Portland Dog Bite Lawyers

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Were you bitten by someone else’s dog? Even if the dog wasn’t aggressive before, you could have a chance to get financial compensation for your injuries and losses related to the dog bite injury.

Call the Portland dog bite attorneys of Pacific Cascade Legal by dialing (503) 573-5566 now. Members of our team have been highly rated and recognized by Super Lawyers®, Avvo, and many other professional organizations. With a reputation and track record like ours, you know that you can trust your dog bite claim to our team.

Set up an initial consultation with our firm today.

Injuries Caused by Dog Bites

A dog bite is not something to take lightly. Even small dogs can inflict bite wounds that have the potential to cause significant harm if not treated urgently.

Injuries caused by dog bites can include:

• Deep lacerations
• Nerve damage
• Broken bones
• Severe infections
• Permanent scarring
• Traumatization

It is important to consider how a dog bite or animal attack can traumatize the victim. Many people who survive a dog bite become fearful of all canines, including animals and pets that they have known for years. If you are feeling traumatized after suffering a dog bite, then be sure to let our team know, so we can factor that in while building the claim.

Oregon Dog Bite Law

Oregon uses an “unofficial one-bite law” for dog bites cases. Under this rule, a dog owner can be more difficult to hold liable for all damages caused by their dog if that pet has never bitten anyone or shown aggression before. However, they can always be held liable for certain damages, regardless of the dog’s previous temperament.

Two important elements of Oregon’s dog bite law are:

• Strict liability: Typically, a dog owner in Oregon can be held strictly liable for all economic damages caused by a dog bite, such as medical treatment costs and lost wages. This rule makes it easier for a dog bite victim to pursue some compensation within reason.
• Negligence: If a dog bite victim wants to receive non-economic damages, like pain and suffering damages, then they will have to prove that the dog owner acted with negligence that allowed the dog to attack. If negligence can’t be proven, then the plaintiff can try to prove that the dog had bitten or attacked someone before, which would show that the “one-bite rule” shouldn’t apply as a defense.

Compensation for Dog Bite Claims

As mentioned, the compensation available in a dog bite claim can vary considerably from one case to another due to the nuances in Oregon’s dog bite laws. Some people can file a claim for economic and non-economic damages. Others might only have a chance to seek economic damages. As your chosen Portland dog bite injury attorneys, we can determine what damages could be available in your case based on how and why the dog attack happened.

Arrange an Initial Consultation Now

You deserve a better, more comfortable situation than you might be in now after being bitten by someone else’s dog. Let Pacific Cascade Legal be your legal guides and representatives, so you can see what compensation might be available to you. Money can’t undo what happened, but it can help you get back on your feet.

Call (503) 573-5566 to speak with our Portland dog bite attorneys.

Portland Dog Bite FAQ

• What is a “one-bite” rule?
  A “one-bite” rule makes it more difficult to hold a dog owner liable for all damages caused by their dog if that dog had never bitten anyone or shown aggression before. Oregon uses an unofficial one-bite rule. However, a dog bite plaintiff can still make a recovery against a dog owner after the first bite by the dog if it can be shown that the owner reasonably could have prevented the attack.
• Are all dog breeds capable of causing a serious bite injury?
  There is a saying, “If it has teeth, it can bite.” This saying is true of all dog breeds. It doesn’t matter if your dog bite injury was caused by a relatively small dog breed like a chihuahua or Dachshund, you can still explore your legal options if the injury was serious.
• Will the dog be put down if I file a claim against its owner?
  In Oregon, dogs and other pets that bite people are to be held for observation to check for signs of rabies. The animal cannot be put down or destroyed unless authorized by the local public health administrator. Typically, this order will not be given unless the animal tests positive for rabies or has a history of violent attacks on innocent people.
• Can I sue for non-bite injuries caused by dogs?
  Pet owners can be held strictly liable for the injuries caused by their pets, which goes beyond just dog bites. For example, if you are visiting a friend and their big greyhound excitedly jumps on you and knocks you down a few steps, then you could still file a claim. In this situation, the dog meant no harm, but harm still occurred because the owner wasn’t careful enough in how they restrained their pet.