No Fees Unless We Win
No Fees Unless We Win
To many of us, pets are a member of the family. As a result, we tend lovingly to their health, providing them with plenty of exercise, attention, and food. In an ideal world, everyone would treat their animals like this. Unfortunately, not everyone tends to their pets with the same care and devotion.
Reckless pet owners let animals run around without a leash, don’t keep up with vaccination or routine health care services, and may even abuse their pets, leading them to become aggressive. What happens when you or someone you love is bitten by one of these animals? A Washington State Dog Bite Injury Attorney can help you hold negligent pet owners accountable and seek compensation for your injuries.
Choosing Colburn Law means working with a team that understands how serious dog bite injuries can be and how they can affect your life. We have experience handling dog bite claims across Washington and know how to hold negligent dog owners accountable.
At Colburn Law, our goal is simple: protect your rights and help you move forward after a dog bite injury.
Each state has unique deadlines for filing dog bite suits, which is referred to as the statute of limitations. In most cases, you must file with a Seattle dog bite lawyer within three years of the dog bite. If you miss this deadline, your case is likely to be thrown out without so much as a review. For this reason, it’s essential to retain the services of a Seattle dog bite attorney as soon as possible. Greg Colburn has fought hard to help Seattle residents receive compensation for their injuries since they opened their doors. Our main goal is to get you back on the road to recovery following a dog bite.
In some cases, the strict liability rule doesn’t apply. A dog’s owner might turn to one of these defenses to get your case dismissed:
If you discover that the dog that bit you had a previously known history of viciousness, the owner will be liable for injuries. Washington law holds the owner of a vicious dog or wild animal liable if he/she knew or reasonably should have known that the animal had dangerous propensities. This is sometimes called the one-bite rule, although the dog need not necessarily have bitten someone in the past to qualify for a history of viciousness. They also may qualify under dangerous dog breeds.
Any action or behavior, such as growling or aggressive barking, may give the courts reason to rule that the owner should have known about its potential for violence. If another reasonable and prudent person would have known about the dog’s viciousness, the courts will rule that the pet owner was negligent in not preventing an attack. It is illegal for a pet owner or harborer to let a dog with vicious tendencies run at large in Seattle.
In most states, Washington included, dog bites fall under an area of personal injury law known as “strict liability.” Strict liability means that people can be held accountable for the actions of their pets, even if they didn’t intend for anything to happen. In Washington, victims of animal attacks or dog bites are free to pursue compensation for their injuries, even if the pet’s owner didn’t know the animal was dangerous. For more information, contact a dog bite lawyer in Washington today.
In Washington, you may file a lawsuit against the animal’s owner only. You couldn’t sue a property owner if you were bitten by a stray that wandered onto his or her land.
The more you learn about dog bites in Seattle and around the country, the better prepared you will be if this frightening incident ever happens to you or a loved one. Learn the facts, laws, and ordinances surrounding dog ownership in Seattle and who may be liable for dog bites in the event of an attack.
Chapter 9.25 of the Seattle, Washington, Municipal Code states guidelines for animal control. The purpose of these ordinances is to prevent harm to the public from animals and to stop animal cruelty by establishing rules for control. Chapter 9.25 places the main obligation of control compliance with the owners or possessors of the animal. Here are a few key takeaways from this chapter:
Taking a dog off-leash requires the owner to have voice control over the dog at all times. Dogs must have valid license tags attached to collars in off-leash areas. Dangerous animals may not use the city’s off-leash areas.
No Fees Unless We Win
All pet owners must obey state and citywide laws regarding dog ownership. Failure to obey the law, resulting in a dog bite or animal attack, will result in strict liability on the part of the owner or possessor of the animal.
After a harmful dog bite attack, your first goal should be to receive medical care for your wounds. Then, determine liability for your injuries. In Seattle, the owner of the property where the attack occurred is not automatically the party legally responsible for the dog. Instead of blaming the landlord, the law will look at the actual owner, possessor, keeper, or harborer of the dog in question.
According to state law, anyone who “harbors, keeps, or is negligent with a dog” may be liable for related injuries. The law protects landlords from liability unless the landlord is also the keeper/harborer of the dog. Anyone who unreasonably failed to control the pet on the day of the attack, resulting in injury, may be liable. The courts will decide who was in charge of the dog on the day of the attack.
Every year, about 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States. One in five of these bites becomes infected. Children between the ages 5 and 9 are at the highest risk of dog-bite injuries. Most dog bites occur with dogs we know – family pets or dogs that friends own. In 2015, more than 28,000 dog-bite victims had to undergo some form of reconstructive surgery.
Dog attacks cost the city of Seattle hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care costs annually. Dog owners can lower these statistics by properly restraining their pets, training them, and not teaching them aggressive behaviors. Obeying citywide leash laws and other ordinances could also reduce the rate of dog bites in Seattle and keep our community safer.
Dog bite injuries can lead to serious physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Whether you are facing medical bills, lost wages, or lasting trauma, you do not have to handle the legal process alone. An experienced dog bite lawyer can help you understand your rights, hold negligent dog owners accountable, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation to discuss your dog bite claim—there are no fees unless we win your case.
Greg Colburn’s path to personal injury law is rooted in personal experience. After a devastating fall left him in a wheelchair for two years, he took on insurance companies and legal obstacles to win his own case. That journey inspired him to fight for others facing similar challenges. Today, Greg is dedicated to helping injury victims hold negligent parties accountable and secure the justice they deserve.
Years of Experience: 20 years
Super Lawyers Profile: Greg Colburn
Dog Bite Attorneys Near Me in Washington State 
Have you experienced a dog bite injury? You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and more. A trusted dog bite injury attorney near me can help you protect your rights and guide you through the process.
Contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney and get the support you need to move forward.
Client Reviews
When our son was badly injured from an aggressive dog bite and needed surgery, Greg and his team (thanks Tina!) were there to handle the case and let us concentrate on the healing our son needed. I did not know at the time that Greg was one of the top dog bite lawyers in WA state. He was able to get the insurance company to pay out the full policy and now our son will have what he needs for future medical and mental health related needs. We could not be happier with the outcome.
– Alan S.
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You’ll have direct communication with me. I will know every client’s story because I will take the time to listen and understand.
I am passionate about ensuring the best possible results for each and every client, no matter the case size.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Greg Colburn.
We will come to your home, a coffee shop, or your hospital room, whichever works best for you. We’ll discuss your legal options, and if we should decide to move forward, we will offer our services on a contingency-fee basis.
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