Table of Contents
- Introduction: When a Peaceful Walk Turns Dangerous
- Unpreventable Dangers: Why Dog Attacks Happen
- Understanding Texas Dog Bite Laws
- The “One Bite Rule” Explained in Detail
- Exceptions to the One Bite Rule
- Negligence Laws in Texas Dog Bite Cases
- Negligence Per Se: When a Leash Law Violation Creates Liability
- Gathering Evidence After a Dog Attack
- Common Injuries From Dog Attacks
- Compensation You May Be Entitled To
- How Dog Attacks Affect Children and Families
- What To Do Immediately After a Dog Bite
- Why Legal Representation Matters
- How Orange Law Firm Builds a Strong Dog Bite Case
- Conclusion & Contact Orange Law Firm
1. Introduction: When a Peaceful Walk Turns Dangerous
It’s the end of a long day. You finish dinner with your family, lace up your shoes, and step outside for your nightly walk around the neighborhood. The sky is glowing orange as the sun sets, and streetlights flicker on one by one. The air is calm, quiet, and familiar.
As you walk down the sidewalk, you see a dog in the distance. You think nothing of it — people walk their dogs in your neighborhood all the time. But as you get closer, something seems off. The dog isn’t on a leash. There’s no owner in sight. And it’s walking straight toward you.
You slow down. The dog begins to pick up its pace.
Before you can react — before you can protect yourself — the dog lunges and attacks.
In a matter of seconds, your peaceful routine becomes a terrifying, painful, and life-changing experience.
Sadly, situations like this happen far too often in Texas. And even worse, many of these attacks are preventable.
When a dog owner fails to control their pet, innocent people suffer serious injuries, trauma, and financial loss. The law provides protections — but most victims don’t know where to begin.
That’s where Orange Law Firm, led by Attorney Karan Joshi, steps in.
2. Unpreventable Dangers: Why Dog Attacks Happen
Most Texans feel safe in their own neighborhoods. We walk our dogs, push strollers, jog, bike, or simply enjoy fresh air after a long day. But even the safest neighborhood can become dangerous in seconds when a dog is unrestrained or improperly controlled.
Why dog attacks occur:
- Owners fail to keep dogs on a leash
- Dogs escape from open gates or broken fences
- People underestimate their dog’s aggression
- Dogs are improperly trained or socialized
- Owners ignore warning signs
These dangers affect:
- Adults
- Senior citizens
- Children
- Delivery drivers
- Postal workers
- Joggers
- Other pets
Even cautious people can be caught off-guard. Dog attacks are often sudden, vicious, and impossible to prevent.
And while we can try to stay aware of our surroundings, the law exists to protect victims, because many dog attacks happen due to owner negligence — not victim behavior.
3. Understanding Texas Dog Bite Laws
Texas does not have a specific statewide statute that directly governs dog bite liability. Instead, Texas relies on a combination of:
- The One Bite Rule
- Common law negligence principles
- Negligence per se (violation of leash laws)
Understanding these legal foundations is essential for anyone who has been attacked by a dog — because your rights and ability to recover compensation depend on them.
4. The “One Bite Rule” Explained in Detail
Texas uses what’s known as the One Bite Rule, which essentially means:
A dog owner may be held liable for a bite only if the dog has bitten someone before or has shown dangerous behavior in the past — and the owner knew about it.
This does NOT mean a dog gets a “free pass” to attack once.
Instead, it means:
- If the dog bit someone before, OR
- If the dog attempted to bite someone before, OR
- If the dog behaved aggressively in a way that shows it could bite…
…then the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Once an owner is aware of their dog’s aggressive tendencies, they have a legal duty to prevent future harm.
Examples of dangerous behavior include:
- Lunging
- Snapping
- Snarling or baring teeth
- Chasing people aggressively
- Attempted bites
- Prior attacks on other dogs or animals
If these behaviors occurred before your attack — and the owner knew — you may have a strong claim under strict liability.
5. Exceptions to the One Bite Rule
Even if the dog has never bitten anyone before, you may STILL hold the owner liable.
Texas recognizes that some attacks happen because the owner was careless, irresponsible, or violated a law.
That brings us to negligence.
6. Negligence Laws in Texas Dog Bite Cases
If strict liability cannot be proven, you can still win your case by showing negligence.
To prove negligence, you must show:
- The owner had a duty to control or restrain the dog
- The owner breached that duty
- The breach caused the attack
- You suffered damages
Examples of negligence include:
- Allowing a dog to roam without a leash
- Failure to secure fences or gates
- Keeping a dog known to chase people unchecked
- Failing to supervise a dog around children
- Ignoring signs of aggression
Negligence claims often succeed even when the One Bite Rule does not apply.
7. Negligence Per Se: When a Leash Law Violation Creates Liability
Negligence per se arises when:
A dog owner violates a law — and that violation leads to someone being injured.
Texas does not have a statewide leash law.
However, many cities do, including:
- Houston
- Dallas
- San Antonio
- Austin
- Fort Worth
- Sugar Land
- Katy
- Pasadena
If a city ordinance requires dogs to be leashed — and the dog that attacked you was off-leash — the owner may be automatically considered negligent.
Example:
Houston requires dogs to be:
- Leashed in public
- Restrained in yards
- Not allowed to roam freely
If a dog attacks you while off-leash, that violation can form the basis of your claim.
8. Gathering Evidence After a Dog Attack
Evidence is crucial to a successful dog bite case — especially in a One Bite Rule state like Texas.
Key evidence includes:
- Photos of the dog
- Photos of your injuries
- Photos of the location of the attack
- Witness statements
- Surveillance or doorbell camera footage
- Animal control reports
- Police reports
- Veterinary records of the attacking dog
- Prior complaints against the dog or owner
The sooner this evidence is collected, the better. Dog owners often deny responsibility, claim the victim provoked the dog, or try to hide prior incidents.
Orange Law Firm can immediately:
- Send preservation letters
- Request surveillance footage
- Interview witnesses
- Obtain animal control records
- Investigate prior attacks
Evidence can disappear quickly — which is why hiring a lawyer early is essential.
9. Common Injuries From Dog Attacks
Dog bites can cause severe physical and emotional damage.
Common physical injuries include:
- Deep puncture wounds
- Torn muscles and ligaments
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Permanent scarring
- Infections
- Rabies or bacterial disease
Long-term injuries include:
- Limited mobility
- Chronic pain
- Disfigurement
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Nightmares
- Fear of dogs
Children are at especially high risk for facial disfigurement and psychological trauma.
10. Compensation You May Be Entitled To
Dog bite victims may recover compensation for:
Economic damages:
- Medical bills
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Lost wages
- Future medical care
Non-economic damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Permanent scarring
- Loss of quality of life
Punitive damages
In cases involving:
- Repeated attacks
- Extreme owner negligence
- Violations of city laws
- Dangerous dog designation
11. How Dog Attacks Affect Children and Families
Children suffer dog bites more often than any other group.
Why children are more vulnerable:
- They are smaller
- Dogs view them as less threatening
- They may not know how to protect themselves
- Their faces are at dog-height
Emotional trauma is also severe:
- Nightmares
- Anxiety
- Fear of animals
- Fear of leaving home
- Regression or behavioral changes
Parents may also face:
- Medical bills
- Lost work
- Trauma from witnessing the attack
These cases require experienced legal representation to ensure compensation covers long-term care.
12. What To Do Immediately After a Dog Bite
1. Get to safety
Move away from the dog immediately.
2. Call 911 or animal control
A report is crucial for your case.
3. Obtain medical treatment
Dog bites can lead to infections, scarring, or long-term damage.
4. Identify the dog and owner
Take photos and gather information.
5. Document everything
Photos, videos, witness statements.
6. Contact Orange Law Firm
We handle communication with owners, insurers, and animal control.
13. Why Legal Representation Matters
Dog bite cases are difficult without a lawyer.
Owners often:
- Deny responsibility
- Claim the victim provoked the dog
- Hide the dog’s history
- Refuse to cooperate
- Mislead animal control
Insurance companies:
- Lowball victims
- Deny valid claims
- Blame the victim
- Delay payouts
You need an advocate who understands Texas dog bite law and knows how to counter these tactics.
14. How Orange Law Firm Builds a Strong Dog Bite Case
Attorney Karan Joshi and the team at Orange Law Firm bring experience, strategic skill, and compassion to every dog bite case.
We help by:
- Investigating the dog’s dangerous history
- Obtaining vet records and prior complaints
- Securing surveillance footage
- Working with medical experts
- Calculating future damages
- Negotiating aggressively with insurance
- Preparing for litigation if needed
We treat every case with urgency because we know dog attacks are serious — and justice matters.
15. Conclusion & Contact Orange Law Firm
A dog attack can change your life in seconds — but you don’t have to suffer alone, and you don’t have to navigate the legal system by yourself.
The law gives you rights.
Orange Law Firm helps you use them.
If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog in Texas, contact us immediately.
📍 Orange Law Firm
6100 Corporate Drive, Suite 515
Houston, TX
📞 713-885-9787
🌐 www.orangelaw.us
We are here to protect you — one client, one case, and one victory at a time.
