Can a Dog Owner be Held Liable if He Didn’t Know His Dog Was Dangerous?
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.
