Vancouver, Washington, Dog Bite Lawsuits
Dog owners are responsible for their pets. This basic principle means that dog owners are also legally responsible for injuries caused if their dog bites a person and causes injury. If you have been bitten by a dog and injured, you do not need to prove that the dog was a "dangerous breed." You do need to find out who the owner of the dog is, and then seek legal advice from a knowledgeable lawyer after you have received proper medical attention.
Experienced Personal Injury Law Firm Handling Dog Bite Cases
The Harlan Law Firm, located just 10 minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon, has handled several dog bite injury cases. Animal attacks may cause relatively minor injuries — which still require medical attention and may result in lost wages from time away from work. At other times, a dog attack can be a vicious and terrifying experience resulting in severe injuries requiring major medical attention, including plastic surgery.
Dog Bites Mail Delivery Person
Result: $16,000 Settlement
It's one of the major hazards of the job of delivering the mail. After our client, who delivers the U.S. mail, was attacked and injured by a dog along the mail delivery route, we successfully negotiated a $16,000 settlement.
Dog Bite Laws in Washington and Oregon
In both Oregon and Washington, dog owners are strictly liable for damages caused by their dogs. This means that if a dog bites a person while the person is on public property or lawfully on private property, then the dog owner is legally responsible for any injury. The primary exception to this rule of strict liability is that dog owners may avoid liability if they can prove that the dog was provoked into biting.
The dog owner does not have to have prior knowledge that the dog is likely to attack. Neither does any dog get a "free pass." Even the first bite results in the owner's legal responsibility for the injuries.
Get Legal Advice After a Dog Attack
At the Harlan Law Firm, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients pay no legal fees unless and until we win for them the compensation they deserve.
If you are seeking legal advice after a dog attack, contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation with an experienced attorney. Call 360.735.8200 or send us an e-mail.
