After a dog bite or another animal attack in El Paso, Texas law decides the claim. Texas has no dog bite statute for civil claims, so the result turns on the dog owner’s knowledge of the dog and how the owner handled it.
El Paso adds rules of its own on reporting a bite and restraining a pet. Zinda Law Group offers a free consultation with an El Paso dog bite lawyer at (800) 863-5312.
Article summary
Key things to know
- An owner can be liable under the one bite rule or for negligence.
- An earlier bite is not required. The question is whether the owner knew, or had reason to know, the dog was abnormally dangerous.
- El Paso requires every animal bite to be reported. You can report one by calling 311.
- Texas generally allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, and exceptions can change the date.
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What an El Paso dog bite lawyer does
An El Paso dog bite lawyer handles the claim against the dog owner and deals with any insurance company behind the owner. The work starts with proof. The lawyer will gather evidence such as the bite report, medical records and statements from witnesses.
A dog bite case is a personal injury case, so a personal injury lawyer who knows this part of Texas law and El Paso’s leash ordinance is the right fit. Some people call the same person a dog attack attorney.
An adjuster for the owner’s insurer may call early. The lawyer takes those calls and compares each offer with what the dog bite injury cost. A separate article explains why you should not deal with insurance companies on your own.
Texas dog bite law and the one bite rule
The rule for these claims comes from the Texas Supreme Court, and lawyers call it the one bite rule. Under the Texas one bite rule, strict liability applies when the owner knew, or had reason to know, the dog had dangerous tendencies that are not normal for a dog. Those tendencies must also have caused the injury.
Strict liability means the owner is liable even after using care to prevent the harm. The rule the court quoted does not protect a trespasser on the owner’s land.
To show the owner’s knowledge, a lawyer looks into the dog’s history. Earlier bites and reports of aggressive behavior are the usual starting points.
A dog with no history can still lead to a legal claim. Texas also allows a negligence claim when the owner failed to use reasonable care in handling the dog. To prove negligence, a lawyer looks at how the dog got loose. A broken gate or a dog walked without a leash can point to the owner’s negligence.
Our article on Texas dog bite laws explains the rule in more detail, and a separate article covers proving negligence after a dog bite.
The same law applies in every Texas city. Our Texas dog bite lawyers page covers claims across the state, and the national dog bite lawyer page explains how the rule differs elsewhere.
El Paso leash, reporting and dangerous dog rules
El Paso’s animal ordinance is Title 7 of the city code, and the city’s Animal Services department enforces it. All animal bites in the city must be reported, and you can make the report by calling 311. Our FAQ explains how to file a dog bite report in El Paso.
A report gives you an official record of the dog bite incident. After a dog bite the owner can be cited, and El Paso Animal Services can order a rabies quarantine of the dog at an animal hospital for at least 10 days. Home observation may be an option, depending on the animal’s vaccination status and the circumstances.
The ordinance requires a pet to be restrained and confined at all times. Off its owner’s property, a dog must be under direct control, such as on a leash, and may not run at large. A dog kept outside must be in a securely fenced yard or an enclosed pen that prevents escape. A lawyer trying to prove negligence checks early for the owner’s failure to follow one of these rules.
Under Texas law, a dog can be declared dangerous after an unprovoked attack that causes bodily injury to a person in a place other than the secure enclosure where the dog was kept. Within 30 days of learning the dog is dangerous, the owner must take several steps. They include registering the dog, restraining it at all times and carrying at least $100,000 in liability insurance or showing financial responsibility in that amount.
The City Council added two local classes in January 2026, Aggressive Dog and Vicious Dog. An Aggressive Dog is one at large that threatens a person or another animal. The Vicious Dog class is about attacks on animals, not people. An owner of a designated dog has 30 days to take corrective steps, which include keeping the dog leashed or securely enclosed and posting a warning sign.
Title 7 is a City of El Paso ordinance. For an animal concern outside the city limits, the city tells residents to contact their local animal control or law enforcement. Our city dog bite ordinances page explains how local rules like these work in general.
What to do after a dog attack in El Paso
- Get medical care. Seek medical attention immediately, at an emergency room or urgent care. Prompt medical attention also starts the records a claim needs, so follow the medical treatment plan you are given.
- Report the bite. Call 311 to report the attack to El Paso Animal Services. Call 911 in an emergency.
- Identify the dog owner. Write down the dog owner’s name and address and a description of the dog.
- Gather evidence. Take photos of your injuries and the place where the attack occurred, including any broken gate or fence.
- Keep your records. Save your medical bills, receipts and proof of lost income.
- Wait on statements. The dog owner’s insurance company may ask for a recorded statement. Talk to a lawyer before you give one.
A separate article on what you should do after an attack covers these first steps.
Injuries and compensation in a dog bite case
Dog bite injuries include puncture wounds and deep cuts. Some dog bite victims need plastic surgery, and a serious injury can leave a permanent scar. When the injured person is a child, start with our page on child dog bite injuries.
A physical injury is only part of the harm. Texas law lists physical pain and mental or emotional anguish among the losses a claim can include, so evidence of emotional distress after a dog attack is part of the claim too.
A claim can pursue compensation from the dog owner for losses such as these.
- Medical expenses, including future medical treatment the evidence supports
- Lost wages and other lost income
- Physical pain and mental anguish
- Disfigurement, such as permanent scarring from a dog bite
Medical records and bills are the usual proof of each physical injury caused by the bite and of the medical expenses that followed. The dog owner is usually the liable party, and compensation can be paid by an insurance company. A homeowners or renters insurance policy may cover the attack, depending on its terms.
Our FAQ explains whether renters insurance covers dog bites, and our article on who to blame for a dog bite covers who can be responsible.
An injured person can seek compensation, but no lawyer can promise an amount. Fair compensation depends on the injuries, the records and each side’s share of fault.
Texas rules that apply to an El Paso dog bite claim
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| One bite rule | An owner is strictly liable for harm caused by a dog the owner knew, or had reason to know, was abnormally dangerous | Marshall v. Ranne (Tex. 1974) |
| Negligence | An owner can be liable for handling a dog carelessly, even when the dog had no known history | Marshall v. Ranne (Tex. 1974) |
| Deadline to file | Generally two years from the day the claim accrues | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003 |
| Shared fault | In a Texas injury case, damages are reduced by the injured person’s percentage of responsibility. A person who is more than 50 percent responsible cannot recover | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 33.001 and 33.012 |
| Reporting | A person who knows of a bite that could transmit rabies must report it to the local rabies control authority | Tex. Health & Safety Code 826.041 |
| Dangerous dogs | The owner of a dangerous dog must, among other steps, register it, restrain it at all times and carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance or show financial responsibility | Tex. Health & Safety Code 822.042 |
The table gives general rules as of October 2026. Exceptions can change a deadline, and the timing can be different when the injured person is a child.
If a claim does not settle, a lawsuit filed in El Paso County can be heard in a district court or a county court at law, depending on the claim.
Filing deadlines
Questions about how much time you have?
More El Paso injury pages and Texas dog bite pages
Our El Paso office handles other injury cases too. Each link below goes to the El Paso page for that kind of case.
- Vehicle crashes. car accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, boat accidents, ATV accidents
- Premises liability and other accidents. slip and fall injuries, construction accidents, gas explosions, accidental shootings, ski accidents
- Serious injuries. child injuries, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death
- Other claims. medical malpractice, defective products, property damage insurance claims
Zinda Law Group also has a dog bite page for each of these Texas cities.
- Central Texas. Austin, Round Rock, Killeen, Temple, Waco, College Station
- North Texas. Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Carrollton
- Southeast Texas. Houston, Baytown, Beaumont
- South Texas. San Antonio, Corpus Christi
- West Texas. Midland, Lubbock, Amarillo
When you are ready
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A free consultation with our El Paso dog bite lawyers
If you searched for a dog bite law firm in El Paso, Zinda Law Group is a personal injury firm that takes these cases. Our El Paso personal injury lawyers work from the office at 2300 George Dieter Drive.
Your dog bite case starts with a free case evaluation. We explain how Texas law applies and which records to gather.
Once you hire us, our attorneys guide you through the entire process and pursue compensation from the owner or the insurer.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so there is no out-of-pocket cost to secure the legal representation you need.
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