Just because a dog bites you doesn’t mean the pet’s owner is blameless for the harm that you’ve suffered. Talk with a dog bite lawyer in Mill Creek about this incident. Your attorney may advise you to seek compensation from the dog’s owner or this individual’s insurance company for any losses that you’ve incurred.
Murphy Trial Law gives you access to a legal team with years of experience. Our Mill Creek personal injury lawyer wants you to make a full recovery from your dog bite injuries. As you focus on caring for yourself, we can pursue compensation from the liable owner of the dog that attacked you. To learn more, schedule a free case consultation with us.
Why Now Is the Right Time to File a Dog Bite Claim in Mill Creek
You’re worried about the long-term emotional effects of your vicious dog attack. Along with these, you face steep medical bills as you treat your dog bite injuries. Discuss your animal attack with a dog bite attorney in Mill Creek. This is an opportunity to examine your legal options and how you can get money from the owner of the dog that attacked you.
Expect your dog bite injury lawyer in Mill Creek to advise you to prioritize self-care in the aftermath of your animal attack. They can teach you about Washington State’s dog bite laws and how they apply to your case. Plus, your lawyer can investigate your dog attack and guide you through the process of requesting money from the animal’s owner.
The team at Murphy Trial Law empathizes with dog bite injury victims. We can let you know if you can sue if you’ve been bitten by a dog and, if so, how to do so. For more information, request a free case consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Mill Creek, call (425) 835-2614
How a Dog Bite Injury Claim Works With the Help of a Mill Creek Dog Bite Lawyer
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) has restrictions on the time frame in which you’re legally permitted to file a dog bite injury claim. Per RCW 4.16.080, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years. Based on this, you may have a maximum of three years from the day of a dog attack to seek compensation from the animal’s owner.
Your lawyer can file your claim before the window in which you’re allowed to do so closes. According to RCW 16.08.040, the owner of the dog that attacked you may be held liable for your losses from this incident. You may be able to recover money for these losses from this individual through their homeowners or renters insurance policy or a personal injury lawsuit.
Generally, your personal injury attorney can open settlement negotiations with the insurer of the owner of the dog that attacked you. They can keep you updated on these negotiations and on any offers made. You’re not required to approve a settlement offer. Thus, if you don’t get a fair settlement proposal, your lawyer may encourage you to sue for compensatory damages.
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How Much a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit Is Worth
You have no idea how bad a dog bite has to be before you can sue. Thankfully, your lawyer for a dog bite in Mill Creek can determine your eligibility for filing a lawsuit. If you decide to submit a lawsuit, your attorney can help you secure economic and non-economic damages.
The damages awarded to dog bite injury victims can include pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. What you receive in your lawsuit will depend on the severity of your dog bite injuries and other factors.
Of course, filing a lawsuit does not mean that a judge or jury will automatically award damages. The burden of proof falls on you and your attorney. With your lawyer’s help, you can collect witness statements, medical records, and other evidence to support your case. This body of proof may help you show that a pet owner acted negligently.
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How Negligence Can Determine If You Receive Damages in Your Dog Bite Lawsuit
Your dog bite accident lawyer in Mill Creek can prepare an argument centered on negligence. They want to prove that a pet owner violated a duty of care, as they didn’t take appropriate measures to protect you against an animal attack. Since this duty was breached, you suffered injuries in a dog attack.
For example, a dog owner lets their pet run off-leash. The dog comes up to you and, unfortunately, bites and injures you. In alignment with Mill Creek Municipal Code (MCMC) Chapter 6.14.020, the owner of this dog is subject to a leash law. Yet, they chose to violate this law by allowing their animal to run free.
In this scenario, your lawyer may argue that the pet owner broke the law and, due to this, put you and others in danger. Furthermore, they can highlight how you wouldn’t have been hurt if the animal owner complied with Mill Creek’s leash law. By doing these things, your lawyer may compel the court to give you a favorable ruling, and you could recover damages.
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A Look at the Role of Pure Comparative Negligence in a Dog Bite Injury Case
The owner of the dog that attacked you may search for ways to contest your argument. They may argue that you are partially responsible for an animal attack. If the court agrees with this, you could receive partial damages based on Washington’s pure comparative negligence statute.
Pure comparative negligence is defined by RCW 4.22.005. If you are found to be in any way liable for a dog attack in which you’re injured, the court can reduce your damages by your percentage of fault. For instance, a court rules that you’re 20% liable for injuries you suffer in a dog attack. This means that you may get 80% of the damages you originally sought.
Your dog bite injuries lawyer in Mill Creek can account for pure comparative negligence as they develop their argument. They want to make it clear to a judge or jury that you’re in no way liable for your dog attack injuries and that a pet owner should have to cover all of your losses.
Justice Is Our Driving Force as We Help You with Your Dog Bite Case
Murphy Trial Law can connect you with a Mill Creek dog bite attorney who will fight for your rights throughout your case proceedings. Trust us to be your legal advocate as your dog bite injury case moves forward. Contact us today.
Call or text (425) 835-2614 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form