East Texas Dog Bite Lawyer
East Texas Dog Bite Lawyer
Being bitten by a dog is not only painful but also creates fear and uncertainty in situations that used to feel safe. Membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum shows our firm’s history of taking on serious cases and our commitment to fighting for outcomes that ease those burdens.
Your East Texas dog bite lawyer from Goff Law, PLLC can explain how Texas liability rules apply when an animal causes devastating injuries. If you are facing questions about treatment costs or time away from work, your East Texas personal injury lawyer will help you understand what those damages mean and what steps can protect your claim after an attack.
How Dog Ownership Rules Work in East Texas
Texas law under Texas Health & Safety Code § 822.005 defines an attack by a dog and sets standards for dog owners to help keep neighbors and visitors safe. In towns and cities, that often means leash laws and registration requirements. In rural areas, enforcement looks different, and the way rules are applied can affect how responsibility is decided after a bite.
What Texas Law Says About Owners’ Responsibility for Their Dogs
Dog owners in Texas must keep their animals under control to prevent injuries. That responsibility can mean following leash rules in cities or repairing fences on rural land. Owners with dogs that have shown aggression in the past may also be expected to take extra precautions. When an owner ignores these duties and a bite occurs, the law allows victims to seek compensation for what they’ve lost.
Courts often look at whether the owner knew the dog had acted aggressively before or if local rules were violated. These facts can influence whether the case is treated as negligence or under stricter liability standards. Your East Texas dog bite attorney from Goff Law, PLLC can explain how these differences may affect your potential settlement.
Loose Dogs Are Often More Common in Rural Communities
In many East Texas communities, wide-open land and fewer fences mean dogs are more likely to roam. While that might seem like part of rural life, it increases the chance of bites when animals approach children, delivery drivers, or anyone else on the property. Texas Health & Safety Code § 822.0421 defines what qualifies as a dangerous dog, and these definitions apply just as much in rural areas as they do in city neighborhoods.
If you were bitten by a dog that was allowed to run loose, the setting of the attack can influence how your case is handled. Rural owners sometimes argue that free roaming is customary, but the law still requires them to take reasonable steps to prevent injuries. You should know how these rules apply to your situation because that knowledge can show whether you have a valid claim and how to prepare for the next stage of your case.
When Owners Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite
Texas law makes dog owners responsible when they ignore rules meant to keep others safe. Courts often look at past behavior or whether the owner followed local ordinances. With recognition as one of the top trial firms in the state, our team knows how these rules are applied, and an East Texas spinal cord injury lawyer can explain how liability may be tied to a bite in situations like these:
- Failing to restrain a dog with a known history of aggression
- Ignoring vaccination requirements that protect against rabies
- Repeated violations of local leash laws
- Allowing a dog to roam in public areas without control
- Not warning visitors about an animal with dangerous tendencies
- Keeping a dog in unsafe or poorly maintained fencing
- Refusing to comply with city or county animal control orders
- Letting children interact with dogs known to bite without supervision
- Housing multiple aggressive dogs without safeguards
Liability often depends on what the owner knew and whether they acted to prevent an attack. Texas Health & Safety Code § 822.042 requires owners of dangerous dogs to register the animal and secure it properly. These protections give victims a way to demonstrate negligence and seek payment for their medical bills and other expenses that may follow after the attack.
How Animal Control Handles Dangerous Dogs in East Texas
After a serious dog bite, animal control agencies often step in to investigate. Their work can include documenting the incident and interviewing witnesses. They also review whether the dog has a history of aggression. These records often influence how local authorities respond to the dog and what rules may be enforced on the owner.
Processes for Declaring a Dog Dangerous
When a dog is accused of being dangerous, most counties require a formal hearing. At that hearing, animal control officers and sometimes a judge review reports and testimony about the attack. If the evidence supports your claim, the dog may be declared dangerous and placed under strict restrictions such as confinement or an order requiring the dog’s owner to purchase liability insurance.
Once that designation is made, the owner must usually follow conditions like special registration and ongoing compliance checks. State law typically allows two years to file most injury claims per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, though the specific deadline can depend on the circumstances of the case. You have to act within this window if you want the records from the hearing to remain part of your case.
What Happens When a Dog Is Seized After an Attack
In some cases, animal control seizes the dog that caused the attack. What happens next depends on the investigation results. The animal may be placed in a strict enclosure. In other situations, it could be relocated to another facility or euthanized if it is considered too dangerous to release. These decisions become part of the official record and can influence how courts or insurers view your claim.
The Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001 explains comparative responsibility. Under this rule, compensation can be reduced if you are found partly at fault for a dog bite. An East Texas catastrophic injury lawyer can use the records created after a seizure to counter arguments by insurers or defendants that place blame on you. These records show how authorities responded to the dog after the attack, which can support your future claim.
Contact Your Dog Bite Lawyer in East Texas Today
