Did you or a family member suffer an animal attack in Dallas, Texas? A violent dog bite can cause lasting physical harm and emotional distress, even a lifelong fear of canines. A Dallas dog bite lawyer at Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. can help you hold a negligent dog owner responsible for your injuries. Call (972) 550-6818 for a free consultation.
We have centuries of combined experience handling personal injury claims. We will go up against any defendant and any insurer to get you the compensation you are owed.
Why Choose Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. After a Dallas Dog Bite?
Dog bites are entirely preventable. Dog owners must be held accountable when they fail to restrain their dogs. We are the team that can ensure an owner faces responsibility for the harm you’ve suffered.
Clients across Dallas, TX, hire our personal injury law firm because:
- Our founding attorney James Trujillo has taken more than 300 trials and arbitrations to verdict
- We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, including multiple seven-figure results
- Top organizations such as Texas Lawyer Magazine and the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum have recognized our attorneys’ work
- Our team has over 250 years of combined experience handling catastrophic personal injury claims across the state
- Our Dallas personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we recover for you
Contact our Dallas office today to speak with a Dallas dog bite attorney who understands what it takes to protect your rights. We’re here to stand up for you.
How Does Texas Handle Dog Bite Liability?
The state of Texas does not have a specific law for personal injury claims arising from animal bites. The Texas Supreme Court precedent, Marshall v. Ranne, is the primary legal framework for such cases. This case establishes two distinct legal avenues for recovering compensation after a dog bite.
The case creates what is commonly referred to as a “one-bite rule.” Here, plaintiffs must demonstrate that the dog owner held actual or constructive knowledge of the animal’s aggressive tendencies. Past incidents involving growling, lunging, snapping, or attempted strikes can provide notice of dangerous traits. Despite the name, a prior bite is not required.
Alternatively, victims can pursue an ordinary negligence claim against a dog owner, which requires no prior record of aggressive tendencies. Rather, if a handler fails to exercise reasonable care, such as allowing a dog to roam off-leash or failing to confine the animal, they may be held liable for resulting attacks.
Lillian’s Law and Dallas’s Dangerous Dog Requirements
Lillian’s Law, Texas Health and Safety Code Section 822.005, makes it a felony when a handler fails to secure a dangerous dog that later causes severe bodily harm or death.
Dallas also has strict city rules for dangerous dogs. Owners must pay annual city fees, carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance, keep the dog securely enclosed, and post clear warning signs on their property. Violations of these rules can serve as evidence of negligence.
Criminal cases and personal injury lawsuits are handled separately, but official reports from animal control or the police can still help strengthen your claim for compensation.
What Is My Dallas Dog Bite Case Worth?
Figuring out what a dog bite claim is worth depends on the specific facts of the case. Because dog attacks often cause lasting physical harm and emotional trauma, these claims frequently result in significant compensation, especially the non-economic variety.
Key factors that affect the value of a dog bite claim include:
- How severe your injuries are
- Whether you need reconstructive surgery
- Whether you have permanent scarring
- Whether an elderly person or young child was hurt
- Lost wages and any impact on your ability to earn money in the future
- Severe emotional distress or long-term phobias of animals
- Available insurance coverage, such as homeowner or umbrella policies
An experienced personal injury attorney can review the details of your attack and work with medical and financial experts to calculate the full impact of your losses.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered After a Texas Dog Attack?
Texas law allows dog bite victims to seek compensation for financial losses connected to the attack, as well as the personal trauma that resulted. These are generally divided into economic and non-economic damages.
Depending on your case, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Emergency medical care
- Reconstructive surgery and follow-up procedures
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Occupational therapy costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning potential
- Counseling for trauma
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and sleep disruption
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive damages may be available in rare cases if the dog owner incited the attack, rather than negligently allowing it to occur. An experienced attorney can help you understand the damages you’re entitled to.
Where Does Compensation Come From in a Dog Bite Claim?
In most cases, dog owners do not pay compensation out of pocket. Instead, payouts typically come from liability insurance policies, which may offer more resources than a dog owner’s personal assets.
Common sources of insurance coverage include:
- Homeowner’s insurance policies. These policies typically cover injuries caused by a policyholder’s pet, regardless of whether the attack happened at home or somewhere else.
- Renter’s insurance policies. Many renters carry personal liability coverage that extends to dog bites. It’s like homeowners coverage but for renters.
- Commercial property coverage. Property owners or landlords might be held responsible if they allowed a dangerous dog on commercial property.
- Umbrella insurance policies. These supplemental policies provide extra coverage above the limits of a standard policy.
Identifying every available policy is essential to making sure you receive the most compensation for your recovery.
Can I Still Recover if I’m Partially Blamed for the Attack?
Insurance companies often try to blame victims, claiming they provoked the dog or were trespassing. Texas usually uses a modified comparative fault rule for cases involving more than one at-fault party. Under this standard, you can still recover money as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, with your payout reduced by your percentage of blame.
Don’t simply take an insurance company’s word for it if they say you caused the attack. Shifting blame is a standard defense tactic, and our lawyers know how to fight back against unfounded blame games.
We Handle All Types of Injury Claims Resulting from Dog Attacks
Dog attacks cause painful physical injuries that demand urgent medical care to address the injuries and the high risk of dangerous bacterial infections.
At Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C., we help clients dealing with all types of serious injuries, including:
- Deep puncture wounds and severe cuts
- Extensive muscle, tendon, and tissue damage
- Facial injuries and permanent scars
- Crushed bones in the arms, hands, or legs
- Nerve damage and loss of mobility
- Serious bacterial infections like MRSA or cellulitis
- Long-term psychological trauma and PTSD
- Head or brain injuries suffered from being pushed down by the dog
- Wrongful death
Children are especially vulnerable in animal attacks and often require long-term pediatric care as they grow. Elderly victims are also prone to serious harm, especially if they are knocked to the ground during the attack. Of course, adult victims can suffer lasting harm, too, including lasting fear of dogs.
Does Breed Matter in a Dallas Dog Bite Case?
Any dog can bite if it feels threatened, scared, or in pain. How an owner trains and handles their dog is much more important than the dog’s breed when deciding if they were negligent. Texas law focuses on the owner’s conduct and knowledge, not a label attached to the animal.
Even so, insurance companies often target specific breeds with policy restrictions, purely based on injury stats. Examples include breeds like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Chow Chows, and Presa Canarios.
Sometimes insurers bar coverage for such a breed or cap the payout available for an attack. Overcoming these exclusions takes a detailed review of the policy to find all available avenues for coverage.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Texas?
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit. Special rules can extend this deadline for injured children. Missing the deadline means you lose your right to sue for compensation.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer in Dallas?
Most dog bite claims feature contingency fees. You pay no upfront legal fees and no hourly billing while your case moves forward. Instead, your attorney is paid a percentage of whatever settlement or verdict you receive, agreed upon before your case begins. If your case is unsuccessful, you typically owe nothing.
Contact a Dallas Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A serious dog attack can turn your life upside down, affecting your health, finances, and peace of mind. You deserve an experienced advocate who will fight to hold the dog’s owner accountable.
Trujillo Gonzalez, P.C. is ready to put decades of trial experience to work for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Dallas dog bite attorney.
Visit Our Dallas Personal Injury Law Office
Trujillo Gonzalez PC – Dallas
1111 W Mockingbird Ln #260,
Dallas, TX 75247, United States
Phone: (972) 550-6818
Open 24/7
