Were you injured because someone else’s dog bit you in Tacoma, WA? You may deserve compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, trauma, and more. An experienced Tacoma dog bite lawyer at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer can help when you call (253) 264-0225.
We’re ready to put our extensive experience to work in your case. Call our law offices in Tacoma, Washington, to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer who can help today.
Why Should I Call Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer To Help Me Recover Compensation After a Dog Bite Injured Me in Tacoma?
When you hire Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer, our Tacoma, Washington, personal injury lawyers will treat your case with the care it deserves from day one.
Our lawyers have over 30 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We’ve already recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts to help our clients move on with their lives.
When you hire us, you benefit from a team that has been recognized again and again for our exceptional legal services, including:
- An AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell
- The Washington State Association for Justice, President’s Award
- Super Lawyers’ “Top 100” list for Washington
How do you know the insurance deal is fair? Can someone other than the owner be held accountable? What if the owner claims you provoked the dog? Our Tacoma dog bite attorneys are here to help with these and any other challenges that arise.
To get started, call for a free case review today.
How Common Are Dog Bites in Washington?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, roughly 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year. Children are unfortunately the most likely to suffer severe injuries. While statistics on dog bite injuries for Tacoma aren’t published, Tacoma ranked among the top 30 U.S. states for mail carrier dog attacks.
In 2019, the last year for which statistics for Washington state were made available, insurance companies paid over $16 million to settle dog bite injury claims. That placed Washington at 11th on the list of states with the highest number of dog bite claims.
What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation for Dog Bite Injuries in Washington?
Washington state has a strict liability law when it comes to dog bite injuries. To recover compensation under the strict liability law, you must prove:
- The dog bit you
- You were on public property or lawfully on private property
- You were injured, so you suffered damages
- You did not provoke the dog
Some states waive liability if the dog has never bitten before (a so-called “one bite rule”). These states presume that the dog’s owner did not know the dog had vicious tendencies, so the owner shouldn’t be liable.
In Washington, it doesn’t matter whether the owner had any knowledge that the dog was vicious or aggressive–they can be held liable regardless.
Can Negligence Theories Be Relevant to My Tacoma Dog Bite Injury Case?
Most personal injury cases involve negligence. In dog-related injury cases, negligence can still be relevant if the strict liability law does not apply.
Most of the time, negligence can be relevant if the dog did something to cause your injuries, but did not bite you. For example, if the dog attacked you or was chasing you, the strict liability law wouldn’t apply. The dog’s owner may still be liable for your injuries if they were negligent.
How Do I Prove Negligence in a Dog Injury Case?
Negligence is a failure to use reasonable caution to prevent injuries. More specifically, in negligence cases, you must establish four elements:
- A legal duty of care existed
- Breach of duty
- Causation, meaning the breach caused the injuries
- The damages you suffered
All dog owners in Washington have a legal duty to keep their animals secure to prevent injuries.
Owners of dogs classified as “dangerous dogs” or “potentially dangerous dogs” have a higher duty than owners of dogs that have never displayed aggressive tendencies. In fact, owners of dangerous dogs can face criminal penalties if the dog causes an injury.
What Types of Acts Can Amount to Negligence?
Even in cases involving dogs that have not committed prior vicious acts, a dog’s owner may be liable for negligence if they:
- Violate Tacoma leash laws
- Allow the dog to roam the neighborhood
- Fail to keep the dog secured
- Train the dog to behave aggressively
Proving negligence can be complicated. You should also expect the dog’s owner to try pinning the blame on you. Provocation is an extremely common defense in dog bite injury cases.
Hiring an experienced lawyer is the best way to protect yourself. Call our Tacoma dog bite attorneys today to learn more about your legal rights if a dog injured you.
How Much Money Can I Get in a Tacoma Dog Bite Injury Case?
The value of your personal injury claim depends on:
- The severity of your dog bite injuries
- The cost of your medical care
- Your need for ongoing treatment, reconstructive surgeries, rehabilitation, etc.
- The value of any income you lost during recovery
- Whether the injury impacts your future earning capacity
- Your personal trauma and damage to your quality of life
More severe injuries tend to result in higher compensation awards. The value of your case depends heavily on your expenses and how the injury impacts your life. More severe injuries are more expensive to treat and will likely have the greatest impact on your life.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Tacoma?
Economic damages and non-economic damages are the two primary forms of damages available to injury victims in Washington.
The dog’s owner should be responsible for any financial losses, known as economic damages, you suffered due to the injury, including:
- Medical expenses for ER visits, follow-up care, reconstructive surgeries, rehabilitation, and more
- Reasonably expected future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Mental health counseling
- Property damage
Dog bites also have the potential to be terrifying and can leave the victim struggling with both physical pain and mental health issues.
Examples of the non-economic damages you may pursue include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
- PTSD and fear
- Diminished quality of life
As you can see, a wide range of damages may be available, but you won’t automatically receive a fair settlement. Victims are responsible for identifying and proving their damages.
Our lawyers in Tacoma know how to help. Contact us today to learn more about your right to damages after a dog bite.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer To Handle a Dog Bite Injury Case in Washington?
Our personal injury law firm operates on a contingency fee basis. When you hire us, you agree to pay a fixed portion of your settlement or verdict. You won’t have to worry about paying an upfront retainer.
Can Washington State Comparative Fault Laws Impact the Value of My Dog Bite Injury Claim?
It depends on the facts. Provocation is a complete defense to the application of Washington’s strict liability dog bite law. If you did something that a reasonable person would expect to provoke a dog bite, you may lose your right to damages entirely, assuming the other side can prove it.
Generally, in negligence cases, Washington has a pure comparative negligence law. Victims’ compensation is reduced by the portion of blame assigned to them.
Our Tacoma Dog Bite Attorneys Will Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries
At Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer, we represent clients who have suffered any type of injury, including:
- Puncture wounds
- Broken bones and fractures
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
The dog bite itself can result in serious injury. When a victim is knocked to the ground, they may suffer additional injuries. Infected dog bite wounds can be incredibly dangerous.
If you or a child were bitten by a dog, don’t hesitate to reach out to learn about your legal right to pursue compensation.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Washington State?
The statute of limitations in Washington state gives you three years to file a lawsuit. Generally, if you wait longer than three years to pursue legal action, you will have lost your right to sue for damages.
Exceptions do exist if the victim was a minor child. Assuming a parent did not take legal action on the child’s behalf, the child’s statute of limitations starts to run on their 18th birthday.
Contact an Experienced Tacoma Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation
After a dog bite in Tacoma, WA, call Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer for legal assistance right away. An experienced Tacoma dog bite lawyer can help you recover the full compensation you deserve from the dog’s owner.