At an outdoor gathering, you’ve just been bitten by a friend of family member’s dog with no apparent provocation. Even if you are an animal lover, being bitten by a dog can be a traumatic event. Dog attacks can result in injuries such as bite wounds, infection, laceration and possibly broken bones. Sometimes the injuries can have lasting consequences such as disfigurement, so a dog bite is not to be taken lightly.
The dog owner is responsible for restraining their pet to keep it from harming others, regardless of where the pet is. State law ultimately controls liability. In Washington State, liability rests solely with the dog owner.
You may want to verbally share with your neighbor the costs of your care and recovery with the intent of being reimbursed by them personally or through their Homeowner’s insurance, but it is recommended to follow up with a Demand Letter. In the letter, provide evidence of your injuries along with a factual summary of the incident and reports from your doctor or emergency room visit.
Sometimes this process can be very stressful, or there are circumstances complicating the incident. A personal injury lawyer can be of assistance with drafting the Demand Letter and can help secure compensation on your behalf.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog and believe that you have a case for legal action, contact our legal team at Evergreen Personal Injury Council today.