Washington Pit Bull Attack Results in Jury Verdict Against Defendants

After being attacked by a pit bull, an injured woman brought a lawsuit against the dog’s owner.  This kind of case is considered a “Premises Liability Case,” and is usually defended by the dog owner’s “Homeowners” Insurance Company, which insures the homeowner for injuries to visitors caused by dangerous steps, falling trees, holes in the yard, and dangerous animals.

The injured victim alleged liability (= “fault”) under the dog bite statute, common law negligence, strict liability, and emotional distress.  The common law’s legal concept of negligence means a person injured in a dog attack must show the animal’s owner failed to use reasonable care to control the animal, warn of the danger and/or prevent unnecessary harm, and furthermore, that the failure to use reasonable care to control the animal caused the injury.

The facts of the case are as follows:

A middle aged woman was visiting the home of the dog’s owner.  Evidence revealed that the Municipal Court had previously deemed the animal a “dangerous dog” after it had been involved in several violent attacks against other animals.  During the fateful visit, the dog lunged at the visitor, inflicting serious injuries, including a fractured arm which required six surgeries.  The medical expenses alone were about $144,800.  The Washington jury awarded the injured victim $435,000.

Doug Landau, of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. has helped victims of similar attacks.  If you or someone you know has been the victim of a dog bite or other animal attack and there are questions as to what laws apply, email or call Abrams Landau, Ltd. at once (703-796-9555).

Read tomorrow’s post for a similar case Doug Landau had on behalf of an innocent Herndon High School student who was bitten on the face by a dangerous dog.