Americans are crazy about their dogs. There are an estimated 62 million pet dogs in the U.S. Unfortunately, not all of those are nice or friendly. Many of them bite, sometimes without provocation. In Washington State alone there are about 8,000 dog bites per year. Many of these bites are quite severe and require stitches or surgery. Sometimes, they can lead to
scarring and death.
If you or your child is bitten by a dog, you need to immediately get the owner's name and address, as well as their insurance information. Even though it is a traumatic time, this information will become very important.
Wash the wound immediately and very thoroughly with soap and warm water. Although there's an old wives' tale that says dogs have fewer germs in their mouths than humans, the fact is that dog bites can become easily infected. Contact your physician for further instructions.
Report the bite to your Washington authorities, even if the owner is a close friend. If the dog is a stray, animal control will want to know everything you can remember about the animal so they can try to locate it.
Dog owners are usually covered by their homeowners' insurance, so if you sue they will
often be held liable. For more details on Washington dog bite
law, contact Peterson Law office. We serve both Washington and Oregon. Contact us by phone in Portland at (503) 280-0888 or toll-free in Washington and Oregon at 1-877-908-1900.
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