Were you bitten by someone’s dog in Houston, Texas? Our legal team at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for compensation. Call an experienced Houston dog bite lawyer at (713) 500-5000 to schedule a free consultation today.
With over 45 years of combined experience in personal injury law, we’re more than qualified to help you get the money you deserve. Since we opened our law firm, we’ve recovered tens of millions for our satisfied clients.
Dog bite injuries can be more severe than you might initially think. If you’re struggling with injuries, contact us today to explore your legal rights.
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Why Choose Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Dog Bite Injury in Houston, TX?
Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers is a trusted Houston law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of injury victims. If you’ve suffered from a dog bite, our team is here to guide you through the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Dog bite claims can be complex, often involving questions of liability, negligence, and insurance coverage. With our proven track record of success, we know how to hold negligent dog owners accountable and pursue fair damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
By choosing our firm, you gain experienced attorneys who understand Texas personal injury law and will work tirelessly to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome. Contact us today for a free consultation with a trusted Houston personal injury lawyer.
Statistics on Dog Bite Injuries in Texas
Roughly 68 million American households are home to at least one dog.
According to the Insurance Information Institute’s research, Texas ranked number three on the list of states with the highest number of dog bite claims. 1,190 dog bite injury claims were filed with Texas insurers in 2024. Insurance companies paid out over $90 million to compensate dog bite victims that year.
In Houston alone, 2,341 dog bites were reported in a recent year. 931 of those dog bite victims required treatment in a hospital
How Much Money is My Houston Dog Bite Case Worth?
It’s natural to wonder how much your case is worth. After all, injury claims take time and effort. Many victims understandably want to know what they’re getting into. The truth is, many issues can impact the value of your personal injury claim. Every scenario is different, and your story is important.
Some factors that will most strongly impact the value of your personal injury case include:
- How severely you were injured
- Your current medical bills
- Whether you will need ongoing medical care and attention
- Whether you’ve lost time at work or can’t return to your job
- The emotional toll the dog attack has taken on you
- The strength of the evidence to prove liability
Proving that a dog’s owner was liable in Texas isn’t always easy. Dog owners often defend themselves by claiming they had no idea the dog was dangerous. They might try to blame you for provoking the dog to bite.
Our lawyers in Houston know how to ensure you’re compensated for the full range of losses you’ve suffered. We’re prepared for dog owners who don’t want to take responsibility for their animals. When you hire us, you’ll have secured the strong legal representation you deserve.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Houston?
Damages in Texas are grouped into two primary classes: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages account for the documented financial costs associated with a dog bite injury, including:
- Medical expenses, including both current and expected future costs
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Lost future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and PT
- In-home assistance
- Nursing care
- Mental health treatment
By pursuing economic damages, you can recover the financial support needed to cover these expenses and secure the resources necessary for your long-term recovery and well-being.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, compensate for the personal pain, suffering, and trauma caused by the ordeal, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic pain
- Reduced quality of life
- PTSD and fear
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Emotional distress
These non-financial losses are very real. Still, they can be really difficult to prove. That’s one way a lawyer can help. Often, expert witness testimony can be critical to successfully proving the fair value of your losses.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Texas?
Like most injury law firms in Texas, Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. We only get paid if we win compensation in your case. When we do, our fees are expressed as a percentage. You’ll never be forced to cover upfront costs or worry about hourly rates.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Dog Bite in Texas?
Yes, you may still be able to recover compensation even if you are being blamed for the incident. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means your damages can be reduced if you share some responsibility for the dog bite. For example, if you are found 20% at fault—perhaps because you provoked the dog—your total compensation will be reduced by that percentage. However, as long as you are not more than 50% at fault, you can still pursue a recovery.
Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto victims to minimize payouts. That’s why having an experienced Houston dog bite lawyer is so important. Your attorney can gather evidence, challenge unfair allegations, and work to limit the percentage of fault assigned to you. This helps protect your right to full and fair compensation under Texas law.
Our Attorneys in Houston Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Dog Bite Injuries
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent clients in all different types of injury cases, including those where the victim has suffered:
- Puncture wounds
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Joint injuries
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Soft tissue damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Eye and facial injuries
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage and amputations caused by infection
Regardless of the type of injury involved, there is no set or standard settlement amount. An experienced Houston dog bite attorney can evaluate the unique ways the injury has impacted your life–and fight for a compensation award that recognizes all of your losses.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Dog Bite Injury Case in Texas?
Dog bite injury claims can be complicated in Texas. Texas doesn’t have a specific dog bite injury law on the books. What you’ll have to prove will depend on the dog’s history.
According to the Texas Supreme Court rulings on the matter, “one bite” and “strict liability” rules apply.
This means:
- Once a dog’s owner knows about their dog’s vicious or aggressive tendencies, they’re strictly liable for any further damage inflicted by the dog
- If the owner has no reason to believe the dog is dangerous, they can be liable for damages if they were negligent
Assume a dog has bitten or attacked in the past. The dog’s owner is then presumed to know that the dog is dangerous. If the dog then bites or injures you, you don’t have to prove that the owner was somehow careless or irresponsible to hold them accountable.
What Are Negligence Theories and How Are They Proven in Houston Dog Bite Injury Cases?
Victims must establish four elements to win a negligence case:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
All dog owners have a responsibility to keep their animals under control to prevent injuries. They might breach this duty, for example, by failing to keep their dog secured or violating Houston leash laws.
Premises Liability Laws in Texas Dog Bite Cases
While dog owners are always responsible for their animals, it’s also possible that someone other than the owner could owe you compensation.
Premises liability laws require property owners to maintain reasonably safe premises. If you were visiting a business or other public place, the owner may be responsible if they allowed a dangerous dog onto the premises.
Property owners can often be held liable both for dangers that they knew about and those that they reasonably should have known about.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Dog Bite Injury in Texas?
Most injury victims in Texas are subject to a two-year deadline in personal injury cases. If you fail to file a personal injury lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you will be deemed to forfeit your right to damages.
One key exception to this general rule involves children. When a minor is the victim, their parent is entitled to take legal action on behalf of the child. When they don’t, the child has their own statute of lmiitations–which doesn’t start to run until the child’s 18th birthday.
Call an Experienced Houston Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
Don’t wait to get the legal assistance you need after a dog bite injury. Our lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers are always here to discuss your case. Call today to learn how an experienced Houston dog bite lawyer can fight for you.
