Sadly, children are often the victims of dog bites due to the failure of the owner to control the behavior of a dangerous animal. If you or a loved one, child or adult, are injured by the bite of a dog, our firm is skilled in documenting, representing, and proving your injuries. We have a network of investigators, plastic surgeons, and professional photographers to aid your case.
Dog bite injuries can require extensive, prolonged medical care, and some wounds may never fully heal. Many victims are permanently disabled or disfigured, injuries that can have significant emotional and physical effects for the rest of their lives.
Scarring and permanency of those scars are key talking points in negotiations regarding the value of your dog bite or dog attack case. Our office works with some of the best plastic surgeons and scar specialists to document and itemize the options for a victim of a dog bite injury going forward. If the insurance company is trying to settle your case without you having documented what the future holds for your injury, pause the conversation and call us for an educated opinion on the value of your case.
What to expect from our team
When liability is in question, come to us, personal injury lawyers in Puyallup.
We obtain exceptional results through a unique and personalized “client-centered” approach to personal injury law. At Sears Injury Law we work with focused energy throughout the case, contacting the client regularly and working proactively, rather than reactively, to make sure your interests are represented at the highest level. We feature a staff of trained investigators, negotiators, and paralegals- many of which have worked for insurance companies directly in the past. Our firm will contact you frequently and communicate often throughout the course of your claim. Want an update? Call us anytime.
FAQS
How do you recover money for the victims of dog bites?
Normally, a dog owner’s homeowners insurance will apply and pay the damages you sustained as a result of the homeowners dog biting you. We are very skilled at obtaining the relevant information to make the claim, even if you weren’t able to gather the insurance of the dog owner at the time of the accident.
What should I do if I’m bitten by a dog?
First, take a photograph of the driver’s license of the dog owner, and a photograph of the attacking dog itself. We will want to identify both as we work through your case. Then, be sure that you see a doctor right away. Dogs carry diseases that may require you getting vaccinations from doctors to be sure you aren’t infected, and so that you can get your injuries dressed and taken care of.
Be sure to take photos! We all know the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words”, and this is even truer in our field. Reading “lacerations and contusions” doesn’t carry the same weight that a color photograph depicting the bite marks, cuts, and bruising does. These are key pieces of evidence. We suggest taking photos of the wounds every day over the first week, and following the initial week, at least once per week. Please send us all of the photos you’ve taken so that we can be sure the insurance company knows the full extent of your damages.
I’m now afraid to see or be around dogs. Now what?
The emotional component of a dog bite is very real, and many of our clients suffer from PTSD and a fear of dogs following a dog bite incident. Our first concern is that we find a way to make this condition better for you, long before we look at the monetary aspect of your case. We want to see that you first get well, and second get fully compensated, and for the full duration of whatever treatment you need to undergo.
We have developed solid relationships with much of the medical community and would be happy to suggest a therapist that specializes in treating people for these frightening incidents. We care, and we want to see that you get well.