Dog Bite

Dog owners are responsible for their pets.  This basic principle means that dog owners are also legally responsible for injuries caused if their dog bites a person and causes injury. 

Animal attacks may cause relatively minor injuries – which require medical attention and may result in lost wages for time away from work.  Other times, a dog attack can be a vicious and terrifying experience resulting in severe emotional and physical injury requiring major medical intervention and plastic surgery. 

In Washington, dog owners are strictly liable for damages caused by their dogs.  This means that if a dog bites a person while the person is on public property or lawfully on private property, then the dog owner is responsible for all the harms and losses caused by the canine.  The primary exception to this rule of strict liability is that owners may avoid liability if they can prove that the dog was provoked into biting.  The dog owner does not have to have prior knowledge that a dog has vicious propensities or is likely to attack.  Nor does any dog get a “free bite.”  Even the first bite may result in the dog owner’s liability for the harms and losses caused by their dog. 

In Oregon, the general rule is that the owner of a dog or other domestic animal is strictly liable for injuries caused by the animal only if the owner knows of the animal’s dangerous propensities.  For all other domestic animals, a person who possesses an animal is liable for harm caused by the animal if the person is negligent in failing to prevent the harm. 

Successful Outcome:     

Dog Bites Mail Delivery Person on Leg
Result: $16,000.00 Settlement

It's one of the major hazards of the job of delivering the mail.  After our client, who delivers U.S. mail, was attacked and bitten on the leg by a dog along her mail route, we successfully negotiated a $16,000.00 settlement.


The Harlan Law Firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients pay no legal fees unless we recover for them the compensation they deserve.

If you are seeking legal advice after being injured by the negligence of a person or company, contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation. Call (360) 735-8200 or email

I have known Beau Harlan for many years. I recommend him without reservation.

— William Robison, Personal Injury Lawyer, Vancouver, WA

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