The Legal Side Of A Dog Bite Accident

• July 7, 2025
• Personal Injury

When individuals are injured as a result of another person’s negligence or carelessness, the responsible party could be held liable if this is legally proven. Injuries arising from vehicle accidents, slip-and-falls in grocery stores, and more can often be linked to a direct cause, but what do you do in instances where your injury was the result of an indirect cause, such as an animal bite? In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX catastrophic personal injury attorneys take a closer look at the legal side of a dog bite accident, including why you should speak with experienced attorneys before filing your claim and how you might get started.

Dog Bite Injuries and Levels

When many people hear the term personal injury, one of the first examples to come to mind might be a dog bite. They occur every day in the United States, and roughly 4.5 million people are bitten annually nation-wide. Other important findings, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, were that roughly one in five individuals who were bitten by a dog required medical attention, and children are the most frequent victims of dog bite attacks.

When it comes to the injury itself, a bite can range in terms of severity on a scale from one to five. Level one bites are categorized as such when the dog’s mouth and lips may touch the skin but the teeth do not. A level two bite occurs when a dog’s teeth touch but do not break the skin, and no bleeding occurs. Level three bites indicate there are one to four shallow puncture wounds in the skin, any of which may bleed, and level four bites consist of one to four punctures from a single bite, and at least one of the punctures is deep. Finally, a level five bite indicates a dog has inflicted multiple bites, including some deep puncture wounds. In the event you or a loved one has experienced a bite of any of these degrees, it is important to first seek appropriate medical attention, then consider reaching out to an experienced firm to hear about your legal rights.

Implications of the One-Bite Rule

The state of Texas follows the one-bite rule, which states that dogs who have never bitten a person or have never shown a propensity toward violence can be given a second chance before any liability is placed on the owner. Once a dog has bitten a person, however, it can be classified as a dangerous dog by the state. Further, if the dog that bit you is a breed known to be dangerous or has a reputation for being threatening or dangerous and the owner did not make the effort to remedy the situation, it may be excepted from the one-bite rule and you may be entitled to compensation. Our team has decades of experience representing individuals just like you through dog bites and other personal injury matters, so do not hesitate to give us a call.

How They Can Be Contested

In a few circumstances, a dog bite claim can be contested by the owner or defendant. For example, if it is determined that you were trespassing on the owner’s property at the time of receiving the bite, the court may be unlikely to make the defendant pay for your injuries. Another example might include if you actively provoked the dog or acted aggressively toward it. During your consultation with our team, we will take care to listen to the facts surrounding your situation and inform you of all of your options should you choose to pursue the claim.

Speak With Our Team

If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog due to the negligence of the owner, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Crain Brogdon, LLP in Dallas, TX at  214-522-9404 to schedule your free consultation with our team. We are available by phone for our clients 24/7, and we proudly serve the Dallas and surrounding areas.

Attorney Quentin Brogdon

Quentin Brogdon has over thirty years of experience and expertise in the field of personal injury trial law. He is board certified in both personal injury trial law and civil trial advocacy. Quentin has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating. This rating reflects an attorney’s ethics and abilities according to reviews from fellow attorneys. [ Attorney Bio ]