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Have You Been Attacked By An Animal?

Dog bites and other animal attacks can be extremely serious. Especially when a child is the victim, the injuries and emotional hardship that result from an animal attack can be catastrophic to a victim’s life. If you or someone you love has been attacked by an animal in or around Seattle, the first step is to seek medical attention. Then, talk with a team of lawyers who can help you.

At Dean Standish Perkins & Associates, our attorneys handle a wide range of personal injury claims, and we have been serving clients throughout the Seattle, Washington, area since 1986. We will use our decades of legal experience to assess your situation, determine whether you have a valid claim and, if so, fight aggressively to make sure you get the maximum compensation award available to you.

Dog Bite Law In Washington

In some states, a dog bite victim has significant hurdles to jump in order to win a liability claim, like proving the dog is part of a known vicious breed, the owner either knew or should have known that the dog would attack or that the dog has had at least one similar instance in the past.

Washington, however, is considered a “strict liability” state when it comes to dog attacks. This means that a dog owner is liable for the dog’s attacks regardless of the dog’s breed, the owner’s knowledge or any past history of attacks. The relevant statute is the Revised Code of Washington Section 16.08.040.

Limits To Liability

it is important to note that certain situations can limit a dog owner’s liability. For example, if the victim was trespassing on the property at the time of the attack or committing a crime on the property at the time, it can relieve the property owner of liability for the dog’s actions. Further, if the pet owner can prove that you were provoking the dog, he or she will not be held liable.

Seek Legal Assistance

With all of these issues noted above, it is critical to have an experienced attorney look over your case, determine whether your claim is valid and fight through the legal process on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact our legal team to discuss your case by calling 206-981-5043 or by sending us an email today.