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A dog bite can turn an ordinary day in Pilot Point into a painful, frightening ordeal. Whether you were walking near Lake Ray Roberts State Park, jogging along FM 455, or simply visiting a neighbor off Highway 377, you had every right to be safe. When a dog owner’s carelessness causes your injuries, Texas law gives you real options for holding that person accountable. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, we represent dog bite victims throughout Denton County, and we want you to understand your rights before you take a single step.
Table of Contents
- How Texas Dog Bite Law Works and Why It Matters for Pilot Point Victims
- The Criminal Side of Dog Attacks: When Owners Face Felony Charges in Texas
- What Compensation You Can Pursue After a Dog Bite in Pilot Point
- Steps to Take Right After a Dog Bite in Pilot Point, Texas
- Why Pilot Point Dog Bite Victims Choose Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys
- FAQs About Pilot Point Dog Bite Claims
How Texas Dog Bite Law Works and Why It Matters for Pilot Point Victims
Texas follows what courts call the “one-bite rule,” a legal doctrine established by the Texas Supreme Court in the landmark case of Marshall v. Ranne. Under this rule, a dog owner can be held strictly liable for injuries if they knew, or reasonably should have known, that their dog had a history of aggressive or dangerous behavior. The name is somewhat misleading. The rule does not mean a dog gets one free bite before the owner faces consequences. It means the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s dangerous tendencies is what triggers strict liability.
Even when strict liability does not apply, you still have a path to compensation through a negligence claim. A negligence claim requires you to show that the owner owed you a duty of reasonable care, that they breached that duty, and that the breach directly caused your injuries. For example, if a dog owner in Pilot Point let their animal run loose near the Pilot Point Community Park in violation of a local leash ordinance, that violation can support a theory of negligence per se. Under negligence per se, breaking a law designed to protect the public can establish the breach element of your claim automatically.
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 also defines what makes a dog legally “dangerous” and imposes strict requirements on those owners. Under Section 822.045, an owner who fails to comply with those requirements commits a criminal offense, starting as a Class C misdemeanor and rising to a Class B misdemeanor for repeat violations. A dangerous-dog designation and evidence of the owner’s failure to follow the law can significantly strengthen your civil case by showing the owner had notice of the risk and still failed to act.
Texas also uses a modified comparative negligence system governed by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Sections 33.01 through 33.03. If a jury finds you were partially at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. If your fault reaches 51 percent or more, you recover nothing. This is why how your case is framed from the very beginning matters so much.
The Criminal Side of Dog Attacks: When Owners Face Felony Charges in Texas
Texas law does not stop at civil liability. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 822.005, often called “Lillian’s Law,” a dog owner commits a criminal offense when they fail, with criminal negligence, to secure their dog and the dog makes an unprovoked attack outside the owner’s property that causes serious bodily injury or death. An owner who already knows their dog is dangerous and still allows it to attack someone faces the same criminal exposure.
The criminal penalties are serious. Under Section 822.005(b), an offense involving serious bodily injury is a felony of the third degree. If the attack causes a person’s death, the offense escalates to a felony of the second degree. A court that finds the owner guilty may also order the dog destroyed.
Criminal negligence in Texas is defined under Penal Code Section 6.03 as a situation where a person should have been aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk. That is a higher standard than ordinary civil negligence, which is why criminal charges are reserved for the most serious cases. The criminal case and your civil claim are entirely separate proceedings. You do not need to wait for a criminal case to conclude before pursuing your own lawsuit for damages. In fact, waiting could cost you valuable time under the statute of limitations.
Texas law does recognize certain defenses for owners. Under Section 822.006, a dog owner is not criminally liable if the dog was on a leash and the owner was in immediate control of it at the time of the attack. Other defenses apply to veterinarians, law enforcement officers using dogs for official purposes, and service animal handlers. These defenses can also come up in civil cases, which is another reason having a knowledgeable attorney in your corner from the start makes a real difference.
What Compensation You Can Pursue After a Dog Bite in Pilot Point
Dog bites cause injuries that go far beyond a simple wound. Each year, dogs bite more than 4.5 million people in the United States, and approximately 885,000 seek medical attention. The physical damage from a serious attack can include deep lacerations, nerve damage, broken bones, and facial disfigurement. The emotional toll, including post-traumatic stress and a lasting fear of animals, is real and legally compensable.
In a Texas dog bite case, you can pursue economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover your out-of-pocket losses. These include past and future medical bills, the cost of surgeries or reconstructive procedures, physical therapy, lost wages if you missed work, and any future income you lose because the injury affects your ability to work. The average cost of a hospital stay for a dog bite is $18,200, about 50% higher than the average injury-related stay. That figure alone shows how quickly medical costs can pile up.
Non-economic damages compensate you for harm that does not come with a receipt. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life all fall into this category. If a dog attack left you with visible scars on your face, arms, or hands, Texas courts recognize that as a serious and compensable injury.
In the most severe cases, where a dog attack causes catastrophic injuries or death, additional claims may apply. If a loved one died as a result of a dog attack, the family may have a wrongful death claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71. These cases carry the same two-year statute of limitations, but the clock starts from the date of death rather than the date of the original injury. If the injuries are life-altering, such as traumatic brain injuries or permanent disfigurement, the value of the case reflects that long-term impact.
Insurance often plays a role in these cases. Many homeowners and renters insurance policies cover dog bite liability. Homeowners insurers paid out $1.56 billion in liability claims related to dog bites and other dog-related injuries in 2024, and the average cost per claim nationally has risen 174.7% from 2015 to 2024. Identifying all available insurance coverage is a critical early step in building your claim.
Steps to Take Right After a Dog Bite in Pilot Point, Texas
What you do in the hours and days after a dog bite directly affects your ability to recover compensation. The first priority is your health. Seek medical care immediately, even if the wound looks minor. Dog bites introduce bacteria into the body, and infections can develop quickly, especially in the hands and face. Follow your doctor’s wound-care instructions completely and keep records of every treatment you receive.
Report the attack to Denton County Animal Services or the Pilot Point Police Department as soon as possible. Under Texas law, a dog that bites a human must be quarantined for observation. That report also creates an official record of the incident, which becomes important evidence in your civil case. If the dog has a prior history of aggression, animal control records may reflect that, helping establish the owner’s prior knowledge under the one-bite rule.
Document everything at the scene. Photograph your injuries, the location of the attack, the dog, any broken fencing or open gates, and anything else that shows how the attack happened. If there were witnesses near the Pilot Point town square, a neighboring property, or along a rural road off US-377, get their names and contact information. Witnesses can confirm what happened and whether the dog had a history of aggressive behavior.
Preserve your clothing and any other physical evidence from the attack. Do not wash items that show blood or tearing. Keep copies of all medical bills, pharmacy receipts, and any correspondence with the dog owner or their insurance company. Write down your own account of what happened while it is still fresh. These steps protect your claim and give your attorney the tools needed to build a strong case.
Contact an attorney before you speak with the dog owner’s insurance company. Insurers often contact victims quickly and may try to settle for far less than the case is worth. A recorded statement made without legal guidance can be used against you later. The personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys offer free consultations and can help you understand what your claim is actually worth before you make any decisions.
Why Pilot Point Dog Bite Victims Choose Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys
Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is based in Denton, just a short drive from Pilot Point along US-377. We represent injury victims throughout Denton County, and we understand the local community, the courts that serve this area, and the laws that apply to your case. Our attorneys handle dog bite claims under the same thorough approach we bring to every personal injury matter, whether it involves a premises liability issue, a catastrophic injury, or a wrongful death.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly billing. You can call us, tell us what happened, and get real answers about your legal options without any financial pressure.
Time is a genuine concern in these cases. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 gives most personal injury plaintiffs two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you lose the right to pursue your claim entirely. For minors, the clock does not start until their 18th birthday, giving them until age 20 to file. But waiting is never a good strategy. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and insurance companies become harder to deal with over time.
Our team investigates your claim thoroughly, identifies all liable parties, and pursues every dollar you are owed. We handle communication with insurance companies, gather medical records, and build the evidence needed to support your case, whether it settles or goes to trial at the Denton County courthouse. Past results in other cases do not guarantee the same outcome in yours, because every case depends on its own facts and law. What we can promise is that we will fight hard for you every step of the way.
If a dog bite injured you or someone you love in Pilot Point or anywhere in Denton County, call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys today at (940) 800-2500. We are here to help you move forward.
Content on this page is the responsibility of Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, with a principal office in Denton, Texas. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in Texas.
FAQs About Pilot Point Dog Bite Claims
Does Texas law give a dog one free bite before the owner is liable?
Not exactly. Texas follows the “one-bite rule,” established in Marshall v. Ranne, which holds owners strictly liable if they knew or should have known their dog had dangerous tendencies. That knowledge can come from growling, lunging, prior complaints, or a formal dangerous-dog designation, not just a previous bite. Even without that prior knowledge, a victim can still pursue a negligence claim if the owner failed to use reasonable care in controlling the dog.
How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in Texas?
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including dog bites. The clock generally starts on the day the bite occurred. If the victim is a minor, the two-year period does not begin until their 18th birthday. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to recover compensation, so contacting an attorney as soon as possible after the attack is important.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the dog attack?
Yes, as long as your percentage of fault does not reach 51 percent. Texas uses a modified comparative negligence system under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Sections 33.01 through 33.03. If a jury finds you were 20 percent at fault, your damages are reduced by 20 percent. If your fault is determined to be 51 percent or more, you are barred from recovering anything. This is why how your case is presented matters so much from the very beginning.
What if the dog that bit me was classified as a “dangerous dog” under Texas law?
A dangerous-dog designation under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 comes with strict requirements for the owner, including registration, secure enclosure, and liability insurance. If the owner failed to meet those requirements, that failure is a criminal offense under Section 822.045 and can significantly strengthen your civil case. It shows the owner had formal notice that their dog posed a risk and still failed to take the steps the law required.
Can I sue someone other than the dog’s owner after a bite in Pilot Point?
Potentially, yes. Liability can extend beyond the dog’s owner in certain situations. A landlord who knew a tenant’s dog had dangerous tendencies and failed to act may share liability for an attack that occurs on the property. A property manager, a business owner, or another person who was responsible for controlling the dog at the time of the attack could also face a claim. Identifying all potentially liable parties is one of the first and most important steps in building a strong dog bite case.
