Yakima Dog
Bite Lawyer

Have you recently been injured in a dog attack in Yakima, Washington? Call Montoya Hinckley Personal Injury Lawyers at (509) 895-7373 today for a free consultation. Our experienced Yakima dog bite lawyers can help you demand justice and seek to maximize your financial recovery.

We help everyday people stand up to powerful insurance companies in the wake of devastating accidents and injuries. Our award-winning Washington trial lawyers have 56+ years of combined experience and a track record of winning complex personal injury disputes. As fearless advocates for our clients, we’ve secured tens of millions of dollars in settlement awards and jury verdicts.

Call our law office to discover how we can make a difference in your dog bite lawsuit, too. Your initial case evaluation is free.

Why Choose Montoya Hinckley Injury Lawyers if I’ve Been Bitten by a Dog in Yakima, WA?

Dog bite victims in Yakima, WA, trust Montoya Hinckley Injury Lawyers because we offer compassionate, individualized, and dedicated legal representation when it matters most.

Our Yakima personal injury lawyers tailor legal strategies to meet the needs and facts of each client’s case. This allows us to create powerful legal arguments and claims that force at-fault parties and insurance companies to negotiate fairly and take responsibility for the harm they’ve caused.

Our recognition as Super Lawyers and members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, along with dozens of five-star Google reviews from former clients, demonstrates our commitment to excellent legal representation.

Make our Yakima dog bite attorneys your first call for help. Schedule a free consultation.

Washington’s Dog Bite Laws

Washington law holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs, regardless of the dog’s history of aggression.

Washington’s dog bite law (RCW 16.08.040) provides “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.”

This means that you can sue a dog’s owner for damages if you’re attacked, as long as you weren’t trespassing when you were bitten. You don’t have to prove that the dog has bitten someone in the past or shown any vicious tendencies in the past. You also don’t have to prove that the dog’s owner was negligent.

Dog Bites Can Sometimes Be Matters of Premises Liability

Liability for a dog bite isn’t always limited to the animal’s owner. If you were bitten in public, at a local Yakima business, or on public property, you could potentially have a claim against the owner of the premises.

In Washington, property owners have a duty to protect guests from reasonably foreseeable threats to their safety. If a property owner knows that a vicious dog is on the premises, they might need to take steps to keep that dog away from guests or at least warn about the dog’s presence. 

What Could My Dog Bite Injury Claim Be Worth?

The specific facts and circumstances that make up your case will dictate how much money you might be able to recover if you sue.

Our dog bite attorneys in Yakima will consider:

• What types of injuries you suffered when you were bitten by the dog
• Whether your injuries are permanent or disabling
• How being bitten by a dog has affected your earning capacity and ability to work, both now and for the foreseeable future
• Changes in your day-to-day life and your quality of life
• Your age at the time of the dog attack
• Whether you’re being accused of provoking the dog or sharing responsibility for your injuries

More severe dog bite injuries tend to translate to higher financial recoveries.

What Compensation Can I Recover From a Dog Bite Claim?

For your dog bite claim, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the dog’s owner for two types of compensatory damages.

Economic damages are designed to make you whole by covering the current and future financial consequences of the dog attack, such as:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Disability
• Diminished earning capacity
• Nursing assistance
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Funeral costs if a dog bite is fatal

Non-economic damages are intended to acknowledge the hardships associated with a dog bite that don’t have a set financial value, such as:

• Chronic physical pain
• Physical disfigurement
• Scarring
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Embarrassment
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Our personal injury attorneys in Yakima will ensure all your losses are accounted for in your claim.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney in Yakima?

You shouldn’t have to worry about upfront costs when getting help with your dog bite case. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket. We will cover the costs of litigation and only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you. If we win, our attorney fees and invested costs will be deducted from your settlement or jury award. 

What Are Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries?

Some of the most commonly treated dog bite injuries include:

• Puncture wounds
• Degloving injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Amputation injuries
• Nerve damage
• Broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Facial injuries
• Eye injuries
• Brain injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Infections and disease
• Catastrophic injuries

Dog bite injuries require immediate medical attention. Left untreated, injuries can be susceptible to serious infections and complications.

What’s the Statute of Limitations for Dog Bite Lawsuits in Washington?

Washington applies a three-year statute of limitations to most dog bite lawsuits. This gives you three years from the date you were bitten by a dog or suffered the wrongful death of a family member to sue the dog’s owner and/or other liable parties.

There can be limited exceptions to the strict time limit. The most common exception involves children. When a child is bitten by a dog, the statute of limitations can be tolled until the child’s 18th birthday if a parent or guardian doesn’t pursue a claim on their behalf.

What Should I Do After a Dog Bite in Yakima?

After a dog bite in Yakima, your health and safety should come first. Move to a safe location, call 911 if emergency help is needed, and seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if the injury does not seem severe at first. Dog bites can cause infections, nerve damage, scarring, and other serious complications. 

If you can, identify the dog and its owner, and report the incident to local animal control or law enforcement. Take photos of your injuries, the area where the attack happened, and any damaged clothing. Try to get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Keep copies of medical records, prescriptions, and documentation of missed work. 

It is also wise to avoid speaking with an insurance company before talking to an attorney. Taking these steps early can protect both your health and your right to pursue compensation.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Yakima Dog Bite Lawyer

Dogs can be unpredictable – even dogs we know and love. If you’re attacked by someone else’s dog in Yakima, Washington, you can take action to hold the dog’s owner accountable for your medical expenses, disability, and suffering. Working with the experienced Yakima dog bite attorneys at Montoya Hinckley Injury Lawyers can help you in your fight for compensation.

Our team knows the challenges you’ll face in the wake of a devastating dog attack. We can provide the compassionate, honest, reliable legal representation you’ll need to demand accountability and get your life back on track. 

We offer a free consultation, so now is the time to reach out to our Yakima law office for help.