Tacoma Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog owners in Tacoma and elsewhere in the state have an obligation to keep their animals under control. This applies both in situations where the dog is out in public and in cases where an individual is visiting the dog owner’s property.

Even with this concept in mind, courts will never presume fault for a dog bite. You still must prove that an owner was responsible for the incident and connect any losses to the attack. A Tacoma dog bite lawyer is prepared to help you gather the necessary evidence to prove another person’s negligence and seek fair financial awards in a lawsuit. The accomplished personal injury attorneys at our firm have experience handling these kinds of cases and could work diligently to achieve a successful outcome in your case.

How a Dog Bite Might Affect a Person’s Life

Dog bites will impact victims’ lives in many different ways as each and every case is unique. Larger animals have jaws that are capable of breaking bones or tearing muscles. Even smaller dogs have pointy teeth that can break skin and dirty mouths that could cause infected wounds. People who suffer any kind of physical harm due to a canine attack have a right to demand that a dog’s owner pay for the costs of all needed medical care. Additionally, these events may result in other significant losses, including:

• Lost income due to being unable to go back to work
• Emotional traumas
• Pain and suffering
• Reductions in overall quality of life

A dog attack lawyer in Tacoma could work to understand how an event has changed an injured person’s life. With this information, they could pursue comprehensive compensation packages designed to cover the entirety of a victim’s losses.

When Might a Dog Owner be Responsible for an Attack?

While dog bites are serious events that can significantly change a person’s present and future, the law will never presume that a dog’s owner was responsible for an incident. The burden is always on the injured individual who files suit to prove someone else’s liability for an accident.

The Revised Code of Washington § 16.08.040 establishes the legal precedent of many dog attack cases. This law states that the owner of a dog is presumptively to blame for a bite if that bite occurs in public or if it occurs on the owner’s land when the victim had permission to be on the property.

However, dog owners also have a potent defense available under state law. RCW § 16.08.060 states that a dog owner may be able to avoid liability if they introduce evidence that the injured person was teasing or taunting the animal prior to an attack. Additionally, dogs have the right to defend their owner’s property against trespassers. Speaking with a Tacoma dog bite attorney could help the victims of these incidents to better understand the obligations of dog owners and build strong cases that leave no doubt of who is to blame for an attack.

Reach Out to a Tacoma Dog Bite Attorney Now

Washington state law requires dog owners to control their animals at all times. If a bite occurs in public or when you are an invited guest on another person’s land, the law presumes the dog’s owner to be responsible for the incident. However, this assumption is never a guarantee of success in an injury claim. Dog owners may allege that you were trespassing or that your actions around the animal were inappropriate. These arguments may lower your award amount or result in a complete loss of recovery.

Do not let another person bully you into admitting fault for an accident caused by their own negligent behavior. Reach out to a Tacoma dog bite lawyer for help fighting back against baseless accusations. Our team of capable attorneys are ready to investigate your case, measure how the incident has impacted your life, and demand that the at-fault party provide the full monetary damages you deserve. Call now to schedule a consultation.