Kirkland Dog Bite Attorney

Any dog can attack a person under the right circumstances, regardless of how well-behaved or well-trained the animal is. If you are the victim of a dog attack, you can sustain serious injuries and may develop an infection if the dog has dangerous bacteria in its saliva. In addition to these injuries, you can suffer from financial hardship and emotional trauma.

If you are struggling to recover after a dog bite, the Kirkland personal injury lawyers at Colburn Law can help. Our Kirkland dog bite attorney can represent you in a dog bite lawsuit, allowing you to hold the animal’s owner accountable for the damages you suffered.

Why Choose Us

Our firm has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. Your attorney is dedicated to your maximum recovery and will work closely with you to calculate the compensation you need.
Colburn Law operates on a contingency fee basis. If we do not secure compensation on your behalf, you do not pay legal fees.
We will maintain an open line of communication between you and your attorney during your case. You will always be able to ask questions and raise concerns to your attorney.

Washington’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Statute

In some states, a dog must have a history of dangerous or aggressive behavior for an owner to be liable for a victim’s injuries. Washington is not one of these states. Instead, Washington follows a strict liability standard for dog bite cases.

Under RCW 16.08.040, dog owners are responsible for any bite injuries their dog inflicts on a person who has a legal right to be where the attack occurs. This means that an owner is not liable for a person’s injuries if he or she is trespassing or otherwise unlawfully present on private property at the time of the attack. If the victim is in a public place or lawfully on private land, the owner would be liable for his or her damages.

How to Prove a Washington Dog Bite Lawsuit

If you sustain a dog bite injury in Kirkland and you had a legal right to be where the attack happened, you could file a personal injury lawsuit against the owner. You do not need to prove his or her negligence to secure compensation, and you do not need to prove the dog has a history of violence. Instead, you will need to prove that you suffered a dog bite, that the owner’s dog inflicted the bite, and that you had a legal right to be where the attack occurred.

Successfully proving a dog bite lawsuit can be difficult without an attorney on your side. The owner may claim you were trespassing or that you provoked the animal, arguing that he or she is not liable for your damages. Your attorney can defend you against these claims and gather clear evidence to craft a compelling case in your favor. He will interview witnesses, enlist the help of expert witnesses, and exercise his or her negotiation skills to secure the settlement you need to recover.

Contact Colburn Law Today

If you are the victim of a dog attack in Kirkland, seek help from a dog bite attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer from Colburn Law can help you identify your optimal pathway to maximum compensation, and will work tirelessly to hold the animal’s owner accountable for its actions.