If you are a dog owner in Washington State and are concerned about protecting yourself from liability in dog bite cases or dog attacks that occur on your property, you need to take a closer look at your Homeowners Insurance policy. In Washington State, dog bite victims can sue dog owners under the state’s “strict liability statute.”
This law states that dog owners are liable for injuries caused by their pets – whether it is on their property, another person’s property or on public property. Unless your dog bites a burglar or an assailant, you may be held liable.
If you are a dog owner, do not make assumptions about coverage. Be sure to read exclusions to your policy as well as the section on liability and medical payments. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 5 million Americans are victims of dog bites. Also, dog attacks can cause serious damage and high medical bills, easily running into hundreds of thousands of dollars if the victim needs cosmetic surgery. As a dog owner, you need to make sure that your policy includes adequate medical payment coverage as well. It is recommended that you have medical limits of at least $100,000 per incident. Dog owners are not the only ones who may be held liable for a dog bite. Parents of minors who own dogs, dog walkers or dog sitters may also be held responsible in the event of an attack.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington dog attack, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation and case evaluation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about dog bite cases, which has useful information to help you understand your legal rights and options as a victim. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.
Washington State has a strict liability statute when it comes to dog bites. What this means is that the dog owner is liable – whether or not the dog attack occurs on public or private property, and whether or not the dog owner was aware of the dog’s prior viciousness. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 16.08.040: “The owner of any dog which shall bite any person while such person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place including the property of the owner of such dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
However, there are some defenses that a dog owner has in such cases. For example, proof of provocation of the attack by an injured person is a complete defense to an action. Also, if the so-called victim is on the property of the dog owner without the owner’s permission (such as a burglar), that is also solid defense. In all other cases, there is a good chance that the dog owner will be held liable for the injuries caused to the victim. In Washington State, if the owner’s dog aggressively attacks and causes serious injury or death to a person, the owner can be convicted of a class C felony. This felony is punishable by five years in state prison, or a fine of $10,000, or both.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, please contact the Seattle personal injury lawyers at The Bernard Law Group. We always offer FREE, comprehensive and confidential consultations for Seattle dog bite victims. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail us at info@bernardlawgroup.com. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure about Washington dog bite cases with useful educational information that will help you understand your legal rights and options. Please contact Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.
Anyone who has just been bitten by a dog is obviously in pain. As a Washington dog bite victim, there are certain important actions you need to take immediately after being bitten by a dog. Here are some tips you may find helpful:
- Identify the animal that bit you. If possible, identify the dog’s owner.
- Get medical attention. If you have suffered deep bite marks, insist on seeing a plastic surgeon. Be sure to follow the physician’s directions and take the medications you are supposed to take. Also, be diligent about follow-up treatment for your injuries.
- Once you identify the dog’s owner, get all possible information including the name of his or her insurance company, contact information, claim number and name of the insured.
- Do not discuss the value of your claim with anyone other than your Seattle personal injury lawyer.
- Do not give any verbal or written statements to anyone.
- Do not allow yourself to be tape-recorded, video-taped or photographed by the dog owner’s insurance company or attorneys for the other side.
- Do not say anything about whose fault the dog attack was, even if you believe you may have provoked the dog.
- Get the name, address and contact information (phone, e-mail) of anyone who may have helped you at the scene or witnesses who saw the dog attack occur.
- Take photos of your wounds – bite marks, puncture wounds or bruises.
- Contact an experienced Washington dog bite attorney, who will advise you about your legal rights and options. You need someone who will get working right away to help you obtain fair compensation to cover your medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of cosmetic surgery and other damages you may have incurred.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington dog attack, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE brochure, which has useful educational information to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.