Port Orchard Dog Bite Lawyers Represent Victims of Vicious Animals

Washington State attorneys seek damages for clients’ injuries caused by others’ dangerous pets

Dogs can make great pets, but some of them can suddenly attack without warning or provocation and injure innocent children and adults. If you are injured by a dog or other dangerous animal, you might be entitled to damages from the animal’s owner. GSJones Law Group, P.S., with offices in Port Orchard, Washington, has the dedicated lawyers you need to represent you. We know how to deal with insurance companies and prove fault so that you can obtain the compensation you deserve after getting attacked by someone’s dog.

Common injuries from dog bites

Dog bites, as well as injuries sustained in other pet attacks, can cause serious and painful injuries, such as:

  • Disfigurement
  • Nerve damage
  • Puncture wounds
  • Crushed or broken bones
  • Muscle damage
  • Soft tissue damage
  • Infections at the wound site
  • Loss of body parts
  • Severe emotional distress
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

We understand how much suffering these personal injuries can cause, and make sure that the owner’s liability insurer and the jury learn of it, too.

How we prove the dog owner is liable

In Washington State, the owner of a dog that bites you is strictly liable for the injuries you suffer as a result of the attack. This means that the dog owner is responsible even if the dog was never vicious before or the owner was unaware of its viciousness.

There are, however, two exceptions to this general rule:

  • If you were trespassing on private property when the dog bit you
  • If the dog is a police dog and a trained law enforcement officer was handling the dog in the line of duty in good faith when it bit you

However, if you were in a public place or lawfully on public property and the dog was merely someone’s pet, you shouldn’t have to prove that the dog owner was negligent, provided you are able to prove that your injuries were the result of the dog biting you. If you don’t meet the requirements for strict liability, such as when the dog injures you with its claws rather than its teeth, or the animal that bit you wasn’t a dog, you might need to prove that the owner was negligent. In these instances, we might be able to prove that:

  • The dog owner failed to use a leash on his dog, as required by state law
  • The dog’s or other animal’s owner knew that it tried to attack people, but failed to warn you or take proper precautions
  • The dog or other animal previously bit or otherwise attacked someone, but the owner failed to warn you or take proper precautions

We will make the case for strict liability if the facts support such a claim, but we will also try to prove negligence even when we think the owner is strictly liable, because we strive to do our best to prove your case and get you the compensation you deserve.

Contact a dedicated dog bite lawyer to discuss your case

GSJones Law Group, P.S. represents Washington State victims of dog bites and other animal attacks in litigation and insurance matters. Please call 360-876-9221 or contact us online to arrange a consultation with an experienced attorney.