Many people hurt by a dog in El Paso hesitate before calling anyone, because the dog belongs to a neighbor, a relative, or a friend's landlord. Suing someone you know feels wrong. In most cases, though, the claim isn't paid out of that person's pocket.
Homeowners' and renters' insurance policies commonly include liability coverage that applies to dog bites. An El Paso dog bite lawyer at NMW Law Firm deals with that insurer, so medical bills, scar revision, and missed work can be covered without turning a neighbor into an opponent.
To find out whether the owner's policy covers your bite, call the El Paso office at (915) 444-5025. You can ask your questions before deciding anything.
How Does NMW Law Firm Approach Dog Bite Cases?
Dog bite claims are handled differently from crash cases. The people involved often know each other, and the injuries, especially to children, can take years of treatment to fully show.
Working Through the Insurer, Not Against Your Neighbor
The firm's El Paso team communicates directly with the owner's homeowners' or renters' insurance company, so you don't have to negotiate with someone you see every day.
Keeping Future Treatment in the Claim
More than 90 percent of NMW Law Firm's clients are referred by physicians. That connection helps make sure a plastic surgeon's plan for scar revision is documented before any settlement is discussed.
Who Actually Pays for a Dog Bite Claim?
How the Insurer Steps In
In a typical case, the dog owner notifies their insurance company, and the insurer handles the claim from there. The adjuster investigates, negotiates, and pays any settlement up to the policy limits.
That arrangement protects both sides. You can recover the cost of your injuries, and the owner is defended by their insurer rather than paying out of savings. Owners who rent are often covered through a renters' policy, and some bites that happen away from home are covered too.
Where Coverage Runs Out
Coverage has limits. Some policies exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history, and some owners carry no insurance at all. Checking coverage early shows what options are realistic.
How Does Texas Decide Who Is Liable for a Dog Bite?
Texas does not have a statute making owners automatically liable for every bite. Instead, liability usually rests on one of three theories.
| Theory | What must be shown | A typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Known dangerous propensity | The owner knew or should have known the dog was likely to bite or attack | The dog had bitten before or regularly lunged at people |
| Negligence | The owner failed to use reasonable care to control the dog | Leaving a gate open knowing the dog escapes |
| Negligence per se | The owner broke a safety law meant to prevent this kind of harm | The dog was off leash in violation of El Paso's ordinance |
The One-Bite Rule, Texas Version
The Texas Supreme Court set out the modern rule in Marshall v. Ranne in 1974. An owner can be held strictly liable if the dog had dangerous or vicious tendencies and the owner knew or should have known about them.
That knowledge doesn't require a prior bite. Previous attacks on other animals, repeated aggressive behavior, warnings from neighbors, or a "beware of dog" sign can all show the owner was on notice.
Negligence Without a Bite History
When a dog has no known history, a claim can still succeed on ordinary negligence. The question becomes whether the owner acted reasonably: keeping the dog restrained, fixing a broken fence, or not leaving a large dog alone with small children.
When a Broken Ordinance Changes the Case
Negligence per se applies when someone violates a law designed to protect people like you. Leash and containment ordinances fit that description. A violation doesn't end the analysis, but it can take much of the guesswork out of proving the owner was careless.
Which El Paso Animal Rules Matter in a Bite Case?
City rules often turn a difficult one-bite case into a much clearer one.
- Leash and confinement. According to El Paso Animal Services, pets must be on a leash or in a carrier when outside the home, and dogs kept at home must be securely confined.
- Aggressive and Vicious Dog designations. In January 2026, the city added these classifications to Title 7 of the municipal code. Designated owners must take corrective steps within 30 days, including keeping the dog leashed or enclosed and posting a warning sign.
- State Dangerous Dog designation. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822, a dog that attacks a person unprovoked while at large can be declared dangerous, which triggers registration and restraint requirements.
- Quarantine after a bite. Animal Services may order a dog that bit a person into quarantine for at least 10 days, either at an animal hospital or, in some cases, at home, to watch for signs of rabies.
Records from these steps, including the bite report, quarantine order, and any citation, often become the backbone of the insurance claim.
Who Else May Be Responsible for a Dog Bite?
The owner isn't always the only responsible party.
- Landlords can be liable in limited circumstances, generally when they knew a tenant's dog was dangerous and had the ability to remove the danger, such as through the lease.
- Property owners who allow a known dangerous dog on their premises may share responsibility for injuries to guests.
- Dog walkers, sitters, and boarding businesses take on a duty of control while the dog is in their care.
- Businesses that allow dogs inside, such as patios, stores, or apartment common areas, may be responsible if they ignore a known aggressive animal.
These claims turn on what each person knew and could control, so early statements and documents matter.
What Medical Concerns Follow a Dog Bite?
The first priority after a dog bite is medical care, even when the wound looks minor. Dog bites carry a high risk of infection because of the bacteria in a dog's mouth, including Pasteurella and, in some cases, MRSA.
- Rabies. Your doctor will consider the dog's vaccination status and the quarantine result. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains when post-exposure treatment is recommended.
- Tetanus. Many bite patients need a tetanus booster if their last shot was several years ago.
- Nerve and tendon damage. Deep bites to the hands and forearms can cause lasting loss of strength or feeling.
- Scarring. Facial and hand wounds may need plastic surgery, often in stages over a year or more.
Children are bitten on the face and head more often than adults because of their height. Those injuries tend to produce the most serious claims, since a child may need revision surgery as they grow and can carry lasting fear of dogs.
What Can an El Paso Dog Bite Claim Include?
A dog bite claim can include:
- Emergency care, follow-up visits, antibiotics, and rabies or tetanus treatment
- Reconstructive and scar-revision surgery, including future procedures
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological harm, such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress, particularly in children
- Lost wages and reduced ability to work, especially after hand injuries
- Physical pain and mental anguish
Values vary widely. A healed puncture wound and a child's facial reconstruction are valued very differently, and available insurance coverage often sets a practical ceiling.
How Do Insurers Push Back on Dog Bite Claims?
Even when coverage exists, the insurer's job is to limit what it pays. Adjusters in dog bite cases often raise the same handful of arguments.
- Provocation. They may say the victim, often a child, startled, teased, or cornered the dog.
- Trespassing. They may argue the victim had no right to be on the property when the bite happened.
- Minimizing scars. They may treat scarring as cosmetic, even when it is on a child's face and will need years of revision.
- Early, low offers. A quick settlement before the scar has matured can leave future surgery unpaid.
Each argument has an answer, usually found in the bite report, witness accounts, photographs taken over time, and the treating surgeon's opinion.
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite in El Paso?
These steps protect both your health and your claim.
- Get medical care the same day and follow up on any signs of infection.
- Report the bite to El Paso Animal Services by calling 311, so a bite report and quarantine are on record.
- Get the owner's name, address, and the dog's vaccination information if you can do so safely.
- Photograph the wounds on the day of the bite and again as they heal.
- Collect names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the attack.
- Hold off on signing anything from the owner's insurance company until you understand the full extent of your injuries.
How Long Do You Have to File a Texas Dog Bite Claim?
Two Years for Most Claims
Most dog bite claims in Texas must be filed within two years of the bite under Section 16.003 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
More Time When a Child Is Bitten
When the victim is a child, Section 16.001 generally pauses that deadline until the child turns 18.
Waiting has costs even when the deadline is years away. Witnesses move, the dog's records get harder to obtain, and the insurer's investigation starts without you.
FAQs for El Paso Dog Bite Claims
Does Texas have a one-bite rule for dogs?
Texas follows a modified one-bite rule. An owner can be strictly liable when they knew or should have known their dog had dangerous tendencies, which doesn't require a prior bite. Owners can also be liable for negligence, such as failing to restrain the dog, even without that knowledge.
Can I sue my landlord for a dog bite in Texas?
You may be able to sue a landlord for a dog bite in Texas if the landlord knew a tenant's dog was dangerous and had the ability to address the danger, such as through lease terms.
Landlords are generally not liable when they had no knowledge of the dog's behavior.
What is the average dog bite settlement in Texas?
There is no reliable average dog bite settlement in Texas. Values depend on the depth and location of the wounds, the need for surgery, scarring, psychological effects, and the available insurance coverage. Facial injuries to children and injuries requiring reconstructive surgery tend to produce the largest claims.
Will my neighbor have to pay for my dog bite out of pocket?
Usually not. Most Texas dog bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowners' or renters' insurance, which provides a defense and pays within its policy limits. An owner may be personally responsible if there is no coverage, a policy exclusion applies, or the damages exceed the policy limits.
Can I file a claim if the dog was provoked?
Provocation is a common defense in Texas dog bite cases. If the victim teased or hit the dog, the owner may argue reduced or no liability, and Texas proportionate responsibility rules can reduce recovery by the victim's share of fault.
Young children are usually held to a different standard than adults.
When the Dog Belongs to Someone You Know
It's reasonable to worry about what a claim means for a relationship. NMW Law Firm handles these cases through the insurer, directly and without drama, and can tell you early whether coverage exists before you decide anything.
If you or your child was bitten in El Paso, call the El Paso office at (915) 444-5025, day or night. The first conversation is free. Each claim depends on its facts, and results vary from case to case.