Federal Way Dog Bite Lawyer

A dog bite can be a traumatic event for a victim, plus rack up hefty hospital bills and other damages. If this has happened to you or someone you love, can we suggest that you involve a Federal Way dog bite lawyer? There’s no cost to speak with one of the lawyers from our team. Plus, you could learn that you’re eligible to receive a cash settlement for your injuries.

Dog Bites in the US: What We Know

Unfortunately, dog bites are an all-too-common occurrence. Consider these statistics from American Family Physician:

Dog bites make up 1% of all emergency room visits each year (about 316,000)
Dogs bite about 4.5 million Americans a each year
Most dog bite victims are children
Victims often know the dog who bit them
About 50% of the time, the victim reports that the bite was unprovoked

When a dog bites a child, the outcome can be particularly catastrophic, or even fatal. Wounds are more likely on the head and neck, whereas adults tend to receive wounds on their arms or legs. In any case, the emotional trauma from a dog attack can be long lasting.

What Does Washington State Law Say About Dog Bites?

We’ve written a detailed post about dog bite laws in Washington State that we encourage you to take the time to read. In the meantime, here are some key points to know:

A dog’s owner is responsible if the dog bites someone else. This includes bites that occur on both public or private property (such as the owner’s home).
A dog’s owner is still responsible even if they didn’t know their dog was dangerous at the time.
There are a few situations where the owner isn’t liable. For instance, if you provoked the dog or you were trespassing.

In addition, the City of Federal Way has certain laws about nuisance and trouble dogs. If a dog has bitten twice in a 5-year period, it may be removed or put down. Nuisance dogs are also prohibited from running loose at parks.

To sum it up, both city and state laws favor dog bite victims and owners are responsible for their pets at all times. If you’ve been injured by someone else’s dog, this is good news for you. A skilled lawyer can help leverage these laws to your benefit.

Reporting a Nuisance or Aggressive Dog in Federal Way

If you are aware of an aggressive dog, you can reach out the Animal Services Unit in Federal Way for help. The Unit is staffed 7 days a week from 10am until 8pm and can respond to calls about loose dogs, barking dogs, or other animal welfare matters.

Call 253.835.7387 to reach someone from the Animal Services Unit. However, call 911 anytime there is an emergency (such as an active dog attack or life-threatening injuries).

Get in Touch with a Lawyer Today

Don’t hesitate to reach out to a Federal Way dog bite lawyer from our team. We’d be happy to schedule a free case review so we can hear more about what happened to you. All conversations are confidential and you are under no obligation when you meet with us. In other words, you risk nothing to learn more about your legal options.