Does the dog owner have any defense?
Posted on April 6th, 2010 by admin
Can a Dog Owner be Held Liable if He Didn’t Know His Dog Was Dangerous?
Washington State has a strict liability statute when it comes to dog bites. What this means is that the dog owner is liable – whether or not the dog attack occurs on public or private or property, and whether or not the dog owner was aware of the dog’s prior viciousness. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 16.08.040: “The owner of any dog which shall bite any person while such person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place including the property of the owner of such dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, please contact the Tacoma personal injury lawyer and set up a free consultation so you can find out if you have a case and what your rights are.