Puyallup Dog Bite Lawyer

It’s estimated that 2% of Americans are bitten by a dog every year. Thankfully, most bites are minor, requiring little to no medical care. For some, however, a dog bite can be a serious or even life-threatening event.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, a Puyallup dog bite lawyer can help recover your losses. Read on to learn more about how personal injury law works when it comes to dog bites.

Common Injuries Following a Dog Attack

Dog bites and attacks can cause many different types of injuries. Here are some of the more common ones we’ve seen in our practice:

• Abrasions. These are cuts and scrapes that are usually minor. However, infections can be introduced through bacteria in a dog’s mouth.
• Puncture Wounds. Deeper bites through tendons and muscle carry higher risk of infection. In addition, puncture wounds can cause nerve damage.
• Infections. A dog’s mouth contains bacteria that can cause infection when it bites a victim.
• Scars and Disfiguration. Sometimes, a dog attack can leave a victim with permanent scars or disfiguration. This can be distressing, particularly if the scars are on a visible part of the body, such as the face.
• Emotional Trauma. The mental trauma following a dog attack cannot be underestimated. We have had clients suffer PTSD as a result.

In the most severe cases, a dog attack can kill a victim. For these situations, we can help loved ones file a wrongful death claim.

Who’s Responsible for Damages After a Dog Bite?

The simple answer to this question is that the dog’s owner is responsible to pay your damages (RCW 16.08.040).

However, many people are surprised to learn that claims are usually filed against a homeowner or renter’s insurance policy. This means that in many cases, you can receive a settlement from the insurance policy.

Of course, finding that information is not always clear cut, which is why we recommend you reach out to a lawyer with experience in this area of the law.

For more information, we encourage you to read our post about dog bite laws in Washington State.

How a Puyallup Dog Bite Attorney Can Help with a Claim

Dog bite claims can be complex. In addition to dealing with the insurance company, you may find contacting the dog owner to be a stressful experience. When you involve a skilled dog bite lawyer, you can rest easy knowing you’ve got an advocate handling the legal process.

While we’re able to settle many cases out of court, we prepare every case for trial. In the event we’re unable to reach a fair settlement on your behalf, we’ll be ready. We know how to fight for our clients in front of a jury, judge, and opposing counsel.

For these reasons, we strongly advise you reach out to a qualified personal injury attorney for help with your dog bite claim.

Schedule a Consultation Today

We recognize that every case is unique and that you probably have questions about what happened. Please reach out to a Puyallup dog bite lawyer today. We are pleased to offer free case evaluations, and you’ll only pay us if we win you a settlement. The sooner you involve us in your case, the better positioned we’ll be to assist you.