Austin Dog Bite Lawyers

Texas dog bite law is often misunderstood – the rules that are supposed to protect victims sometimes favor the dog owners instead, and securing fair compensation for a serious injury becomes a challenge without an experienced attorney.

Texas is a "one-bite" state. That means that a dog owner is considered liable for his or her dog's attack if the one of the following is true:

• The owner knew that the dog had either already bitten someone else or had the propensity to bite.
  
  
• The attack was caused by the owner or handler's negligence.
  
  
• The attack was caused by violation of an animal control law (such as a leash law).
  
  
• The attack was caused intentionally by the owner or handler.

The "one-bite" law is considered by many to be outdated because it only holds the owner responsible under these very specific circumstances – and a dog who has never bitten before can still cause a serious or even deadly attack. The Texas trial lawyers at Barry & Loewy LLP are dedicated to representing people who have been seriously injured or killed due to the wrongful actions of others – including owners of dangerous dogs. Our attorneys are very familiar with the dog bites statutes in Texas, including the recent Lillian Stiles and Unlawful Restraint of Dog laws.

• The Lillian Stiles law increased the jail time for dog owners who have failed to secure their dogs, resulting in serious injury. While this law creates tougher criminal penalties for negligent owners, it doesn't offer any added protection for victims who need compensation to pay for medical bills, lost earning ability or trauma.
  
  
• The Unlawful Restraint of Dog law was intended to stop owners from chaining their animals, which is cruel and leads to more aggressive and dangerous behavior. In the law's original draft, owners were prohibited from chaining a dangerous dog any longer than necessary to protect the safety of others. However, the language was changed so that owners are only prohibited from restraining dogs at night, during bad weather or within 500 feet of a school. This means that dog owners can continue to restrain their pets in a manner that is both inhumane and dangerous.

These new laws may not be adequate to protect the rights of dog bite victims. However, the attorneys of Barry & Loewy LLP pursue all legal avenues in order to provide our clients with the results – and compensation – they deserve. We look at the circumstances of the attack to determine if the dog was improperly secured or treated in a manner that contributed to the incident. If the community in which the attack occurred has strong leash or other animal control laws, a violation can constitute a type of negligence known as negligence per se. That may help establish liability when an owner claims to have been unaware of a dog's propensity to bite.

Texas law also allows the parent or child of a victim to sue for mental anguish in cases where the parent or child witnessed the attack of a loved one, and the injuries were severe or fatal. While a lawsuit certainly won't undo the emotional damage suffered by the family member, it will hold the owner accountable – and possibly prevent future attacks. Dog owners must make an attempt to stop their pets once an attack has commenced, and if they fail to take action, this can be further grounds for legal action.

Dog bite laws can be complex, but if you or a loved one has suffered serious injury from an animal attack, the attorneys at Barry & Loewy LLP are ready to provide experienced and dedicated representation. We take every case on a contingency basis and we only get paid if we win. This means we will fight harder than other Texas law firms to get the money you deserve.

We have offices in Austin and Houston, and we represent clients all across Texas. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed from a dog bite, contact the Texas dog bite attorneys at Barry & Loewy LLP today.  

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