Updated on: 2/20/2019
A UPS delivery driver was viciously attacked by four pit bulls last week in Puyallup, leaving him with severe injuries, according to Pierce County Animal Control.
Firefighters and medics responded to the driver’s 911 call around 11 a.m. last Wednesday. He was reportedly cornered against a trailer about 75 feet inside a locked gate. When first responders arrived, a relative of the dogs’ owner refused to open the gate, forcing firefighters to ram the gate open with their fire truck.
They then drove to the victim and pulled him to safety. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for multiple bites to his hands, arms and legs.
It is unclear now if the owner of the dogs will face any charges.
How Dangerous Are Pit Bull?
While there’s no definitive way to tell how aggressive or dangerous a certain breed of dog will be, national dog bite statistics show that pit bulls are overwhelmingly involved in some of the most vicious attacks in the United States each year.
Despite being heavily regulated in many U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 22 of the 31 dog bite-related fatalities in 2016. Pit bulls make up about just 6 percent of the U.S. dog population. Opponents to these statistics say that a dog’s propensity for aggressive behavior is dictated primarily by the dog’s owner or handler and how that dog was trained and cared for early in its life.
Filing A Lawsuit After A Dog Bite
The UPS driver in the incident above would be able to file a claim against the owner of the pit bulls. Washington State’s dog bite law says that dog owners are legally responsible for physical, emotional, and economic damage caused by their dog attacking another person. The owner is responsible if the attack occurred in a public place or a lawfully private place, including the dog owner’s own private property, so long as the victim was legally allowed to be there (i.e. not trespassing or loitering).
The dog bite statute in Washington applies even if the dog did not have a history of vicious behavior before the attack in question.
If you have been the victim of a dog attack and were injured as a result, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries and medical bills. Contact the experienced dog bite lawyers at Davis Law Group, P.S., today at (206) 727-4000 to find out if you have a claim. The phone call is free and the advice could make all the difference in your claim.
