Whether you’re out for a neighborhood walk or spending the day somewhere public, encountering an unleashed dog can be scary. You don’t know if the dog is potentially dangerous and will bite you. Understandably, one question we get periodically is, What do I do if I was threatened by an unleashed dog? It’s important to...
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Washington State?
Getting bit by a dog is a terrifying experience, even if the attack was only minor. Understandably victims might be confused about what happens next. What to do after a dog bite? Knowing what to do after a dog bite injury is crucial, as your actions can impact your potential personal injury claim. Every year,...
Who Is at Fault for a Dog Bite?
If someone else’s dog bit you, you’re not alone. Dogs of all sizes and breeds bite more than 4.5 million people in the United States yearly. And as many as 800,000 of those people need medical attention. Unfortunately, a dog bite can leave innocent victims with critical injuries and psychological trauma that lasts years. Luckily,...
Seeking Compensation for Staph Infection After a Dog Bite
According to the American Medical Veterinary Association, 4.5 million people are victims of a dog bite every year. Of those, 800,000 people require medical attention. More than half of dog bites happen to children, who are much more likely to be hospitalized and suffer severe injuries. Even well-behaved and small dogs sometimes bite people. Typical...
Do “Beware of Dog” Signs Protect Owners from Liability in Washington?
In most cases, posting the sign, “Beware of Dog” does not protect an owner from liability if an owner’s dog attacks someone. In fact, posting a “Beware of Dog” sign could serve as an admission of a dog’s dangerous or aggressive nature. However, under Washington law, an owner may be able to claim defenses that...
What Happens If a Dog Bites a Trespasser?
In Washington, dog owner liability may not extend to you if the law deems you a trespasser at the time of the attack. Nevertheless, Washington has strict expectations of dog owners, so if you were bit by a dog while in a place you were lawfully allowed to be, you may be entitled to compensation....
Why Is There a 10-day Quarantine for Dog Bite?
Dogs are quarantined for 10 days to monitor for signs of rabies, a viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through bites. This observation period ensures that if the dog shows no symptoms of rabies after 10 days, the risk of transmission is eliminated without the need for euthanasia. The quarantine is a precautionary...
Does Personal Liability Insurance Cover Dog Bites?
Personal liability insurance may cover dog bites in Washington State, but coverage can vary depending on the terms of your specific insurance policy. It is important to review your policy or contact your insurance provider for detailed information on coverage limits and any exclusions that may apply. In the United States, approximately 69 million U.S....
The Most Common Dog Breeds to Bite
Dogs are givers of love and affection. But those who have suffered an injury from a dog bite may feel differently. Unfortunately, these events occur more often than we may think. If you or a loved one have been injured by a dog bite, you might be entitled to recover compensation from the dog owner. ...
Non-Fatal Dog Bite Statistics By Breed
Each year, nearly five million Americans are injured by non-fatal dog bites from aggressive dogs. Even if a bite is non-fatal, approximately one million of these bites will go on to become infected and require major medical attention. Nearly every jurisdiction across the U.S. reports the same horrors about the dog bite injury victims that...