incident, your financial compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault
• If you are found 51% or more at fault, Texas law bars you from recovering any damages
• Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the victim to reduce or eliminate a payout

This is why dog owners and their insurers frequently raise defenses like provocation or trespassing. An experienced dog bite injury lawyer can push back on unfair fault allegations and protect the value of your claim.

How Long You Have to Sue after a Dog Bite in Texas

Texas law allows 2 years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, including a dog bite injury lawsuit, under Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Waiting too long can permanently bar your right to seek compensation, so it’s important to speak with a bite lawyer as soon as possible after an attack.

Our legal team can assist you in building your claim within this timeline and handle all aspects of the legal process.

The Role of Insurance in Texas Dog Bite Claims

Understanding how insurance works in a dog-bite claim is important for victims in Texas. Many dog bite claims are paid through the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy rather than out of the owner’s own pocket.

The key details to know about insurance when dog bites occur in Texas include:

• Homeowners’ insurance and renters’ policies often include liability coverage that can pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering
• Many claims settle without ever going to trial, which can make it possible to recover compensation even when the dog owner is a friend, neighbor, or family member
• You typically get only one opportunity to settle your claim with an insurance company, so accepting an offer too early can leave you without recourse if your injuries turn out to be more serious than expected
• Even if the dog bite did not take place at the property owner’s residence, coverage may still apply 

Insurers are aware that the average cost of a dog bite injury claim reached $69,272 in 2024, up 18% from the prior year. That means adjusters are often motivated to minimize payouts however they can, which is another reason victims benefit from having their own legal team at the negotiating table.

Our dog bite lawyers investigate to determine which insurance policies may apply to your case. We handle settlement negotiations with the insurance company and understand what to consider when pursuing financial recovery through an insurance claim.

Common Defenses in Texas Dog Bite Cases

Dog owners and their insurance companies commonly raise the following defenses in Texas dog bite lawsuits:

• Lack of knowledge: Arguing the owner had no reason to know the dog was dangerous.
• Provocation. Claiming the victim provoked, teased, or startled the dog before the attack.
• Trespassing: Asserting the victim was unlawfully on the owner’s property at the time of the bite.
• Comparative fault: Attempting to shift a percentage of blame onto the victim to reduce or eliminate compensation.
• Assumption of risk: Arguing the victim knowingly interacted with a dog they understood to be dangerous.

A skilled dog bite lawyer knows how to investigate the facts, gather witness statements, and counter these defenses with evidence showing the owner knew about the dog’s aggressive tendencies before the attack happened.

Why Work with Our Texas Dog Bite Attorneys

Hiring an attorney is not always necessary. 

However, at Attorney Jeff, our law firm is dedicated to serving the needs of victims and their families throughout Dallas and North Texas. That means we have the resources and experience needed to get results in even the most serious injury cases.

We’re an award-winning team with a history of success handling personal injury cases across Texas and California. We put our resources and determination toward your case and toward getting justice for you.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dallas Dog Bite Lawyer?

Our Dallas dog bite attorneys offer a free consultation to get started. There is never a legal fee to talk to a lawyer. We also work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no cost for our services unless you receive compensation, and we remain financially responsible for the costs of investigating your case along the way.

When you work with our Dallas dog bite lawyer team, having personalized legal representation is always affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Cases

Does Texas have a specific dog bite statute?

No. Unlike states with strict liability statutes on the books, Texas has no single law dedicated to dog bites. Instead, Texas courts rely on a mix of case law, the Texas Health and Safety Code, and general negligence principles to determine liability.

Is there a one-bite rule for Texas dog owners?

Yes. Texas follows what is commonly called the one-bite rule. This bite rule traces back to the Texas Supreme Court’s decision in Marshall v. Ranne, 511 S.W.2d 255 (Tex. 1974). This means that a pet owner can be held responsible if they knew, or reasonably should have known, that their dog had dangerous or aggressive tendencies.

This knowledge can come from:

• A prior bite or attack by the dog, meaning the animal previously bitten someone
• The dog’s behavior, such as lunging, growling, snapping, or baring teeth
• The dog’s propensity to act aggressively toward people
• Warnings the owner received from neighbors, veterinarians, or animal control

If the dog had no prior history of aggression and the owner had no reason to suspect a problem, a one-bite rule claim becomes much harder to prove. That does not mean you have no options. Many victims can still pursue compensation through a straightforward negligence claim, since inadequate or negligent supervision of any dog can create liability under Texas law.

Can you sue for negligence even without a prior bite?

Yes. Even when the one bite rule does not apply, Texas law allows victims to sue dog owners for ordinary negligence. To win this type of claim, you must show the owner failed to use reasonable care to control or contain the dog, and that this failure caused your injury. Texas courts have recognized this path to recovery in cases such as Dunnings v. Castro, 881 S.W.2d 559 (Tex. App. 1994).

For more general FAQs about personal injury cases, visit our resources page.

Schedule a Free Case Review Today

Most dog bite cases move faster and settle for more when a lawyer gets involved early, before the insurance company has a chance to build its defense. Talk to our Dallas dog bite injury lawyers today to see what your case may be worth.

Contact Our Texas Personal Injury Lawyers Today

Immediate action is crucial to the success of a personal injury claim involving a dog attack.

Schedule your free consultation today to learn how our Dallas dog bite attorneys can support you through this challenging time. Jeff’s got you.

Call or message us for your free case evaluation. Our Dallas office is ready to provide a free case review for dog bite victims throughout North Texas.

Other Practice Areas Our Texas Personal Injury Law Firm Specializes In

• Texas Car Accidents
• Texas Bicycle Accidents
• Texas Construction Accidents
• Texas Motorcycle Accidents
• Texas Pedestrian Accidents
• Texas Personal Injury Accidents
• Texas Slip and Fall Accidents
• Texas Truck Accidents
• Texas Uber Accident Lawyer
• Texas Workers’ Compensation Cases
• Texas Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Attorney Jeff’s Other Locations

Speak with our experienced lawyers today for a free case evaluation. We also have locations throughout California and Arizona. 

• Bakersfield
• Corona
• Fontana
• Fresno
• Hesperia
• Monterey Park
• Phoenix
• Rancho Cucamonga
• San Jose
• Santa Ana
• Tustin
• Van Nuys
• Victorville
• Visalia

About the Author

JEFFREY FAYNGOR, ESQ.

Jeffrey Fayngor is the founder of Attorney Jeff Car Accident Lawyer and an experienced personal injury attorney dedicated to representing accident victims. He earned his J.D. from Whittier College School of Law and has recovered over $120 million for injured clients. He has built his practice around helping injury victims protect their rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.