Bite & Attacks

Companion animals, exotic and domesticated, can cause severe internal and cosmetic injury, as well as considerable pain and suffering.

Where no provocation has occurred, the law provides financial recompense to mauled animal victims or those injured while evading a pursuing animal.

Although homeowner’s/renter’s insurance may pay for some injuries, insurers have increasingly attempted to discontinue or reject coverage for families with Rottweilers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and German Shepherds. Nonetheless, asking for help from an animal law attorney will maximize the likelihood of recovery or successful defense, in the event that the offending companion animal was misidentified or provoked.

Mr. Karp estimates having evaluated and/or handled over 500 such cases, including those involving bites to human beings. Mr. Karp  gave a talk entitled “The Legal Anatomy of a Dog Bite” at the Dec. 27, 2012 Best of CLE: Encore of Excellence program hosted by the Washington State Bar Association. He also chaired and presented at the Dog Bite Institute of Sept. 23, 2009, hosted by the WSBA and Animal Law Section. Mr. Karp has authored Causes of Action for Loss of or Injury to an Animal by an Animal, 38 Causes of Action 2d 281 (2008).

DISCLAIMER: By accessing this site,  you agree to hold the law office of Adam P. Karp harmless and assume any risk  that the linked information might be outdated or dead. You are encouraged to  contact the clerk or code reviser of the municipality in which you are searching  for the most current animal laws. The links below will take you to the nearest  general webpage for the requested information. You may need to drill down by  clicking one or more successive hotlinks until you reach the pertinent code  titles and chapters. Key search terms for locating the appropriate code include  “Animal,”  “Cruelty,”  “(Potentially) Dangerous,”  “Nuisance,”  “Kennel,”  and  “Cattery.”