Most McKinney, Texas, dog owners are responsible, law-abiding citizens who care about the safety of their pets as well as the members of their community. They obey local leash laws and other regulations because they understand these rules are in place to protect their dogs from being harmed or inflicting harm to others. However, when irresponsible pet owners forget or ignore these rules, the results can be tragic.
Texas One Bite Lawyer
Texas State laws hold dog owners responsible for their pet’s behavior – with one catch. The state adheres to what some lawyers call the “one bite” rule. Under the one bite rule, in most cases the owner is not held liable if this is the first incidence in which as dog has attacked someone unless the dog by breed or by its temperament places the owner on prior notice that innocent children or adults can be harmed by the dog. There is a big difference between fluffy the lap dog and killer the pit bull, and our law recognizes these differences. Proving that this was not the dog’s first attack can be a tricky problem. First, the victim or their McKinney dog bite attorney must show that at the time of the attack the dog’s owner knew that this was not the first instance of aggressive behavior and/or biting incidence. Then, unless the breed is hyper aggressive by nature, the victim must show that the dog’s owner was negligent in confining or controlling the dog as well as preventing the bite from occurring – and that this negligence on the part of the owner caused the plaintiff’s injuries. Maintaining hyper aggressive and dangerous breeds of animals of any kind can create strict liability for those injuries regardless of how careful the owner is in managing the animal. Animal caused injuries can be a complex area of law for the unwary.
