Were you or a loved one injured after a dog bite in Seattle, Washington? If so, you could be entitled to compensation for your financial and personal losses.
A Seattle personal injury lawyer can analyze your case and discuss your rights. For nearly two decades, Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer, has helped injured parties get the compensation they deserve. Our team has recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients and is ready to fight for you.
Call us today at (253) 948-0250 to schedule a free consultation with a Seattle dog bite lawyer.
How Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After a Dog Bite in Seattle, WA
Dog bites can be traumatic events that leave victims with painful injuries, mounting expenses, and lost income. If someone else’s dog caused your injury, the dog owner should be held accountable.
However, insurance companies are experienced in defending against dog bite claims and will fight hard to avoid liability or minimize the value of claims. To protect your rights, you need an experienced Washington dog bite lawyer fighting for you.
The Seattle personal injury lawyers at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer have over 31 years of combined legal experience. Our team has earned the exclusive Martindale-Hubbell AV preeminent rating and has recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
When you hire our team for a dog bite case, we’ll:
- Investigate your dog bite
- Gather evidence to strengthen your claim
- Defend you against claims that you provoked the dog
- File a claim with the dog owner’s insurance company
- Negotiate to ensure you get a fair settlement
- If necessary, file a lawsuit against the dog owner
- Handle all administrative tasks and represent you in court
- Keep you updated on the status of the case
- Provide you with ongoing legal guidance
Our team is experienced in all types of personal injury claims, including dog bite claims. We’re ready to get to work to ensure you get the most compensation possible. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
How Common Are Dog Bites in Seattle?
Unfortunately, dog bites are more common than most people realize. Data from the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that there are nearly 5 million dog bites every year in the United States. Of those, over 800,000 bites require medical attention.
Interestingly, the Seattle/Tacoma area is ranked as one of the worst cities for dog bite incidents against mail carriers. The dense population and high percentage of dogs in the Seattle area make dog bites an issue that many residents deal with.
How Much Is My Washington Dog Bite Case Worth?
Determining the value of dog bite cases can be difficult. However, victims only have one opportunity to get the compensation they need for all current and future expenses. As a result, it’s vital to accurately calculate the value of your claim.
Dog bite cases are a type of personal injury claim. The value of personal injury claims varies significantly from one case to the next.
Some of the factors that have the biggest impact on how much the case is worth are:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- Whether or not you’ll need ongoing medical treatment
- Whether or not you sustained permanent scarring or disability
- The amount of pain and suffering you experienced
- The impact your injury has on your ability to work
- The impact your injury has on your personal life
The best way to estimate the value of a personal injury claim is to meet with an accident lawyer. To learn more about how much your dog bite case is worth, schedule a free evaluation.
What Damages Can Dog Bite Victims Recover?
Dog bite victims can recover compensatory damages from the responsible party. The purpose of compensatory damages is to make victims whole – or as close to whole as possible – after a dog bite.
There are two types of compensatory damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages reimburse victims for financial losses.
Some common examples of economic damages are:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
Non-economic damages compensate victims for less tangible, personal losses after a dog bite.
Some common types of non-economic damages awarded in dog bite cases are:
- Pain and suffering
- Decreased quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Scarring and physical disfigurement
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
To ensure you get the compensation you deserve, it’s vital to seek compensation for all losses. Our team can analyze your case and determine all types of damages that are applicable. We’ll gather evidence and work with expert witnesses to accurately value your case and ensure you get the maximum compensation possible.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for Being Bitten By a Dog in Seattle?
It is common for dog owners and their insurance companies to blame victims after a dog bite. We regularly deal with clients who are being blamed for provoking a dog before a bite. This is a strategy used to minimize the value of claims or avoid liability.
Don’t panic if you’re being blamed for your dog bite. Our team is used to defending clients against such allegations and will ensure your rights are protected.
Under Washington’s comparative negligence laws, accident victims can still recover damages if they’re partly at fault for an injury. However, their recovery will be reduced by the proportion of their fault.
For example, if you’re 20% at fault for a dog bite, you’re only entitled to recover 80% of your damages.
If you’re being blamed for your injuries, contact a Seattle personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected.
Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer Will Fight to Get Compensation for All of Your Injuries
Dog bites can result in a wide range of injuries, ranging from minor to catastrophic. While the responsible party will likely try to minimize the extent of your damages, our team will work hard to ensure you’re compensated for all of the harm you incurred.
Some of the most common injuries after a dog attack are:
- Broken bones
- Infections
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Facial injuries
- Eye and dental injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Amputation injuries
Tragically, sometimes, dog bites and attacks can be fatal. If you lost a loved one because of an animal attack, we can bring a wrongful death claim on their behalf. These cases are difficult but offer a way for families to hold the responsible party accountable. Your family deserves compensation for expenses like medical bills, funeral costs, lost income, and pain and suffering after the tragic loss of a loved one.
If you’ve been injured by someone’s dog, contact our team to discuss your injuries.
Do I Have to Prove Negligence After a Seattle Dog Bite?
Most personal injury claims are brought under a legal claim of negligence. However, in Washington dog bite cases, victims don’t have to prove negligence.
Under Washington law, pet owners are held strictly liable for injuries caused by their animals. This is true regardless of whether the dog has bitten people in the past or shown aggressive behavior in the past.
To successfully bring a claim after being bitten by a dog, victims just need to show that the defendant owned the dog, the dog bit them, and the victim was injured because of the dog bite.
One exception to this rule of strict liability is if the victim was trespassing at the time of the attack or provoked the dog.
Dealing with Washington dog bite laws can get complicated. Our team has experience navigating these cases and knows how to build a strong case. Call us today to discuss your rights after a dog bite.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer?
Our team works on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay any attorney fees upfront or out of pocket. We only get paid if you get paid through a settlement or verdict.
At the start of representation, we’ll agree on a contingency fee rate. If you receive a settlement or verdict, a percentage of that award will go to our team to cover fees.
This means you won’t have to pay us anything unless you get paid, and our team is personally invested in every case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Washington?
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Washington is three years. In most cases, this means accident victims have three years from the date of a dog bite to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
After this period, victims have no right to recover compensation from the responsible party.
It takes time to gather evidence, work with experts, negotiate a claim, and get a fair settlement. You want to fully resolve your case before the statute of limitations expires so you have leverage to demand a fair settlement.
To ensure your rights are protected, contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your injury.
Contact a Seattle Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
If you or a loved one were injured by a dog bite in Seattle, Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer can help. Our team knows how to get results and is committed to getting the most compensation possible for every client.
Call our Seattle personal injury office to schedule a free consultation with a Seattle dog bite lawyer.