Seattle is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country. Off-leash parks, dog-welcoming restaurants and retail spaces, and a culture that embraces pets as family members mean that dogs are woven into the fabric of daily life here. For the vast majority of people, interactions with dogs are positive.
However, dog bites do happen. Sometimes the result is a minor injury. But in some cases, the results can be devastating.
If a dog attack has injured you or someone you love, you may have the right to seek compensation for your damages. At Harpy Law, our Seattle personal injury attorneys have been protecting the rights of injury victims and their families for decades. We have the experience and commitment to help you secure the full value of your claim.
Call us or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your dog bite claim. Our Seattle dog bit attorneys will will listen to you, answer your questions, and explain your rights. If we take your case, we will fight tirelessly to secure maximum compensation for you.
Why Choose a Seattle Dog Bite Attorney From Harpy Law
- Our Seattle dog bite lawyers understand that a dog bite is not just a physical injury. It is a traumatic experience with medical, psychological, and financial effects that can persist long after the wounds heal.
- We are skilled at identifying every source of liability and insurance coverage available to compensate you.
- We know how dog bite insurers operate. They move quickly after an attack, taking statements, gathering evidence, and positioning the claim in the most favorable way for their insured. We move just as quickly to ensure that your rights are protected from the very beginning.
- Our team is experienced at overcoming the defenses that dog owners and their insurers commonly raise.
- We will handle your claim on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing until we recover compensation for you.
Washington’s Dog Bite Laws
Washington’s dog bite statute is one of the strongest in the country for injury victims. As outlined in RCW 16.08.040, a dog owner is strictly liable for all injuries that their animal causes by biting as long as the injured person was in a public place or was lawfully on private property when the attack occurred.
You do not need to prove that the dog had a history of biting or that the owner knew or should have known that the dog would bite.
However, insurance companies try to avoid liability by raising the provocation defense. Under Washington law, if the person who was bitten deliberately provoked the dog, the owner may not be held responsible.
Another defense to strict liability is Washington’s comparative fault law. If a person is determined to be partially at fault for the attack, the dog owner’s liability could be reduced, and so could the bite victim’s damages.
As outlined in RCW 4.16.080, most personal injury claims, including those arising from dog bites, must generally be filed within three years of the date of the injury. If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover any compensation. However, there are exceptions to the three-year filing deadline. You may have much less time to file, or slightly more time to file. You must promptly consult an experienced Seattle dog bite injury lawyer to determine your filing deadline.
How a Seattle Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You
A dog bite claim may seem straightforward. However, they are typically aggressively defended. You need the help of an experienced Seattle dog bite lawyer who knows how to combat the defenses and unfair tactics often used by insurance companies to avoid liability.
Your chance of securing maximum compensation for your damages is much higher when an experienced Seattle dog bite attorney represents you.
Contact Our Seattle Dog Bite Attorneys Today
The Seattle dog bite injury attorneys at Harpy Law have the experience, skills, and resources to protect your rights and help you recover maximum compensation for your damages. Call us today or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.