Dog bite law protects victims who have been bitten or attacked by someone else’s dog. It is a type of personal injury law that forces people to take responsibility for the pain and suffering their lack of attention or irresponsibility has caused others. There are approximately 80 million dogs in the United States, and most are friendly family pets who will never cause any harm. Unfortunately, even a seemingly-friendly dog can become frightened or feel threatened. It happens frequently enough that over one-third of all insurance claims filed against homeowner’s policies are because of a dog bite.
People who are bitten by a dog while on the property where the dog lives, are only protected if they are there legally. This includes service providers, people delivering mail or newspapers, as well as invited guests. Even those who are stopping to sell something, or looking for directions are protected under the dog bite law. The only exceptions are the individuals who are trespassing or otherwise breaking the law by being on the property.
A dog bite lawyer in Spokane, WA is a professional with experience in personal injury law, who can help the victim get a settlement or judgment against the dog owner. Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies can cover this type of event, whether it happened at the house of the owner or off the property. If the dog was in a vehicle at the time of the bite, the lawyer might file a lawsuit against the auto insurance company instead.
The expenses that can be included under this type of suit include medical expenses, any lost income, and pain and suffering. In addition, property damage is also covered, for example if a dog breaks through a fence to access to another yard, or if they harm other pets or farm animals during an attack. A dog bite lawyer in Spokane, WA, like the staff at Deissner Law Office, will make certain that any settlement will reflect the damage caused by the dog, and may even seek punitive damages or additional coverage for damaged property. This typically happens if there have been previous complaints about the dog involved, or there is evidence to show that the owner knew the dog was a risk to others. Contact the firm to learn more or to arrange for a consultation regarding a specific incident.
