Dog attacks happen quickly but can leave lasting scars—both physical and emotional. Whether it’s a bite at Klyde Warren Park, a neighbor’s loose pet in Oak Cliff, or an unexpected attack in your own apartment complex in Deep Ellum, the aftermath can feel like your world’s been turned upside down.
If you or your child were bitten, it’s not just about healing; it’s about making sure the person responsible is held accountable. A Dallas dog bite injury lawyer from Tyson Law Firm can guide you through what comes next and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Over the past 18+ years, we’ve handled many dog bite injury cases across the Dallas area. We understand how painful these incidents can be—not just physically but also emotionally and financially. The trauma of seeing your child hurt, or being left with scars and medical bills yourself, can weigh heavily. You don’t have to deal with this alone.
Our firm offers free consultations and a commitment to seeing your claim through with care and determination. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
What Are Texas Dog Bite Laws?
Texas doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all statute for dog bites, but several legal principles affect your ability to recover damages. Understanding how these rules apply to your case can make the difference in how much compensation you recover.
Understanding the “One Bite Rule” in Texas
Texas courts follow what’s known as the “One Bite Rule.” This doesn’t mean a dog gets a free pass for the first bite. Instead, it focuses on whether the owner knew—or should’ve known—that their dog had a history of aggressive behavior. If the owner knew their dog had bitten or acted viciously before and didn’t take steps to prevent another attack, they can be held liable.
How Dallas City Ordinances Affect Your Case
Dallas has specific ordinances aimed at preventing dangerous dog behavior. For example, dogs must be securely restrained in public, and owners are prohibited from allowing dangerous dogs to roam free. A violation of these local rules can support your claim by showing the owner acted negligently.
Time Limits for Filing a Dog Bite Claim
Texas law gives you two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. Missing this deadline usually means giving up your right to compensation, no matter how strong your case is. Starting early helps preserve evidence and strengthens your chances for a successful outcome.
Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites don’t just break the skin—they can disrupt lives. The damage often extends far beyond the moment of the attack, and victims may carry both physical reminders and emotional trauma for months or even years. At Tyson Law Firm, we’ve helped clients throughout Dallas—from Highland Park to South Dallas—who’ve experienced a wide range of injuries from dog attacks. Knowing the different types of harm that can result from a bite helps you understand the full scope of your claim.
Physical Injuries from Dog Attacks
The most immediate and visible consequence of a dog bite is physical injury. Depending on the size and strength of the dog and the area of the body bitten, these wounds can be minor or severe.
- Puncture Wounds: Sharp teeth can pierce deep into skin and muscle, increasing the risk of infection.
- Lacerations and Tearing: A dog’s jaw strength can cause skin and soft tissue to tear. These wounds often require stitches or even surgery.
- Nerve Damage: Bites to areas like the hands, face, or legs may damage nerves, resulting in numbness or permanent loss of function.
- Broken Bones: Larger dogs have the power to fracture bones, especially in the arms, hands, or legs of young children.
- Infections: Dogs carry bacteria like Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, and in rare cases, Capnocytophaga. Left untreated, these infections can become serious very quickly.
- Scarring and Disfigurement: Deep wounds or improperly healed injuries often leave lasting scars, particularly on visible areas like the face or neck.
Children tend to suffer more severe injuries due to their size and inability to fend off an attacking dog. In some Dallas neighborhoods, such as Oak Lawn or West Dallas, where people walk pets in busy residential zones, kids are especially at risk when dogs aren’t restrained properly.
Psychological Trauma After an Animal Attack
Dog bites aren’t just about the physical pain. The fear, shock, and sense of vulnerability can have just as much of an impact—especially for young victims.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Nightmares, anxiety, and flashbacks may follow the attack. This is common in both children and adults who’ve experienced particularly violent encounters.
- Fear of Dogs (Cynophobia): Even someone who previously loved dogs may develop an intense fear that interferes with daily life, such as walking through a park or visiting friends with pets.
- Emotional Withdrawal or Depression: Some victims avoid social situations, stop outdoor activities, or isolate themselves due to embarrassment or anxiety about their injuries or appearance.
These psychological injuries often need professional treatment, including therapy and medication. Unfortunately, emotional trauma is sometimes dismissed by insurance companies unless it’s well-documented and clearly tied to the attack. That’s one reason our attorneys work with mental health professionals and medical experts to show the full picture of how a dog bite has affected you.
Long-Term Complications of Severe Dog Bites
When a bite causes deep or repeated trauma, recovery might stretch on for years. In the worst cases, the damage never fully heals.
- Chronic Pain: Nerve damage or joint injury may result in long-term pain that flares up during activity or cold weather.
- Reduced Mobility: Injuries to joints or tendons may limit motion in the arms, legs, or hands. This affects everything from daily tasks to long-term job prospects.
- Multiple Surgeries or Skin Grafts: Severe wounds may require ongoing medical intervention to restore appearance or function.
- Permanent Disfigurement: Even with plastic surgery, some scars don’t fade. This can impact a person’s confidence, social interactions, and even career opportunities.
In neighborhoods with older homes and loose fencing—like parts of East Dallas or Redbird—loose dogs are more common, and bites tend to happen on sidewalks or front yards. Victims in these situations often deal with significant trauma, both physical and emotional.
Who Is Liable for a Dog Bite in Dallas?
Determining who must pay for your injuries isn’t always straightforward. The dog owner may seem like the obvious party, but sometimes others share responsibility too.
When Dog Owners Are Responsible
If the dog’s owner knew about the animal’s aggressive tendencies or violated a city leash law, they’re typically responsible. This includes owners who leave gates open in places like North Dallas or fail to warn visitors about a dangerous dog at their residence.
Can Landlords Be Held Liable?
Landlords might be liable if they knew a tenant kept a dangerous dog on the premises and failed to take steps to remove it. This is particularly relevant in apartment complexes in neighborhoods like Lower Greenville or The Cedars, where tenants live in close quarters.
Situations When Multiple Parties Share Liability
Sometimes, more than one party plays a role. For example, a dog walker in Bishop Arts might ignore leash requirements, or a pet sitter may let an aggressive animal run loose. In these cases, both the dog’s owner and the caretaker might bear some responsibility.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Dog Bite?
After a dog attack, you shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of recovery alone. The law allows you to pursue financial recovery for the losses and difficulties the bite caused.
Medical Expenses You Can Claim
Emergency room visits, follow-up care, stitches, vaccines, medications, and plastic surgery all fall under medical damages. So do future medical needs, like physical therapy or additional surgeries for scarring.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Missing work while you recover can create serious financial strain. If your injuries prevent you from returning to the same job or limit your ability to earn, you may be entitled to compensation for both lost income and future earning potential.
Pain and Suffering Damages
The law also recognizes the emotional impact of a dog attack. You may be able to recover money for ongoing discomfort, trauma, and the disruption to your daily life—even if your physical wounds eventually heal.
How Do I Prove a Dog Bite Case?
Building a strong dog bite claim means showing how the injury happened, proving fault, and backing up the full extent of your damages. Tyson Law Firm handles these details so you can focus on your recovery.
Essential Evidence to Collect
Photos of your injuries, the location of the attack, torn clothing, and medical records help show the severity and timing of the bite. If possible, collect this evidence as soon as you’re safe.
The Role of Witness Statements
Eyewitnesses can confirm how the attack happened and whether the dog was acting aggressively before. Neighbors, bystanders, or even postal workers in areas like Lakewood or East Dallas often have valuable details that support your claim.
How Prior Incidents Strengthen Your Case
A history of aggression, previous bites, or complaints to Dallas Animal Services about the same dog can help show that the owner should have known the dog was dangerous and failed to prevent harm.
What Should I Do Immediately After a Dog Bite?
Your actions after the attack can affect both your health and your claim. Protect yourself by taking these immediate steps.
Medical Steps to Take First
Get medical attention right away—even for minor bites. Dog saliva can carry bacteria, and untreated wounds can lead to serious infections. Doctors can also document your injuries clearly, which supports your claim later.
Reporting the Incident Properly
Call Dallas Animal Services to file a report. This helps create an official record of the attack and may lead to the dog being quarantined or evaluated. The report can also help identify the dog and its vaccination status.
Documenting Your Injuries and the Scene
Take photos of everything—the wound, any bloodied clothing, the dog (if possible), and the location. Write down details while they’re fresh: what time the bite happened, who saw it, and what the dog did before the attack.
Can I Still Recover Damages if I Was Partially at Fault?
Some cases involve questions about whether the victim contributed to the attack. Even if you’re partially blamed, you may still recover damages under Texas law.
Understanding Comparative Negligence in Texas
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you’re found less than 51% responsible for the attack, you can still recover damages—though your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
How Provocation Affects Your Claim
If the dog was provoked—teased, hurt, or cornered—the owner or insurance company may try to deny your claim. However, courts look closely at the dog’s behavior and the circumstances. Not every movement toward a dog counts as provocation.
Defending Against Claims You Contributed to the Attack
Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto victims to pay less. Tyson Law Firm builds strong evidence to push back against these tactics and show exactly how the dog owner or another party failed to act responsibly.
How Our Dallas Dog Bite Attorneys Can Help
You don’t have to deal with insurance adjusters, legal paperwork, or investigation tasks alone. Tyson Law Firm handles the legwork so you can concentrate on healing.
- Investigation of the incident: We look into how the attack happened, identify who’s responsible, and uncover key facts that support your claim.
- Gathering evidence and witness statements: Our team collects the documentation needed to back up every detail—from medical records to photos to bystander accounts.
- Handling all communication with insurance companies: We take over the back-and-forth so you’re not pressured into a quick or low settlement.
- Determining the full extent of your damages: We assess your short- and long-term needs to ensure no part of your recovery gets overlooked.
- Negotiating maximum compensation: We push for a full and fair financial recovery that reflects the impact the attack has had on your life.
- Preparing for trial if necessary: If the insurance company won’t offer a fair amount, we’re ready to take the case to court and fight for justice.
Contact a Skilled Dog Bite Attorney in Dallas Now
You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s carelessness. A free consultation with Tyson Law Firm can give you clarity and direction after a dog attack. You’ll never pay any fees upfront, and we only collect if your case results in compensation.
Don’t wait too long. Texas law limits how much time you have to act. Contact us today at (214) 942-9000 to request your no-cost case evaluation.
