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Menzer Law Firm

Menzer Law, PLLC | Seattle Personal Injury Attorney

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Matthew Menzer
    • JohnDavid Toren
    • Brady Douglas
    • Philip Lowenthal, Of Counsel
    • Our Staff
    • Primerus
    • Community Scholarship
  • Practice Areas
    • Serious Personal Injury Claims
      • Car Accidents
      • Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Dog Bites
      • Assault
      • Spinal and Brain Injuries
      • Sports Injuries
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Compensation and Settlements
      • Missed Sepsis Diagnosis
      • Stroke Misdiagnosis
      • Failure to Diagnose
      • Medication Errors
      • Patient Falls
      • Surgical Errors
    • Birth Injury
    • Wrongful Death
    • Nursing Home & Elder Abuse
    • Life & Accidental Death Insurance
    • Vaccine Reactions
  • Client Reviews
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Matthew Menzer
    • JohnDavid Toren
    • Brady Douglas
    • Philip Lowenthal, Of Counsel
    • Our Staff
    • Primerus
    • Community Scholarship
  • Practice Areas
    • Serious Personal Injury Claims
      • Car Accidents
      • Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Dog Bites
      • Assault
      • Spinal and Brain Injuries
      • Sports Injuries
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Compensation and Settlements
      • Missed Sepsis Diagnosis
      • Stroke Misdiagnosis
      • Failure to Diagnose
      • Medication Errors
      • Patient Falls
      • Surgical Errors
    • Birth Injury
    • Wrongful Death
    • Nursing Home & Elder Abuse
    • Life & Accidental Death Insurance
    • Vaccine Reactions
  • Client Reviews
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Seattle Dog Bite Lawyers

The old saying goes that dog is a man’s best friend. But the truth is that dogs are not always harmless or friendly. Some  dogs are aggressive, territorial, and even violent—some by nature and others by circumstances or lack of proper training.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year.  Of those dog bite victims, 799,700 victims needed medical care, and about 6,000 people were hospitalized due to the dog bites.

These statistics do not prove that  dogs are inherently dangerous.  Instead, they  illustrate that we should not take a  dog’s friendliness for granted, and that in some circumstances people can be seriously injured from interactions with dogs.

Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bite injuries can range from mild to catastrophic. After suffering a dog bite, you should seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if it appears to be a minor wound, you or your child may require a vaccine or booster shot and having the wound thoroughly cleaned and treated is essential to prevent infection and promote healing.

Dog bites injuries can include:

  • Puncture wounds
  • Lacerations
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Nerve damage
  • Broken bones
  • Scarring
  • Rabies (a virus most commonly spread through the saliva of an infected animal and can be fatal if not treated promptly)
  • Pasteurella (a bacterial infection)
  • Capnocytophaga bacteria (a bacterial infection)
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA – an antibiotic resistant staph infection)
  • Tetanus (a toxin produced by Clostridium tetani bacteria, which causes rigid paralysis)

Dog bites can require extensive medical treatment to repair serious tissue damage, prevent further injury and infection, and to repair your appearance to the greatest extent possible. At Menzer Law Firm, we have handled dog bite cases involving all types and severity of injuries, including bites that have caused permanent disfigurements and disabilities.

Washington Dog Bite Laws

Under Washington law, dog owners are responsible when their animals injure other people. Under RCW 16.08.040, the owner of any dog that bites any person while that person is on a public place or lawfully on private property is liable for the damages suffered by the bitten person, regardless of whether the dog has bitten someone  before or the owner knew of such behaviors.

To recover compensation from the owner, you do not need to prove the dog ever bit someone before. This type of law is known as “strict liability.”

However, the dog bite victim must not have provoked the attack. Under RCW 16.08.060, if the dog owner can prove provocation, this can be complete defense to a claim for compensation.

You also may be able to recover compensation for a dog bite based on someone’s negligence. If the dog was in the care of someone other than the owner at the time of the attack, you may be able to hold that person responsible if they were careless in containing and controlling the dog.

Someone other than the dog’s owner can also be liable for your dog bite injuries if they were not negligent but knew of the dog’s previous vicious or dangerous propensities. This is what is known as the “one bite rule.” In Washington, it expands liability from the dog’s owner to others who watch or keep the dog.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

If you or your child are attacked by a dog, the first step is to get to a safe place. It can be helpful to take photos of the dog.  However, always put your health and safety first.

Ask for the name and contact information of the person in charge of the dog at the time of the attack. If that person is not the owner, ask for the owner’s name and contact information. If the dog is with a paid dog walker at the time of the attack, ask for the name of the specific company, such as Rover.

Seek out medical attention as soon as possible. For minor injuries, you may feel comfortable going to your family physician or an urgent care clinic. For serious injuries, you should go to the emergency room.

Getting immediate medical care is also important for legal reasons.  It  creates  a record of the dog bite and your injuries, which can be used late on to support your claim for compensation.

Report the bite to the local police or the animal control authorities. If the attack occurred in Seattle, you can report the incident to Seattle Animal Control.

The next step is to call an experienced Seattle dog bite lawyer. When another person’s dog has attacked and injured you or your child, you should not second guess your rights. You should take steps to hold the animal owner or handler responsible and obtain fair and just compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.

You can reach Menzer Law Firm to schedule a free case evaluation through our online form or by calling (206) 903-1818.

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Our Practice

Serious Personal Injury

Car Accidents
Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Dog Bites
Assault
Spinal & Brain Injuries
Sports Injuries

Medical Malpractice

Medical Malpractice Compensation
Missed Sepsis Diagnosis
Stroke Misdiagnosis
Failure to Diagnose
Medication Errors
Patient Falls
Surgical Errors

Wrongful Death

Nursing Home & Elder Abuse

Life & Accidental Death Insurance

Vaccine Reactions

Client Reviews

 

We wish there were 10 stars to give Menzer Law Firm. Five doesn't seem to suffice. Our case was a very complex and involved injury case involving our son; Matt took it on because he knew we had been wronged and wanted to see justice prevail for our family... Read More Erik J.
 

We thank God we met Matt Menzer and staff. Our medical case was so emotionally draining and throughout our personal strain of surgeries, ERs, radiation and chemo Matt was so respectful and compassionate but at the same time pushed our case forward.  Our case... Read More  Patty A.


I was in need of personal injury legal representation after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. The insurance company representing the individual that hit me was challenging and difficult to work with. Menzer Law Firm was highly recommended to me. Their experience, professionalism, honesty and guidance are beyond compare... Read More Marion
 

Our case involved the death of my mother and long term impact to my own health. We were fighting against three of the largest insurance companies in the country. Our original lawyer was clearly being outsmarted by the insurance companies' attorney and the emotional... Read More Tara


Matt Menzer and his staff exemplified the highest level of professionalism when handling an auto accident case for my family. And the outcome of the case was very satisfactory, due to Matt's skill at negotiating in a measured, no-drama, backed-up-by-facts approach... Read More Paul H.

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Menzer Law Firm

Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer
705 2nd Ave, #800
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 903-1818
(206) 903-1821 fax

Our Practice

  • Serious Personal Injury Claims
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Wrongful Death
  • Nursing Home Negligence
  • Life & Accidental Death Insurance
  • Vaccine Reactions

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In accordance with State, local and federal directives, all of us at Menzer Law have successfully transitioned to work remotely from home. We are available to new and existing clients by email, phone and video-conference, and we will continue to do our best to meet everyone’s legal needs during the COVID-19 outbreak. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.