23rd July 2009
Getting attacked by a dog can turn into a horrific ordeal of medical bills and emotional trauma. It's important to understand how much the owner of an attacking dog is responsible for in such an event. Being able to valuate your specific case is therefo...
17th July 2009
There is no magic formula or process by which someone can predict with certainty the amount of money that a dog bite case may be worth. About 25 to 30 years ago there was some limited consensus among lawyers and insurance adjustors that a general persona...
16th July 2009
Also, if you appear too eager to settle the claim, this can negatively impact the case. Insurance adjustors are trained to look for signs that may weaken your negotiating position. If you are in debt or need money fast, the insurance company will use th...
12th July 2009
In Dog Bite personal injury cases, there are certain mistakes to avoid so you have the greatest chance that the insurance company will pay out the maximum amount of dollars to settle the claim. Here are the mistakes to avoid:
Mistake #4 - Giving a reco...
05th July 2009
In previous chapters I discussed Washington state's "Dog Bite Statute" as well as this state's common law regarding the dog owner's civil liability for injuries and damages inflicted by the dog upon another person. These laws give dog bite victims the leg...
30th June 2009
A good portion of our society believes that our justice system is out of control. There have been dozens and dozens reports by the media over the years about how some person received millions of dollars from a jury for what at first blush appears to be a...
22nd June 2009
There are certain defenses available to a dog owner who is criminally prosecuted for owning a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog. One defense is provocation of the animal, which is the same defense available under the civil "Dog Bite Statute" discusse...
15th June 2009
Contributory Negligence
The concept of contributory negligence and assumption of risk may also apply in cases involving dog bite injuries. The phrase "contributory negligence" refers to the negligent conduct of the person who was bitten by the dog. If ...
09th June 2009
A person who is the victim of a dog bite attack has a legal right to recover compensation as long as liability can be imposed against the owner or person responsible for the dog. Given this right, the insurance company who is legally obligated to compens...
01st June 2009
First, a common law claim against a dog owner may be pursued in addition to a claim brought under Washington?s specific dog bite statute. The two types of claims are not mutually exclusive. Thus, a bite victim can pursue both common law and statutory vi...
01st June 2009
The state of Washington does not maintain an accurate state-wide database of all dog bite attacks that occur. But in King County there are more than 1,000 dog bite incidences reported each year. According to the Seattle Animal Shelter, pit bulls accoun...
01st June 2009
The Location of the Incident is Important
Washington's dog bite law states that liability can only be imposed against the dog owner if the victim "is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place including the property of the owner..." ...
01st June 2009
Liability Imposed Against the Dog's "Owner"
Washington's dog bite statute only imposes liability against the "owner" of the dog. So occasionally a dispute arises about who actually owns the dog. For instance, if the person who harbors and takes care ...
18th May 2009
Washington State's "Dog Bite Statute" holds dog owners strictly liable for damages caused by injuries inflicted by their dogs. The phrase "strictly liable" means that the dog owner is liable regardless of whether the owner knew about the dog's dangerous ...
25th March 2009
It is a dangerous practice to wait to settle a claim or file a lawsuit right before the statute of limitations period expires. If a lawsuit is filed right before the deadline and if the defendant cannot be found, or if the wrong defendant is served, the ...
