Tacoma Dog Bite Lawyers

Helping Injured Victims After Dangerous Animal Attacks

Dogs are a man’s best friend. But when dog owners fail to control aggressive or unpredictable pets, innocent victims can be hurt. Dog bite injuries are very prone to infection and can cause long-lasting symptoms. If you’ve been the victim of a dog attack in Tacoma, you deserve a team of dog bite lawyers on your side to help you recover compensation.

Pursuing a dog bite injury claim can help you recover compensation for your medical treatments, property damage repair, lost wages, and more. Dog bite injury victims are often forced to pay bills out of pocket for an attack that wasn’t their fault. Our Tacoma dog bite lawyers are here to help you recover compensation and hold the dog’s owner accountable.

Dog bite cases can be complex. South Sound Law Group is here to represent your best interests and fight for your rights. To speak to a Tacoma dog bite lawyer on our team and receive a free consultation, contact us today by calling 253-465-2722.

Who is Liable for a Dog Bite?

Under Washington law, dog owners are responsible for preventing injuries to others. Most dog owners keep their dogs on leashes or within an enclosed property to avoid animal attacks and dog bites. Unfortunately, even seemingly calm dogs can one day attack, leaving victims with extensive injuries.

When you pursue a dog bite claim, the dog owner’s home insurance company or renter’s insurance company will be the one paying for your injuries. In most cases, these generic insurance policies cover dog bite injuries. You will likely be speaking directly to the dog owner’s insurance to get payment for what happened to you.

What Are the Most Common Injuries After a Dog Bite?

Animal attacks are vicious and can lead to extensive injuries. Depending on how big the dog is and how long the attack lasted, there are many injuries you might have sustained.
The most common injuries dog bite victims suffer from include:

Puncture Wounds

Dogs have incredibly sharp teeth that can bite through skin. Many wounds require stitches and can result in permanent scarring. All puncture wounds are serious, as they have the potential to get infected.

Nerve Damage

Dog bites can pierce the skin and cause nerve damage in your extremities. Damage to the nerves can lead to pain, tingling, and numbness. In some cases, nerve damage is permanent.

Scarring

Scratches and bites often lead to permanent scarring. While there are measures that can be taken to help your injuries heal, large injuries almost always cause scars.

Infection

Dog bite injuries are prone to infection, especially if they break the skin. If you are not seen by a medical professional immediately, it is very likely that your wounds will become infected, leading to expensive medical care.

Facial Injuries

Many dogs aim for the face when attacking. Facial injuries often cause permanent scarring and disfigurement. Children are especially susceptible to facial injuries.

Psychological Damage

Being attacked by a dog is very scary. Many victims develop mental health issues like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Death

Some dog bite attacks are so severe that the victim passes away because of their injuries. If your loved one died after an animal attack, you may be able to file a wrongful death suit on their behalf.

What Are Washington’s Dog Bite Laws?

Washington law states that dog owners must generally pay damages to anyone bitten by their dog while on public property or lawfully on private property. It doesn’t matter whether or not the dog has displayed aggressive behavior before — if a dog bites you, the owner is responsible.

Some states follow the “one-bite rule,” meaning that a dog has one chance to attack or bite someone before an owner is liable. However, Washington does not follow this rule. Instead, owners are liable the moment their dog attacks or bites someone. This is called the strict liability rule.

There are certain exceptions to the Washington strict liability rule, including:

• The victim was in a place they did not have a legal right to be in. For instance, if you were trespassing on someone’s property and got bitten by their dog, you likely would not be able to hold the dog owner liable
• The victim provoked the dog into attacking. For example, if you were on public property and harassed or goaded a dog in some way, you may not be able to recover compensation

Washington also has a statute of limitations for all personal injury claims, including dog bites. If you want to seek compensation, you must file a lawsuit within three years from the date of your injuries. While there are certain exceptions to this statute, they are rare and may not apply to your case.

The best way to get maximum compensation for your injuries is by talking to a Tacoma dog bite lawyer immediately. Three years may sound like a long time, but filing a lawsuit can take weeks (if not months) of preparation. Our team is ready to talk to you about Washington law and how it could impact your case. For more information, contact our law firm today.

What Should You Do After a Dog Attack?

Being attacked by a dog is a very scary experience. Many victims go into fight or flight mode, unable to think clearly about what to do next. Understanding your next steps can help protect you after a canine attack.

If you’ve been bitten by a dog, be sure to do the following:

Seek Medical Attention

The most important thing to do is ensure that you are okay. If you are severely injured, call emergency services to the scene. Even if you don’t feel hurt, have a medical professional look you over. It’s likely that you have underlying injuries you aren’t aware of yet.

Get the Owner’s Information

If the dog owner is present, get their name and contact information. You will need this later on if you file a dog bite claim.

Talk to Witnesses

If anyone saw the dog bite you, get their name and contact information. Witness statements can support your claim and provide new information throughout your case.

Take Photos of Your Injuries

Document any injuries sustained in the attack. Your medical records will be used to provide the full picture, but images of your injuries can also be helpful.

Take Notes

Write down details about what happened, including where you were, what kind of dog it was, and what time the attack happened. Try to do this as soon as possible to avoid forgetting any crucial information.

Collect Evidence

Any expenses that you pay for out of pocket can be requested as damages. If you pay for anything or lose money because of the attack, make a note of it. This could include medical expenses, lost wages, property damage repair or replacement, and more.

Contact Our Attorneys

The sooner you reach out to our legal team, the sooner we can begin building your dog bite case. You deserve to have your injuries and expenses paid for. Our team is ready to work on your claim immediately.

What Kind of Compensation Can You Receive After a Dog Bite?

The goal of any dog bite claim is to recover compensation to pay for your expenses. After an animal attack, it’s very likely that you’ve paid for bills out of pocket. You may also have lost money in other ways, like by taking time off work to rest and heal. Every dog bite case is different, and your compensation will depend on the extent of your injuries and how they affect your life.

Many dog bite injury victims request the following compensation:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Travel to and from medical appointments
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy appointments
• Home-based services
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Property damage repair

As you calculate your damages, it’s important not to forget about your emotional damages, too. These damages, also called non-economic damages, have to do with your well-being after the attack. Our team can help you add up all of your damages to get full and fair compensation.

You might include non-economic damages such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of companionship (for wrongful death cases)

How Long Will My Dog Bite Case Take?

Many dog bite cases are settled without going to court. Negotiating with an insurance company without going to trial shrinks your timeline significantly. Many insurance companies are motivated to offer a settlement upfront because it saves them time and money.
The length of time your case will take depends on your circumstances and how willing the insurance company is to negotiate. Unfortunately, insurance companies make money by denying and undervaluing claims. It’s very likely that you will be offered a small settlement that isn’t enough to cover all of your damages.

If your case goes to court, it could last for several months or even up to a few years to resolve. If your case does not go to court, it’s likely that our attorneys can get you your settlement much faster. The best way to expedite your timeline and resolve your case quickly is by working with our team of experienced lawyers.

Insurance companies are much more motivated to offer a fair compensation package if you have an attorney on your side. They know you can’t file a lawsuit without a lawyer, so having one in your corner from the get-go tells them that you are serious about your case.

What Does a Dog Bite Attorney Do?

As your legal team, our attorneys will handle your case from start to finish. We know that most people don’t have a legal background, which can make the entire process very overwhelming. Our goal is to answer your questions and address your concerns as they arise so you feel in control of your case the entire time.

Our dog bite lawyers will do the following:

• Investigate your case. The specific circumstances of your claim will impact your legal options. We’ll take the time to investigate your case before presenting your next steps
• Gather evidence. The more evidence you have to support your claim, the better chance you have of receiving a fair settlement. We can talk to witnesses, get accident reports, request your medical records, and more
• Calculate your damages. Calculating your damages ensures you get full compensation. We’ll help you examine your finances and your emotional well-being
• Negotiate with an insurance company. Talking to insurance agents can be exhausting. We can contact the insurance company to enter into negotiations
• Take your case to trial. Sometimes, the only way to get full compensation is by going to court. If that’s the case, our attorneys will present your evidence before a judge to fight for your rights

Do You Need a Dog Bite Attorney?

If you’ve been bitten by a dog, you need legal representation immediately. Our team of attorneys can help you seek justice and recover compensation to pay for your medical bills, time off work, and more.

South Sound Law Group understands how stressful it can be to pursue compensation after a dog attack. We are committed to guiding you through the process so you can focus on your mental and emotional health. For a free consultation, contact us today by calling 253-465-2722.