When the Dog Bites…Seek Legal Advice

Dog bites are more common than you think. In fact, on average, 4.5 million people are victims of dog bites in the U.S. every year. 

While people think of a dog bite as a simple breaking of the skin or scrape, the reality is dogs can do a lot of damage and cause permanent injury that requires ongoing treatment and, in some cases, permanent disfigurement.

What you may not know is that Washington state law holds owners accountable for their dog’s actions at all times and favors victims of dog bites. In short, the law makes it clear that the owner is responsible to pay for the victim’s damages whether or not the dog had bitten before, or if the owner was aware of the dog’s potential to bite. 

Here’s what you should do if you are bitten by a dog:

• Seek medical care immediately, including calling 911 not only to deal with severe injuries but to ensure police arrive to take statements and make a report of the incident, including witnesses.
• Get the dog owner’s contact information and insurance information.
• Take photos of the injuries, the scene of the attack and any other relevant information such as warning signs about the dog.
• If you can get witness information, do so. But, at the very least identify witnesses for police to gather information.
• Make sure to report the incident to your local animal control agency.
• Contact Capital Injury Law. We specialize in personal injury law and can help you navigate all the steps to reach a settlement in the case.

We’ve blogged on this before, but don’t hold off contacting a personal injury lawyer because you think it’s just “too small” to worry about. The fact is, dog bites can cause major infections that present later. If you haven’t taken the steps to catalog the incident with photos, a police report and witness information, you could be out of luck to have your medical costs and other forms of compensation settled in your favor. 

When the dog bites…is when you should call us for a free case consultation.