It costs a lot of money to get medical treatment after an animal attack. Fortunately, you have every right to hold negligent dog owners and other pet owners responsible for losses sustained due to a pet’s violent or out-of-control behavior. At Phillips Law Firm, our dog bite & animal attack lawyers in Tacoma can help you demand support while you physically recover.
We have worked with Washington State families for over 20 years. In that time, our Tacoma personal injury lawyers helped over 20,000 clients retake control of their lives. We can do the same for you after an animal attack. The sooner you schedule a free consultation with our team, the sooner we can put you back in control of your life.
Washington State’s Dog Bite Laws Put Victims First
Washington State residents don’t benefit from a “one free bite” rule. Dog owners must prevent their dogs or other pets from attacking other people, without exception. Owners who fail to keep the people around them safe can immediately assume liability for the victim’s injuries, regardless of whether or not the attacking animal has a history of violence.
The state’s strict liability ruling (RCW 16.08.040) notes that pet owners assume responsibility for animal attacks caused by both negligence and knowledge of an animal’s proclivity for violence. In other words, a pet’s owner cannot argue that their lack of knowledge or inattention frees them of responsibility for your injuries and other losses.
Likewise, that strict liability law ensures that you have no obligation to prove negligence after an animal attack. As such, the burden of proof for dog bite and animal attack cases is lighter than it is for more personal injury cases.
Exceptions to Strict Liability in Washington
However, our Tacoma dog bite & animal attack attorneys know that there are exceptions to Washington’s strict liability rulings. Animal owners might claim that you were unlawfully on their land at the time of an attack, or that your behavior encouraged an animal to attack you.
If you suspect that the owner responsible for your recent attack might try to blame you for your own losses, let our team know right away. We can step in and help you challenge attempts to undermine your fight for compensation.
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When’s the Best Time to Call a Tacoma Dog Bite & Animal Attack Lawyer?
The attorneys with Phillips Law Firm are available to help you outline how to recover from an animal attack from the start. You can contact our team within hours of an incident and secure the representation you need to demand financial support for your losses from a liable party.
Your case consultations with our team come free of charge and let you dictate how your recovery progresses. The sooner you call, the better, as a quick response from our team can help you preserve the evidence you need to argue for a settlement that covers your economic and non-economic losses.
Notably, our team represents victims of animal attacks and dog bites in civil court. We cannot help you press criminal charges against a dog or pet owner. If you want to have Washington police open an investigation into an owner’s behavior, you can call the police while our attorneys build out your civil case.
Tacoma Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (800) 708-6000
Do You Have to Go to Court After a Dog Bite or Animal Attack?
Reaching out to our legal team after an animal attack does not obligate you to go to trial and demand damages for your losses. Our Tacoma, WA, dog bite & animal attack attorneys offer a wide array of services designed to help you meet your specific recovery goals.
You can work with us to file an insurance claim for attack damages or file a personal injury claim before your statute of limitations expires. If you move forward with an animal attack claim in the civil system, we can summon an animal owner to private settlement negotiations and come to an agreement about payments without going in front of a judge.
However, the claim you file after an animal attack with Washington’s civil system preserves your right to go to trial should the need to do so arise. If a pet owner ducks your summons or refuses to offer you a fair attack settlement, going to trial may make it easier for you to demand reasonable support.
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How Much Does it Cost to Work With a Tacoma Dog Bite & Animal Attack Lawyer?
It doesn’t cost you anything up front to start working with our Tacoma, WA, dog bite & animal attack lawyers. Phillips Law Firm is a contingency-based firm, meaning that we only get paid for our representation once we win a client’s case.
In other words, you can reach out to us immediately after an animal attack and secure the representation you need to have constructive conversations with insurers, even the ones that want to make your case go away as quickly as possible. We can also represent you in conversations with a pet owner, thereby preserving your right to legal action.
You will not receive a bill from our office while your case is in progress, and we won’t ask you to put down a deposit or retainer. That financial accessibility makes Phillips Law Firm one of your greatest possible allies in the wake of a serious incident.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Tacoma, call
(800) 708-6000
Start Working With Phillips Law Firm Today
Dog bites and animal attacks can leave you with physical and emotional scars that last a lifetime. Don’t let these incidents have a permanent impact on your financial health, too. If you need help holding a dog or pet owner responsible for a recent attack, you can trust Phillips Law Firm to represent you.
Our dog bite & animal attack attorneys in Tacoma, WA, can stand with you in and out of civil court as we fight for your right to attack compensation. That support makes it harder for dog owners and insurers to wriggle out of the responsibility they owe you in the wake of your injuries.
Don’t let your right to animal attack compensation pass you by. If you want to discuss how you can hold a pet owner responsible for your recent injuries, book a free consultation with our team today.
Real People. Real Justice. (800) 708-6000
