Aubrey Dog Bite Lawyer

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A dog bite in Aubrey, Texas can happen anywhere, from the walking trails near Lake Ray Roberts State Park to a neighbor’s front yard just off U.S. Highway 380. When it does, the injuries can be far more serious than a simple scratch. Puncture wounds, nerve damage, infections, and lasting emotional trauma are all common outcomes. If a dog attacked you or someone you love, Texas law gives you the right to pursue compensation, and Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is ready to help you understand your options.

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Why Dog Bite Cases in Aubrey, Texas Are More Common Than You Think

Aubrey is one of the fastest-growing communities in Denton County. As more families move into neighborhoods like Light Farms and Sandbrock Ranch, the number of dogs in the area grows too. More dogs in close proximity to neighbors, children, and delivery workers means a higher chance of an attack occurring.

In 2024, 22,658 dog-related injury claims were filed across the United States, marking a 19% increase from 2023. Texas is consistently among the states with the highest number of incidents. States like Texas and Florida have reported the highest numbers of fatal dog bite incidents in CDC data.

Insurers paid out a total of $1.57 billion for dog-related injury claims in 2024, the highest amount ever recorded, with the average cost per claim reaching $69,272. These numbers show that dog attacks are not minor events. They carry real financial weight for victims who face medical bills, lost income, and long recovery timelines.

Many attacks in Aubrey happen in everyday settings. A dog slips through a gate on a quiet residential street. A neighbor’s dog charges across an unfenced yard. A child gets bitten while visiting a friend’s home near Aubrey’s downtown square. These situations are more common than most people realize, and they are often preventable. When an owner’s carelessness leads to your injury, you deserve to be made whole. The personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys serve Aubrey residents and are ready to review your case at no cost to you.

Texas Law Controls Who Is Responsible After a Dog Attack in Aubrey

Texas follows what is known as the “one-bite rule,” a legal standard rooted in the 1974 Texas Supreme Court case Marshall v. Ranne. Under this rule, a dog owner can be held strictly liable for an attack if they knew, or had reason to know, that their dog was dangerous before the incident occurred.

Texas follows a modified version of the one-bite rule, meaning a dog owner can be held liable for a dog bite even if it is the first incident, if the owner knew or should have known that the dog had a propensity for biting. Prior aggressive behavior, growling at visitors, or a previous bite incident on record all count as notice to the owner.

Even if the dog has no prior history of aggression, you still have a path to compensation. Even if the dog has never bitten anyone before, the owner might still face liability under general negligence laws. This happens when the owner failed to control or restrain the dog in a public area, local leash laws or animal control ordinances were violated, or the owner ignored warnings about the dog’s behavior. Negligence claims do not require proof of a previous bite, but you must still show the owner acted unreasonably and that this conduct led to your injury.

Texas Health and Safety Code Section 822.005 adds another layer. Under this statute, a dog owner commits a criminal offense if they fail to secure a dog with criminal negligence and that dog makes an unprovoked attack causing serious bodily injury or death at a location other than the owner’s property. That offense is a felony of the third degree, escalating to a felony of the second degree if the attack causes death. A criminal finding against the owner can strengthen your civil claim significantly.

Texas also uses a modified comparative negligence system. Under this model, an injured person may be found partially at fault for the incident and still recover compensation. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you may not recover damages. If you are found less than 50% at fault, you may recover an amount reduced by the same percentage of your fault. This is why having an attorney document the facts clearly from the beginning matters so much.

What Counts as a “Dangerous Dog” Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 defines a “dangerous dog” and sets out specific rules that owners of such animals must follow. Understanding this definition is critical to your case, because a dangerous dog designation can shift the legal burden significantly in your favor.

Under Chapter 822, a dog may be designated as dangerous if it makes an unprovoked attack on a person outside of the owner’s property that causes bodily injury, or if it commits unprovoked acts that cause a person to reasonably believe the dog will attack and cause bodily injury. Once a dog receives this designation, the owner must register the dog, keep it in a secure enclosure, and carry liability insurance of at least $100,000.

Texas Health and Safety Code Section 822.002 requires a court to order animal control to seize a dog when there is a sworn complaint and probable cause to believe the dog caused the death of or serious bodily injury to a person by attacking, biting, or mauling them. Section 822.003 then requires a hearing to be held within 10 days of the warrant’s issuance, at which any interested party, including the county or city attorney, may present evidence. If the court finds the dog caused a death, it must order the dog destroyed. If the court finds the dog caused serious bodily injury, it may order the dog destroyed.

Section 822.045 makes it a criminal offense for an owner to fail to comply with dangerous dog regulations. A first violation is a Class C misdemeanor, and a second offense is a Class B misdemeanor. These violations create a record that your attorney can use to show the owner knew about the risk and failed to act. If you were bitten near Aubrey’s Pilot Point Road corridor or anywhere else in Denton County, and the dog had a prior designation, you may have a strong strict liability claim.

Injuries from Dog Bites and the Compensation You Can Recover

Dog bite injuries range from minor cuts to catastrophic, life-altering trauma. Children are especially vulnerable. A large dog can knock a child down and cause skull fractures, facial lacerations, or traumatic brain injuries in addition to bite wounds. Adults who are bitten on the hands or arms may suffer nerve damage that affects their ability to work for months or permanently.

In 2018, around 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery due to dog bite injuries. Reconstructive procedures are expensive and often require multiple procedures over time. The average cost of a hospital stay due to a dog bite is about $18,200. Add to that lost wages, follow-up care, physical therapy, and the emotional toll of the attack, and the financial burden grows quickly.

Texas law allows dog bite victims to seek compensation for all of the following: medical expenses including emergency treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation; lost wages and loss of earning capacity if injuries prevent you from working; pain and suffering, which accounts for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the attack; disfigurement and scarring, which carry their own category of damages under Texas law; and property damage if the dog destroyed clothing, eyeglasses, or other personal items during the attack.

In cases where a dog attack proves fatal, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71. This type of claim allows spouses, children, and parents to recover for the loss of their loved one’s companionship, financial support, and emotional presence.

Every case is different, and past outcomes in other cases do not guarantee the same result in yours. What we can tell you is that Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys will work to build the strongest possible case based on the specific facts of your situation. Call us at (940) 800-2500 to talk through your options.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Dog Bite in the Aubrey Area

What you do in the hours and days after a dog attack directly affects the strength of your legal claim. Evidence disappears quickly. Witnesses forget details. Acting fast protects both your health and your rights.

Get medical attention first, even if the wound looks minor. Dog bites introduce bacteria into the body, and infections can develop within hours. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, any dog that bites a human must be quarantined for at least 10 days after the bite. Quarantine means the dog is placed in a facility with no escape possible, and the animal must have no contact with other animals or people except those necessary for its care, and must be observed twice daily by a qualified person. Ask your treating physician to document all injuries in detail.

Report the attack to Denton County Animal Services or the Aubrey Police Department. An official report creates a public record of the incident and triggers an investigation into the dog’s history. If the dog has prior complaints on file, that information can support your claim.

Photograph your injuries immediately, and take photos of the location where the attack happened. If the fence was broken, the gate was open, or the dog was off-leash in a public area near Aubrey Community Park, photograph those conditions before they are repaired or changed. Collect the names and contact information of any witnesses.

Preserve your clothing and any torn or bloodied items. Do not wash them. Keep every medical bill, prescription receipt, and insurance explanation of benefits. Write down your account of what happened as soon as possible while the details are fresh. These records form the foundation of your case.

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 sets a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. If you must file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog owner or other negligent party, you have two years from the date of the incident to do so, per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Missing this deadline almost always ends your ability to recover any compensation. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible so we can begin preserving evidence and building your case.

FAQs About Aubrey Dog Bite Lawyer

Does Texas have a strict liability law for dog bites?

Texas does not have a single strict liability statute dedicated to dog bites. Instead, strict liability applies under the common law one-bite rule when you can prove the owner knew their dog was dangerous before the attack. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 also imposes criminal and civil consequences on owners of dogs officially designated as dangerous. If the owner had prior knowledge of the dog’s aggression, you do not have to prove negligence. You only need to show the owner knew the risk and the dog caused your injury.

What if the dog that bit me had no prior history of biting anyone?

You can still recover compensation even if the dog had no prior bite history. Texas law allows negligence claims against owners who failed to use reasonable care to control their dog. For example, if the owner let the dog roam off-leash in a public area near Aubrey, failed to secure a broken fence, or ignored visible signs of aggression, those facts can support a negligence claim. You do not need a prior bite on record to win your case. An attorney can help you identify which theory of liability applies to your specific situation.

Can a landlord or property owner be held responsible for a dog bite in Aubrey?

Yes, in some circumstances. If a landlord knew a tenant’s dog had a history of dangerous behavior and failed to take action, the landlord may share liability for injuries that occur on the property. This is especially relevant in shared areas like apartment complexes or rental properties in Denton County. Property owners who control the premises where an attack happens and who had knowledge of the dog’s dangerous tendencies can face premises liability claims alongside the dog’s owner.

How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in Texas?

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 gives you two years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline applies to most dog bite cases in Aubrey and throughout Denton County. If the victim is a minor, the clock may not start running until they turn 18, but do not rely on that exception without speaking to an attorney first. Missing the two-year deadline typically means losing your right to sue entirely. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible to protect your claim.

What defenses might a dog owner raise against my claim in Texas?

Dog owners in Texas commonly raise several defenses. They may argue they had no prior knowledge of the dog’s dangerous tendencies, which defeats a strict liability claim. They may claim you provoked the dog, which can reduce or eliminate your recovery under Texas’s comparative negligence rules. They may also argue you were trespassing on their property at the time of the attack, which limits their duty of care to you. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 822.006, additional defenses apply in specific situations, such as when the dog was being used for lawful hunting or the attack involved a law enforcement K-9. An experienced attorney can anticipate these defenses and build your case to counter them.

Content prepared by Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, whose principal office is located in Denton, Texas. Attorneys at this firm are licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. Past case outcomes described generally on this site do not guarantee or predict similar results in future cases, as each matter depends on its own facts and applicable law.

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