Houston Dog Bite Lawyer

Texas follows what is commonly called the one bite rule, drawn from the Texas Supreme Court's decision in Marshall v. Ranne. Under this rule, a dog's owner is strictly liable for an attack if the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous propensities — prior bites, snapping and lunging at people, aggressive charging at fences, or complaints from neighbors. When that knowledge exists, the owner is responsible for the attack even if they took some precautions.

The name is misleading, though. The rule does not mean every dog gets one free bite, and it does not mean a first bite leaves the victim without a remedy. It means the strict liability path requires proof of the owner's knowledge. Building that proof is investigative work: animal control records, prior complaints, veterinary history, statements from neighbors and delivery drivers, and even the owner's own social media can establish what the owner knew.

Even when a dog has no known history of aggression, Texas law allows claims based on negligence and negligent handling. The question shifts from what the owner knew about the dog to how the owner controlled it: Did they let the dog roam off-leash? Leave a gate open? Fail to restrain a large dog around small children? Hand the leash to someone who couldn't hold it? An owner who fails to use reasonable care in controlling an animal can be liable for the harm that follows — first bite or not.

Local law strengthens these claims. Houston and unincorporated Harris County both have leash and restraint requirements: in general, dogs must be restrained — on a leash, in a fenced yard, or otherwise under control — and are not allowed to run at large. When an owner violates a local animal-control ordinance and someone is attacked as a result, that violation is powerful evidence of negligence. We investigate the ordinance issues in every case, along with whether the attack should be reported for a dangerous-dog designation.

Dog attacks fall hardest on children. Because of their size, children are far more likely to be bitten on the face, head, and neck, and the results — deep lacerations, nerve damage, and permanent scarring — are more severe than the arm and leg wounds adults typically suffer. The psychological toll is just as real: nightmares, anxiety around animals, and fear of playing outside are common after an attack, and they deserve compensation alongside the physical injuries.

Scarring cases involving children require a longer view than most injury claims. A facial scar on a growing child may need revision surgery years down the road, and the settlement has to account for that future care — plus the lasting effect of visible scarring on a young person's life. Texas law recognizes disfigurement as its own category of damages, separate from medical bills and pain. We work with treating physicians and, where needed, plastic surgeons to document what future revision procedures will involve and cost, so a child's claim is not settled for the price of the first emergency-room visit.

The most common reason victims hesitate to pursue a dog bite claim is that they know the owner — a neighbor, a relative, a friend. Here is what most people don't realize: dog bite claims are typically paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, not out of the owner's pocket. Liability coverage in these policies commonly extends to injuries the policyholder's dog causes, whether the attack happened on their property or down the block.

That coverage is exactly why the claim exists — and it is also why an adjuster may contact you quickly with a modest offer before the full extent of the injuries, especially future scar revision for a child, is known. Some policies exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history, and landlords can sometimes bear responsibility when they knew a dangerous dog was kept on the property. Sorting out every available policy is part of what we do, and all communication with insurers runs through us once we take your case.

First, get medical care immediately, even for wounds that look manageable — dog bites have a high infection risk, and prompt treatment also documents the injury. Second, identify the dog and its owner: name, address, phone number, and whether the dog is vaccinated against rabies. Third, report the attack to animal control (the City of Houston or Harris County, depending on where it happened). The report protects the public, and it creates an official record — and often surfaces the dog's prior history, which can make the difference between a negligence case and a strict liability case. Fourth, photograph your injuries as they heal, the location of the attack, and the dog if you safely can, and get contact information for any witnesses.

Then call us. In most cases, Texas law gives you two years from the date of the attack to file suit (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003), and claims for injured children involve their own timing rules — but evidence like witness memories and animal control records is strongest early (general information, not legal advice). The consultation is free, we are available 24/7, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you.