Dog bites are a daily reality in El Paso neighborhoods from the Lower Valley to the Northeast, where loose dogs, unfenced yards and unleashed pets at parks lead to thousands of animal control calls every year. A dog bite claim is for anyone attacked by someone else's dog: a child bitten in the face at a relative's house, a mail carrier or delivery driver attacked in a yard, a jogger chased down on a sidewalk, or a guest mauled by a dog the owner swore was friendly. Puncture wounds, nerve damage, infection, facial scarring and post-traumatic anxiety are all compensable. Navar Law represents bite victims and their families throughout El Paso County.
Texas has no dog bite statute imposing strict liability; instead, courts follow the one bite rule from Marshall v. Ranne. An owner is strictly liable if the dog had previously bitten or shown dangerous tendencies and the owner knew it. Without that history, the victim must prove ordinary negligence, such as violating El Paso's leash and restraint ordinances or letting a large dog roam loose. Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 also lets a court declare a dog dangerous and imposes duties and even criminal penalties on owners of dogs that cause serious injury. The two-year deadline in Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 16.003 applies, and a minor's claim is typically tolled until age 18.
Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, which many victims do not realize exists — and which is why suing a neighbor or relative is rarely necessary. We obtain the El Paso Animal Services bite report and quarantine records, prior complaints about the dog, photographs of the wounds as they heal, and medical documentation including any plastic surgery recommendation. We then present a demand to the insurer. Nearly all El Paso dog bite claims resolve this way without a lawsuit or court appearance. If the insurer refuses a fair offer, we can file suit in El Paso County with your approval. Handling it alone usually means leaving scar revision and future care out of the settlement.
Steps to take after a dog attack in El Paso
Get medical care immediately, even for a puncture that looks minor; dog bites carry a high infection risk and the visit creates the record you will need. Report the bite to El Paso Animal Services at 311 so the dog is identified and quarantined for rabies observation, which also generates an official report. Photograph the wounds daily as they heal, get the owner's name and address, and ask neighbors whether the dog has attacked before. Do not accept a cash offer from the owner or give a recorded statement to their insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
Children, scarring and long-term damages
Children are bitten more often than adults and usually on the face, neck and hands. Facial scars on a growing child may require multiple revision surgeries over years, and the emotional injury — nightmares, fear of animals, withdrawal — is real and compensable under Texas law as mental anguish. A settlement for a minor in Texas generally requires court approval and often a guardian ad litem, and the funds are protected in the court registry or an annuity until the child turns 18. We handle that approval process; it is usually a brief hearing that the attorney and parent attend, and it exists to protect the child.
For adults, damages include medical bills, lost work, scarring and disfigurement, nerve damage that limits hand function, and pain and mental anguish. Where the dog had a known history of aggression, Texas law may also allow exemplary damages against a grossly negligent owner.
What's included
- Free consultation and written contingency agreement — nothing upfront
- El Paso Animal Services bite report, quarantine and prior-complaint records obtained
- Investigation of the dog's history and the owner's negligence or ordinance violations
- Identification of the owner's homeowner's or renter's liability coverage
- Wound photographs, medical records and plastic surgery estimates assembled
- Demand to the insurer, negotiation and lien resolution
- Court approval of a minor's settlement handled by our office when required
How it works
1. Free consultation
We review the attack, the wounds, and what is known about the dog and its owner, then explain the one bite rule and the contingency fee. If the case is viable, we sign and take over contact with the owner and insurer.
2. Investigation and documentation
We obtain animal control records, interview neighbors about the dog's history, and locate the insurance policy. You focus on healing while we photograph progress and gather medical and scar-treatment records.
3. Demand and settlement
When healing has plateaued, we send a documented demand and negotiate. Nearly all El Paso dog bite claims settle here. If the insurer refuses a fair offer, we discuss filing suit and you decide.