Introduction
Texas dog bite law is layered and frequently misunderstood, and Ardalan Law Firm PLLC has built a practice around understanding every layer of it. Attorney Ard Ardalan personally walks each dog bite and dog attack client through the specific liability standards that apply to their situation, because the applicable theory of liability determines how the case is built and what evidence matters. Texas follows a “one bite rule” combined with negligence principles, meaning that liability depends on facts that require careful investigation from the first contact with a new client.
The firm operates from 1211 West 6th Street, Suite 600-122, in Austin, Texas, serving clients in Austin and Round Rock as well as throughout Texas. The practice covers personal injury matters including car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bike accidents, burn injuries, and dog attacks. All cases are handled on contingency: attorney fees are deducted from the recovery at the conclusion of the case with no upfront out-of-pocket costs. Free liability and damages analysis is available by phone or in person.
Understanding Texas Dog Bite and Dog Attack Law
Most states fall into one of two camps on dog bite liability: strict liability, where owners are responsible regardless of prior knowledge, or the “one bite rule,” where prior dangerous behavior is required to establish liability. Texas takes a combined approach that creates more litigation complexity and more potential liability pathways than either pure rule alone.
The one bite rule in Texas means that an owner can be held strictly liable if they knew or should have known that their dog had previously exhibited aggressive behavior. Prior bites establish that knowledge clearly, but aggressive behavior short of a bite, such as growling, snapping, jumping at people, or straining aggressively at a leash, can also establish the owner’s awareness that the animal was dangerous.
Negligence without prior incidents is also available in Texas. When an owner violates a leash law or allows a dog to wander freely in violation of local ordinances, the owner may be liable for resulting attacks even without prior aggressive behavior documented. The negligence framework asks whether a reasonable owner would have recognized and controlled the risk.
Alternative liability avenues extend beyond the dog’s owner. Landlords who permit dangerous dogs on their property and have knowledge of the risk can face liability. Individuals who failed to stop an ongoing attack can face claims. Property owners with obligations to control animals on their premises may be responsible. Violations of specific animal safety ordinances create additional liability bases.
Ardalan Law Firm investigates all of these avenues in every dog attack case. Stopping at the owner’s direct liability without examining whether a landlord, property manager, or third party also contributed to the harm potentially leaves significant recovery on the table.
Practice Areas
Dog Attacks and Dog Bites
The firm’s Texas dog bite practice encompasses the full liability investigation described above. Each case begins with a detailed analysis of what the owner knew or should have known about the animal’s behavior, what ordinances govern the jurisdiction where the attack occurred, who controlled the property where the attack happened, and what evidence exists of prior dangerous behavior. That analysis shapes the legal theory the firm pursues and the evidence it targets in discovery.
Car Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions are the most common source of serious personal injury claims in Texas. The firm handles cases involving driver negligence, distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, and failure to yield, pursuing the full scope of compensation available under Texas law including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care costs where injuries are severe.
Truck Accidents
Commercial vehicle accidents involve liability analysis that extends beyond the driver to include trucking companies, cargo loaders, and maintenance contractors. Federal trucking regulations create additional standards of care that, when violated, establish negligence beyond standard traffic law. The firm pursues all available liability in truck accident cases.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians struck by vehicles have no structural protection and typically sustain severe injuries. The firm represents pedestrian accident victims with the understanding that these cases often involve the most serious injuries and highest damages calculations in the personal injury practice.
Bicycle Accidents
Cyclists sharing Austin’s roads and trails with motor vehicles face hazards that drivers often fail to adequately recognize. The firm handles bicycle accident cases involving driver negligence, door zone incidents, and failure to yield at intersections.
Burn Injuries
Burn injury cases arise from vehicle fires, explosions, defective products, and workplace incidents. They are among the most painful and long-lasting personal injury categories, with treatment timelines that extend for years and permanent consequences that can include disfigurement and disability. The firm handles burn injury cases with full attention to the long-term damages that these injuries generate.
Attorney Profile
Ard Ardalan is a licensed Texas personal injury attorney who handles the firm’s cases from initial liability and damages analysis through trial when necessary. His personal engagement with the specific legal standards applicable to each case type, particularly the multi-layered Texas dog bite framework, reflects a practice philosophy that values deep legal knowledge over volume.
Every client receives a free liability and damages analysis at the outset of the relationship. This is not a general intake meeting. It is a substantive evaluation of the applicable legal standards, the evidence that will support the claim, and the range of compensation that may be available. Clients leave that initial analysis with a clear picture of where they stand legally before making any commitment.
The contingency fee structure means the firm’s financial interests are aligned with the client’s. Maximum recovery is the shared objective.
Location and Service Area
Ardalan Law Firm PLLC
1211 West 6th Street, Suite 600-122
Austin, TX 78703
Phone: 512-931-4911
Primary Service Area: Austin and Round Rock, Texas
Statewide Coverage: The firm handles cases throughout Texas.
Free liability and damages analysis is available by phone or in person at the Austin office.
Client Focus
Austin’s growth has produced a road environment where vehicle and pedestrian interactions are increasingly complex. The city’s cycling culture, expanding trail network, and dense urban corridors create specific accident patterns that an Austin-based personal injury attorney encounters regularly. The firm’s familiarity with the specific geographic and traffic context of Austin and Round Rock is relevant to how cases in those areas are investigated and presented.
The contingency fee structure eliminates the financial barrier to legal representation. Clients injured in accidents are often simultaneously dealing with medical bills, lost income, and physical limitations that make upfront legal fees an impossible burden. Under the contingency arrangement, the firm handles all phases of the case from initial investigation through trial and collects fees only from the recovery it secures at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “one bite rule” in Texas, and does it mean an owner is never liable for a first bite?
Not exactly. The one bite rule means that strict liability applies when an owner knew or should have known the dog had previously shown dangerous behavior. That knowledge can come from a prior bite, but it can also come from documented aggressive behavior short of a bite: growling, snapping, chasing, or straining aggressively at a leash. A true first bite with no prior warning signs is where the rule creates the most difficulty, but even then, negligence claims based on leash law violations or ordinance violations may be available.
Can a landlord be liable for a dog attack on their property?
Yes, in certain circumstances. If a landlord knew or should have known that a tenant kept a dangerous dog on the property and failed to address the risk, the landlord may share liability for resulting attacks. The firm investigates landlord knowledge and control as a standard part of every dog attack case.
What is the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Texas?
Texas generally provides two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically bars the claim entirely. Consulting an attorney promptly after an injury protects the ability to file within this window.
How is a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
Truck accident cases involve additional defendants beyond the driver, including the trucking company, the cargo loader, and maintenance contractors. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations create standards of care specific to commercial vehicles that, when violated, provide evidence of negligence. The insurance policies involved are also typically larger, which changes the dynamics of settlement negotiations.
What should I do after a dog attack in Texas?
Seek immediate medical attention, document injuries with photographs, identify the owner and any witnesses, report the incident to local animal control, and contact an attorney before providing any statements to insurance companies. Evidence about the dog’s prior behavior is particularly important to gather early, as it can be difficult to obtain after the fact.
Closing
Texas personal injury law rewards clients who get qualified legal help early. The liability analysis that determines whether and how a claim can be pursued, the evidence preservation that makes a case provable, and the strategic framework that positions a case for maximum recovery all depend on actions taken at the beginning of representation rather than later. Ardalan Law Firm’s free liability and damages analysis gives clients that early foundation without cost. From dog attacks that require multi-theory liability investigation to truck accidents where federal regulatory violations compound driver negligence, the firm handles each case from first contact through final resolution. Call 512-931-4911 to schedule your free consultation.
Website: ardalanfirm.com