Firm News
- Dog Attack Injures 2, Kills Smaller Dog
Posted on 3/17/2009 - A Recipe for Dog Bite Injuries: Kids, Dogs and Warm Weather
Posted on 3/17/2009 - Parent of dog bite victim wants tougher animal control measures
Posted on 3/17/2009 - Deadly dog attacks: only one common denominator
Posted on 3/17/2009 - Infant killed in dog attack
Posted on 3/16/2009
Library
General
- Dog Bites Increase In Summer Months
- Common Law Liability for Scienter l Washington State Dog Bite Law
- Incidence of Dog Bite Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments
- Dog bite-related fatalities from 1979 through 1988
- The ecology of dog bite injury
- Dog bite wounds and infection: a prospective clinical study.
- Dog bites: how big a problem?
- Dog bite and injury prevention—analysis, critical review, and research agenda
- Treatment of Dog Bite Injuries on the Face
- Dog-bite lacerations: a controlled trial of primary wound closure
- Dog Bites in Urban Children
- Management of facial dog bite injuries
- Dog bite injuries in children : A preliminary survey
- A comparison of dog bite injuries in younger and older children treated in a pediatric emergency department
- Fatal Dog Attacks, 1989-1994
- Which Dogs Bite? A Case-Control Study of Risk Factors
- Dog bite in infancy: Trauma and personality development l Dog Bite Lawyers in Seattle
- Unreported dog bites in children l Seattle Dog Bite Attorney
- Severe dog-bite injuries, introducing the concept of pack attack : a literature review and seven case reports l Washington State Dog Bite Lawyer
- Prevention and Treatment of Dog Bites l Washington State Dog Bite Lawyer
- Dog Bites in Children Less Than 4 Years Old l Seattle Dog Bite Lawyer
- The therapy of genital trauma by dog bite l Seattle Dog Bite Attorney
- Top Ten (10) Most Dangerous Dog Breeds
- Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds
- Insurers Reluctant to Insure Dangerous Dog Breeds
- List Of 75 Banned Or Restricted Breeds - Is Your Dog On The List?
- The History of Fighting Dog Breeds
- Do Do dangerous dog breeds exist?
- Dangerous Dog Breed? You May Be Refused for Insurance
- CDC's 10 Most Dangerous Dogs List
- Dangerous Dog Breeds Insurance Risks
- Dog Bites A Particular Threat To Young Children, Especially As Temperatures Rise
- If You're Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too, Says Veterinary Study
- Dog attacks on humans have become more common in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
- Children Should Not Be Left Unsupervised With Dogs, Say Experts
- When Pets Attack
- Negligence Liability
- Statutory liability under the Washington dog bite statute
- Liability for actions of vicious dogs and wild animals
- Liability based on violations of local ordinances (negligence per se)
- Landlord Liability
- Owner Liability
- Harborer or Keeper
- Washington State Dog Bite Law - Title 16. Animals and Livestock. Chapter 16.08. Dogs. 16.08.040.
- 16.08.010. Liability for injury to stock by dogs
- 16.08.020. Dogs injuring stock may be killed
- 16.08.030. Marauding dog--Duty of owner to kill16.08.030. Marauding dog--Duty of owner to kill
- 16.08.040. Dog bites—Liability
- 16.08.050. On private property
- 16.08.060. Provocation as a defense
- 16.08.070. Dangerous dogs
- 16.08.080. Dangerous dogs--Notice to owners--Right of appeal--Certificate of registration required--Surety bond--Liability insurance--Restrictions
- 16.08.090. Dangerous dogs--Requirements for restraint--Potentially dangerous dogs--Dogs not declared dangerous
- 16.08.100. Dangerous dogs--Confiscation--Conditions--Duties of animal control authority--Penalties and affirmative defenses for owners of dogs that attack--Dog fights, penalty
- The Meaning of a "Potentially Dangerous Dog"
- Study: Dogs Biting Mail Carriers Less l Seattle Dog Bite Lawyer
- Dad Posts Comments About Girl's Pit Bull Attack l Seattle Dog Bite Lawyer
- Two Family Dogs Turn On 4-Year-Old University Place Girl l Seattle Dog Bite Law Firm
- Officers Search For Pit Bulls That Attacked Woman, Dog
Common Law Liability for Scienter l Washington State Dog Bite Law
At common law, an owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog, who knows or reasonably should know the dog has vicious or dangerous propensities likely to cause the injury complained of, is liable for such injury regardless of any negligence. Arnold v. Laird, 94 Wn.2d 867, 871, 621 P.2d 138 (1980); Johnston v. Ohls, 76 Wn.2d 398, 400, 457 P.2d 194 (1969); Shafer v.Beyers, 26 Wn. App. 442; 613 P.2d 554 (1980).
Liability under this rule attaches to an owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog. Markwood v. McBroom, 110 Wash. 208, 211, 188 P. 521 (1920); Miller v. Reeves, 101 Wash. 642, 644-45, 172 P. 815 (1918).
As far as the common law is concerned, dogs are usually regarded as harmless and in order to recover "it must be shown that the defendant knew, or had reason to know, of a dangerous propensity in the one animal in question." W. Prosser, Handbook of the Law of Torts § 76, at 500 (4th ed. 1971). Accord, Johnston v. Ohls, supra at 404.
This is referred to as the "one-bite rule." Its importance in Washington is that it extends liability to persons other than the dog owner himself. Common law liability is not necessary to prove against a dog owner, because Washington has a dog bite statute.
Blog 
General
- Dog Bite Attorneys in Washington State
- Children Bitten By Dogs - Part One - Seattle Dog Bite Attorney
- Dog Bite Insurance - Can You Sue Without insurance? - Washington State Dog Bite Lawyer
- Part Two - Breed-Specific Legislation: aka Breed Ban Laws in Washington State - Seattle Lawyer
- Part One - Breed-Specific Legislation: aka Breed Ban Laws in Washington State - Seattle Lawyer
