Dog Bite Attorney Dallas

What To Do Right After A Dog Bite To Protect Your Health & Your Claim

In the hours and days after a dog bite, the steps you take can affect both your health and any future claim. It is natural to feel overwhelmed, especially if a child is involved. Focusing on a few practical actions can help you stay grounded and protect your rights.

Prioritize Medical Care

Your first priority is medical care. Dog bites can lead to serious infections and sometimes raise concerns about rabies. Seek emergency care or visit a doctor as soon as you can, even if the wound seems small. Facilities such as Parkland Health or Baylor Scott & White Health regularly treat these injuries and can document your condition from the very beginning, which is important both for your recovery and for any legal claim.

Report The Bite & Preserve Evidence

When it is safe to do so, report the incident to animal control or law enforcement. A formal report can help identify the dog, document prior problems, and create an official record of what happened. In the Dallas area, local animal control authorities track dangerous animals and can play a role in future proceedings involving the dog and its owner.

Evidence is easier to collect early. If you can, take photos of the scene, your injuries, any torn clothing, and the dog, if possible. Continue taking pictures over time as bruising, swelling, or scarring develops so there is a clear record of how the wounds change. When you work with MR.LAW Accident & Injury Attorneys, our case management system allows you to text photos and updates directly into your file, which means your medical story is preserved in real time.

Gather Information & Be Careful With Insurers

Try to obtain contact information for the dog’s owner, any witnesses, and, if applicable, the property owner or manager where the attack occurred. Avoid arguing with the owner or accepting blame in the moment. It is also wise to be very cautious when speaking with an insurance adjuster. Before giving a recorded statement or signing any documents, consider speaking with our attorneys so you understand how your words or signature may affect your rights.

Understanding Texas Dog Bite Law & How Liability Works Here

Many people assume that all dog bite cases are handled the same way, but Texas law can be complex. The rules that apply to your situation can depend on where the attack happened, whether the dog had been aggressive before, and what the owner or property manager did, or failed to do, to keep others safe. Our goal is to translate those legal concepts into plain language so you know where you stand.

How Liability Can Arise

In Texas, dog bite claims can involve several legal theories. Liability may be based on a dog’s known dangerous tendencies, on negligent handling, or on unsafe conditions on a property. For example, a landlord who ignores repeated complaints about a dangerous animal on common property may face different responsibilities than a friend whose dog bites you in their backyard during a social visit. Each situation requires careful review of the facts and the applicable law.

Local Rules & Evidence In The Dallas Area

Local ordinances and practices in the Dallas area can also play a role. Reports from animal control, prior citations, or records of earlier incidents may support a finding that an owner knew, or should have known, that a dog posed a danger. We work to gather and analyze these materials so that the full picture can be presented to the insurer, a judge, or a jury.

Damages You May Be Able To Pursue

Compensation in a Texas dog bite claim can cover a range of losses. These may include medical bills, future treatment such as scar revision or physical therapy, lost income, and the cost of counseling for anxiety or post traumatic symptoms. Non economic damages can also be important, especially in cases involving disfigurement or lasting emotional harm. We look at how the attack has affected your daily life, your work, and your sense of safety, and we build a case that reflects those realities.

Because MR.LAW Accident & Injury Attorneys regularly handles complex injury and premises type cases in courts that serve the Dallas region, we are familiar with the local rules and procedures that affect dog bite claims. That experience helps us create custom strategies instead of applying a one size fits all approach.

How Our Dallas Dog Bite Lawyers Build Strong Cases

Once you reach out to us, we work to make the process as clear and manageable as possible. During your free, confidential consultation, we talk through what happened, the medical care you have received, and any information you already have about the dog and its owner. From there, our attorneys develop a plan that fits your specific situation.

Gathering The Evidence Your Case Needs

Evidence is the foundation of a strong dog bite case. We gather medical records, photographs documenting the progression of your injuries, animal control or police reports, and witness statements when they are available. Insurance policies must also be reviewed, since coverage may come from a homeowners, renters, or business policy, depending on where the attack took place. Our team prepares every claim with the understanding that it may need to be presented in court.

Trial Ready Strategy & Negotiation

Trial readiness is part of who we are. Damon Mathias and Ori Raphael lead a team that regularly appears before judges and juries across North Texas, and we approach dog bite cases with that same level of preparation. When insurers know that a firm is willing and able to go to trial, they have a strong incentive to treat the claim more seriously during negotiations.

High Touch Communication & National Resources

Communication with our clients is just as important as what happens in the courtroom. We use the Filevine case management platform, which gives each client a dedicated text number linked to their case file. This allows you to send photos of healing wounds, copies of bills, and updates from your doctors directly to us. Every item is date-stamped and organized so we can use it to tell the story of your recovery if litigation becomes necessary.

Because we are a national firm with local offices, we also handle situations where the property owner or insurer is located outside Texas, but the attack took place here in Dallas. Our reach and resources give us flexibility in dealing with multi state parties while still providing the local knowledge that comes from practicing injury law in this community.

The Lasting Impact Of Dog Bite Injuries & The Compensation We Pursue

Dog bites can cause much more than short-term pain. Many clients come to us after dealing with deep puncture wounds, torn muscles, nerve damage, or infections that require antibiotics or even surgery. Visible areas such as the face, neck, arms, and hands are especially vulnerable, and scarring in those locations can affect confidence and daily interactions.

For children and adults alike, the emotional impact can be just as serious. Some people develop an intense fear of dogs, avoid parks or neighborhoods where dogs are present, or experience nightmares and anxiety. Parents often tell us that their child’s personality seems to have changed after a severe attack, which can be heartbreaking and confusing when you are also trying to keep up with medical appointments and school or work.

We work to account for all of these consequences when pursuing compensation. That can include the cost of emergency care, follow up visits, physical therapy, future scar revision or reconstructive procedures, and counseling. It can also include lost income if you missed work or will need time off for additional surgeries, along with damages for pain, suffering, and the loss of enjoyment of activities you once loved.

Our attorneys at MR.LAW Accident & Injury Attorneys have recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients in cases involving life changing injuries and complex liability situations. While every case is different, and no result can be promised, that history reflects our commitment to maximizing recovery so that clients have the financial support they need to move forward. We carry that same determination into dog bite cases, guided by our “Until Victory Always” philosophy.

Dog Bite Injury FAQs