Dog bites cause serious physical injuries — lacerations, nerve damage, crush wounds, scarring, and infection. They also cause lasting psychological trauma, particularly in children. Texas’s “one bite rule” means dog owners who knew their animal was dangerous are strictly liable for the injuries it causes — and even first-time biters can create liability when the owner was negligent in restraining or controlling the animal.
Texas Legal Giants represents dog bite victims throughout Greater Houston on a contingency basis. No fee unless we win.
Texas Dog Bite Law — What You Need to Know
Texas follows a modified “one bite rule” — but negligence creates an independent path to recovery even without prior bites.
Strict liability (“one bite rule”): If the owner knew or should have known their dog had dangerous propensities — even if it had never bitten before — they are strictly liable for the injuries it causes.
Negligence: Even without prior dangerous behavior, an owner who fails to properly restrain, leash, or control their animal can be held negligent when the animal causes injury. This covers fence failures, leash violations, and allowing a dog to run at large.
Injuries Dog Bites and Animal Attacks Cause
Puncture Wounds and Lacerations
Deep puncture wounds from dog bites introduce bacteria deep into tissue — Pasteurella, Capnocytophaga, and Staphylococcus infections are common and can become systemic. Severe lacerations may require surgical closure and leave permanent scarring.
Nerve and Tendon Damage
Bite force and tearing motion frequently sever nerves and tendons, particularly in the hands, forearms, and face. Nerve damage can cause permanent sensory loss or impaired motor function requiring surgical repair.
Facial Injuries and Scarring
Children are frequently attacked at face level. Facial lacerations, ear injuries, and eye injuries cause permanent disfigurement and require plastic surgery. Compensation includes both the medical cost of reconstruction and the non-economic impact of permanent scarring.
Crush Injuries
Large dog attacks — particularly involving powerful breeds — can fracture bones through bite force. Hand, wrist, and forearm fractures are common in defensive wounds when victims try to protect their face.
Psychological Trauma
PTSD, severe anxiety around dogs, and specific phobias are common after serious dog attacks — particularly in children. These psychological consequences are compensable and often persist long after physical wounds heal.
Secondary Falls and Injuries
Being knocked down by a dog causes falls resulting in TBI, broken hips, wrist fractures, and spinal injuries — particularly in elderly victims. These injuries may be as serious as the bite itself.
Does Texas have a strict liability dog bite law?
Texas follows a modified strict liability rule: if the owner knew or had reason to know the dog had dangerous propensities — prior bites, growling/snapping at people, prior attacks on other animals — they are strictly liable regardless of precautions taken. Additionally, Texas recognizes negligence as an independent basis for recovery: an owner who fails to properly restrain a dog that then injures someone can be liable even if the dog had never bitten before. Houston also has local leash ordinances that create negligence per se when violated.
Who pays for dog bite injuries — the owner’s homeowner’s insurance?
In most cases, yes. Standard homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies cover dog bite liability, typically with limits of $100,000–$300,000. Some policies exclude certain breeds; some dog owners carry no insurance at all. We investigate all available coverage — including landlord liability when a landlord knew a dangerous dog lived on the premises — and pursue every available source of compensation for your injuries.
How Dog Owners and Insurers Fight Bite Claims — And How We Counter
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for a dog bite claim in Texas?
Two years from the date of injury under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003. For injured children, the statute is tolled until age 18 — but we strongly recommend pursuing the claim as soon as possible while evidence and witnesses are available.
What should I do immediately after a dog bite in Houston?
Seek immediate medical care — dog bites carry serious infection risk. Report the attack to Houston’s animal control (Harris County Veterinary Public Health). Document the dog owner’s name, address, and insurance information. Photograph your wounds immediately and during healing. Get contact information from witnesses. Do not sign anything the owner or their insurer sends you.
Can I sue if the dog that bit me was not on a leash?
Absolutely. Houston and Harris County have leash ordinances requiring dogs to be restrained when off the owner’s property. Violating a leash ordinance is negligence per se — the owner violated the law and is presumed liable for resulting injuries. This is often a strong, independent basis for recovery regardless of the dog’s prior history.
What if a child was bitten by a dog?
Children are the most common dog bite victims and suffer the most severe psychological consequences. Facial scarring and disfigurement on a child creates substantial non-economic damages reflecting a lifetime of impact. The statute of limitations is tolled until the child turns 18, but we recommend acting immediately to preserve evidence and begin treatment. A parent or guardian files the claim on the child’s behalf.
Can I sue a landlord for a dog bite on their rental property?
Yes, in some cases. A landlord who knew a dangerous dog lived on their property and failed to require the tenant to remove it may share liability for injuries the dog causes. This is particularly important when the dog owner tenant has no insurance or insufficient assets — the landlord’s policy becomes a source of recovery.
Related Practice Areas
Dog Bite Resources
BJ Kemp
Texas State Bar #24116608 • Houston, TX
BJ Kemp represents dog bite and animal attack victims throughout Greater Houston, pursuing every available source of compensation for physical injuries, scarring, and psychological trauma. Contingency basis — nothing unless we win.
(346) 971–7333 — Free Consultation