You might assume that the owner of the dog should always be held liable for the actions of his or her pet. While this is partially true, Texas follows what’s known as the “one bite” rule. Under this doctrine, compensation for your injuries can only be sought under specific circumstances.

The owner had to have previous knowledge of the dog’s aggressive behavior, and the dog had to have bitten or acted like it wanted to bite someone before. Compensation can also be recovered if the owner or handler of the dog was negligent.

To prove negligence, we must show that the dog owner did not exercise the kind of care that a “reasonably prudent and careful person” would. For example, in a public park, a reasonable person would have his or her dog on a leash, while an unreasonable person would allow a dog to roam free.

There are a few circumstances under Texas law in which someone other than the pet owner could be found liable. In some cases, a landlord or property owner who is not the dog handler could be held responsible because a renter owns the dog. In other cases, if someone is witnessing the attack and fails to stop it or attempt to stop it, he or she may also be found liable.

Your dog bite lawyer in San Antonio will interview witnesses and investigate the specifics of your case to determine which individuals hold some responsibility for your injuries.