Dog Bites

A dog attack is sudden, violent, and terrifying. One moment you are walking through a neighborhood, visiting a friend's house, or crossing a parking lot. The next, a dog is on you — teeth tearing into skin, jaws clamping down, instinct overriding everything. The physical injuries are often severe. The psychological damage can be worse. And the dog's owner is responsible.

I am Michelle Acosta, and I handle dog bite cases personally. I know these cases involve real trauma — not just stitches and scars, but fear, anxiety, and lasting emotional impact, especially for children. I investigate the attack, identify the responsible parties, and pursue full compensation for my clients' injuries and the long-term effects of the attack.

Texas Dog Bite Law

Texas does not have a single "dog bite statute." Instead, dog bite liability in Texas is based on two legal theories: the common-law "one bite" rule and general negligence.

The one bite rule. Under this rule, a dog owner is strictly liable for a bite if they knew or had reason to know that the dog had dangerous tendencies. The name is somewhat misleading — the dog does not literally get "one free bite." If the owner knew the dog was aggressive, had bitten before, had lunged at people, had escaped the yard, or had exhibited threatening behavior, the owner is liable. Evidence of dangerous propensity can include:

• Prior bite incidents — reported or unreported
• Prior complaints from neighbors
• The dog's breed-specific behavior combined with lack of proper containment
• Warning signs posted on the property (which actually prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous)
• Animal control records showing prior complaints or citations
• The owner's own statements about the dog's temperament

Negligence. Even without prior knowledge of the dog's dangerous tendencies, an owner can be liable for negligence. If the owner failed to properly restrain, confine, or control the dog, and that failure led to the attack, the owner is negligent. Common examples include:

• Letting the dog roam off-leash in an area where leash laws apply
• Failing to maintain a secure fence or enclosure
• Walking the dog without a leash or with an inadequate leash
• Allowing a dog with known aggression issues around visitors without warning or restraint
• Leaving a dog unsupervised with children

Strict liability for known dangerous dogs. If a dog has been officially declared dangerous by animal control — which happens after a documented attack or pattern of aggressive behavior — the owner is subject to heightened legal obligations. Failure to comply with those obligations (secure enclosure, insurance requirements, registration) creates strict liability for any subsequent attack.

Homeowner's Insurance Typically Covers Dog Bite Claims

Most dog bite claims are paid through the dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy. Standard homeowner's policies in Texas include liability coverage that applies to injuries caused by the policyholder's dog. This is important because it means there is usually an insurance company — and an insurance policy with real coverage limits — behind the claim.

However, some homeowner's policies exclude certain dog breeds or exclude coverage for dogs with a history of biting. Some landlords' policies also come into play if the attack occurred on rental property and the landlord knew the tenant had a dangerous dog. I investigate the insurance coverage early in every case to identify every available policy and maximize the recovery for my client.

Common Injuries from Dog Attacks

Dog bites cause a distinctive pattern of injuries that often require specialized medical treatment:

Puncture wounds and lacerations. A dog's teeth create deep puncture wounds that damage tissue beneath the skin surface. These wounds are prone to infection because they drive bacteria deep into the tissue. Larger dogs can cause tearing lacerations that require surgical repair.

Infection. Dog bite wounds have a high infection rate. Bacteria from the dog's mouth — including Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus — can cause cellulitis, abscesses, sepsis, and in rare cases, life-threatening complications. Some bites require IV antibiotics and hospitalization.

Permanent scarring and disfigurement. Dog bites to the face, neck, and hands often leave permanent scars. Children are particularly vulnerable to facial bites because their height puts their face at the dog's level. Scar revision surgery can improve appearance but rarely eliminates the scarring entirely.

Nerve damage. Bites to the hands, arms, and face can sever or damage nerves, causing numbness, tingling, loss of sensation, or loss of motor function. Nerve damage may be permanent.

Broken bones. Large breeds can generate enough bite force to fracture bones in the hand, wrist, arm, or face. Knockdown attacks — where the dog's impact throws the victim to the ground — cause additional fractures and head injuries.

Psychological trauma. This is the injury that people do not see, but it can be the most debilitating. Dog attack survivors — especially children — frequently develop PTSD, severe anxiety, fear of dogs, nightmares, and behavioral changes. Some develop agoraphobia or refuse to go outside. The psychological impact of a dog attack is a real, compensable injury under Texas law, and I make sure it is documented and presented in every case.

What to Do After a Dog Attack

If you or your child has been attacked by a dog, take these steps:

Get medical attention immediately. Even if the wounds look minor, dog bites require medical evaluation because of the infection risk. Go to an emergency room or urgent care. Make sure the treating physician documents every wound, photographs the injuries, and prescribes appropriate antibiotics.

Report the attack to Houston Animal Control (BARC — Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care) or your local animal control agency. Filing a report creates an official record of the attack and triggers an investigation. Animal control will attempt to verify the dog's vaccination status and may quarantine the dog. If the dog has a history of prior complaints, those records become evidence in your case.

Document the scene. Photograph the dog if possible (safely), the location of the attack, any broken fences or open gates, and the lack of a leash or restraint. Photograph your injuries before and after medical treatment. If there were witnesses, get their names and contact information.

Identify the dog's owner. You need to know who owns the dog and where the dog lives. If the attack happened at the owner's home, note the address. If it happened in a public place, try to get the owner's name and contact information. If the dog was a stray, the property owner where the attack occurred may still be liable if they knew stray dogs frequented the area and failed to address it.

Do not give a recorded statement to the dog owner's insurance company. The homeowner's insurer will call you. Their job is to minimize the payout. Let your attorney handle that conversation.

Damages in a Dog Bite Case

Dog bite victims are entitled to recover:

• All medical expenses — emergency treatment, surgery, antibiotics, follow-up care, scar revision
• Future medical treatment — reconstructive surgery, psychological therapy, ongoing wound care
• Lost wages if the injuries kept you from working
• Pain and suffering — both physical and emotional
• Mental anguish, PTSD, anxiety, and fear
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Loss of enjoyment of life

For children who are attacked, the damages often include long-term psychological counseling, the impact on the child's development and social functioning, and the parents' mental anguish from witnessing or dealing with the aftermath of the attack.

Why Michelle Acosta Law

I have won a $56 million verdict in Harris County. I prepare every case for trial because insurance companies pay more when they know the lawyer on the other side will not fold. I am a Gerry Spence Method trained trial lawyer, a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Civil Litigation. I speak fluent Spanish and serve all of Houston's communities directly.

Dog attacks are traumatic, and the injuries — both physical and emotional — are real. I take these cases seriously, and I fight for the full value of the harm my clients have suffered.

Landlord Liability for Dog Attacks

If a dog attack happens at a rental property, the landlord may also be liable — not just the dog's owner. Under Texas law, a landlord can be held responsible if they knew or should have known that a tenant's dog was dangerous and failed to take action. This includes situations where the landlord received complaints from other tenants about aggressive behavior, where the dog had previously escaped the property, or where the lease prohibited certain breeds and the landlord failed to enforce it.

Landlord liability expands the insurance coverage available to compensate you. The landlord's property insurance policy may provide additional coverage beyond the tenant's homeowner's or renter's policy. I investigate every potential source of coverage in dog bite cases to make sure my clients have access to the maximum recovery.

Houston's Dog Bite Problem

Houston has one of the highest rates of stray and loose dogs of any major city in the country. BARC handles thousands of animal complaints every year. Many neighborhoods — particularly in southeast Houston, northeast Houston, and unincorporated areas of Harris County — have chronic issues with loose dogs, including packs of strays. The city's animal control resources are stretched thin, and enforcement of leash laws is inconsistent at best. That combination creates conditions where dog attacks happen regularly, and the victims are often children.

If you or your child was attacked by a dog, call me at (713) 933-3300 or request a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.