Dog Bite Lawyer

By Andrew Traub

Dog Bite Lawyer Austin: Your Legal Support System

Dog bites can be traumatic and life-changing events. A dog bite lawyer Austin can be your strongest ally during this difficult time, helping you navigate the complex aftermath of a dog attack — from negligent owners who failed to control a dangerous dog to insurance companies looking to minimize your claim.

Understanding the Severity of Dog Bites

Dog attacks often stem from negligent owners, lack of training, naturally aggressive breeds, or provocation and mishandling. The injuries that result go well beyond a simple bite: deep lacerations and puncture wounds, broken bones, nerve damage that can cause permanent loss of sensation, infections, and jagged, torn wounds that often heal poorly and leave prominent scarring. The psychological toll — fear of dogs, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and in serious cases PTSD — can be just as lasting as the physical injury. In extreme cases, dog attacks can be fatal, especially for children or the elderly.

Dog bite claims in Texas can be tough. Victims often face issues like proving the owner knew the dog was dangerous, dealing with shared-fault claims, and gathering strong evidence. Insurance adjusters may downplay injuries, and missing legal deadlines can ruin a case. Emotional trauma and future costs are also hard to quantify but crucial to include. Having an experienced lawyer helps navigate these obstacles and fight for full compensation.

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

An experienced dog bite lawyer can help you pursue compensation for:

• Medical treatment — ER visits, surgery and follow-up care, medication, and physical therapy
• Lost wages — time off work during recovery and any reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering — physical discomfort, emotional distress, and PTSD
• Rehabilitation — ongoing physical or occupational therapy and psychological counseling
• Scar repair — plastic surgery and scar revision treatments, which are especially common in dog bite cases given how jagged these wounds tend to heal

What Your Dog Bite Lawyer Will Do

After a free initial consultation to evaluate your case, your lawyer investigates the attack — gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing the dog owner’s history for prior incidents. Police and animal control reports offer unbiased, official documentation that carries real weight with insurers and courts. Expert witnesses, like animal behaviorists and medical professionals, can further strengthen your case by explaining the dog’s behavior and the long-term impact of your injuries in terms a jury or adjuster will credit.

From there, your lawyer documents your medical records, lost wages, and pain and suffering; drafts a demand letter to the insurance company; and negotiates aggressively against lowball offers. If a fair settlement isn’t reached, they’ll file suit and represent you through litigation and, if necessary, at trial. If you’re blamed for the incident — a common insurance-company tactic — your lawyer can use medical records, witness statements, and expert insight to counter that claim.

Steps to Take After a Dog Bite

1. Seek medical help immediately — even minor bites can lead to serious infections.
2. Contact animal control so the dog is quarantined and tested for rabies.
3. Document the incident — photos of your injuries and the scene, plus witness contact information.
4. Collect the owner’s information, including their insurance details.
5. Get a follow-up medical evaluation and follow all treatment recommendations.
6. Preserve evidence — medical records, bills, and even torn or bloodied clothing.
7. Talk to a lawyer before speaking with any insurance company.

Legal Timeframe: Texas’s Two-Year Rule

You have two years from the date of the dog bite to file a lawsuit in Texas. This deadline is strict and rarely extended — miss it, and you permanently lose your right to seek compensation, regardless of how strong your case is. (An exception exists for minors, whose two-year clock generally doesn’t start until they turn 18, but it’s never wise to rely on an exception.) Building a strong case takes time — gathering fresh evidence, interviewing witnesses while memories are clear, and negotiating with insurers — so the sooner you act, the stronger your case can be.

Legal Bases for Dog Bite Lawsuits in Texas

Texas dog bite cases are generally pursued under one of three legal theories:

• Negligence — the owner failed to exercise reasonable care, such as not leashing the dog or ignoring aggressive behavior.
• Strict liability — the owner is held responsible because they knew, or should have known, their dog had dangerous tendencies (from a prior bite, an attempted bite, or aggressive displays). This is Texas’s version of the common-law “one bite rule,” established by the Texas Supreme Court in Marshall v. Ranne.
• Premises liability — applicable when the bite happens on the owner’s property and they failed to keep it reasonably safe for visitors.

A common misconception is that a dog “gets one free bite” in Texas. That’s not quite right: strict liability requires showing the owner had prior notice of the dog’s dangerous tendencies, but a victim whose attacker had never bitten anyone before can still bring a straightforward negligence claim — you don’t need a documented history of aggression to have a case, you just need to show the owner failed to reasonably control their dog.

Texas also uses a modified comparative negligence rule: if you’re partly at fault — say, for teasing the dog or ignoring a posted warning — your compensation is reduced by your percentage of blame, and you can’t recover anything if you’re found more than 50% at fault. An honest account of what happened, backed by strong documentation, is the best protection against an inflated fault claim from the insurer.

Dog bite incidents have been a rising concern in the Austin area — see the city’s own Austin Animal Services data for current local reporting.

Choosing the Right Dog Bite Lawyer Austin: Hire Us Now!

Our experience includes pursuing justice for bite victims, attending hearings to address dangerous dogs, and protecting victims’ legal rights. Discuss your case with Andrew Traub and learn how an experienced attorney can make a difference — not sure what to ask? See our 10 questions to ask a dog bite lawyer. We offer free guides on dog bite cases, client testimonials on our website, and the strategy and expertise to resolve your case successfully.

Were you or a loved one bitten by a dog? Contact us for a free case evaluation:

• Call (512) 246-9191
• Complete our online contact form