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Dog Bites

If a dog bite has left you dealing with expensive medical treatment, missed work, or uncertainty about who is responsible, you need a legal professional to help pick up the pieces. Our Eugene dog bite lawyer analyzes the events, identifies the dog’s owner or keeper, reviews local reports, and evaluates whether insurance coverage is available.

Parke Gordon Law handles legal matters with attention to the evidence that can clarify your right to damages. For those injured in a bite or attack, our personal injury attorneys provide guidance on documentation, communication with insurers, and legal theories that apply to a case. We help so you do not have to manage your claim alone.

What Makes Dog Bite Claims Different?

Dog bite cases do not always rely on one simple rule. In a dog bite case, our attorneys in Eugene often review the owner’s failure to use reasonable care, the dog’s prior dangerous behavior, and whether local animal control rules were followed. These details can affect liability and damages.

Oregon Revised Statutes § 31.360 is important because it addresses proof of economic damages in a dog bite injury case. The statute states that, for an economic damages claim, the injured person does not need to prove the owner could foresee the dog would cause the injury, only that an injury occurred. Economic damages can include medical bills, lost income, and measurable losses.

ORS § 609.115 can also apply in cases involving a dog already determined to be potentially dangerous. If that dog later causes physical injury or property damage, the keeper can be strictly liable for resulting economic damages, unless an exception applies. In the city specifically, Eugene Code § 4.435 classifies potentially dangerous dog behavior, including Level 4 behavior for a dog that bites or causes physical injury to a person or service animal.

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Our Process

How We Handle Your Case

1

We start by understanding your situation, reviewing the details of your accident, and advising you on your legal options.

2

Our team gathers medical records, accident reports, expert opinions, and all necessary documentation to support your claim.

3

We engage with insurance companies to pursue a fair settlement while keeping your best interests at the forefront.

4

If a fair offer is not made, we are fully prepared to take your case to court and advocate aggressively on your behalf.

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Handling Injury Claims For Over 25 years
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Strong Advocacy When It Matters Most

When a case moves into litigation, having a confident and experienced legal team comes essential. We approach every case with the mindset that preparation and precision make the difference. From presenting evidence to challenging opposing arguments, we advocate for your position with clarity, strategy.

Our team is committed to standing firmly on your behalf in every setting—whether in negotiations, hearings, or the courtroom. We understand the pressure clients face during this stage, and we work to ensure your voice is heard and your case is presented with strength and credibility.

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Evidence That Can Shape a Dog Bite Claim

Our Eugene lawyers review the practical details that show how the dog bite happened and how it affected the injured person. Helpful evidence often includes:

  • Medical records showing treatment, wound care, and follow-up needs
  • Photos of injuries, torn clothing, the location, and visible hazards
  • Animal control or police reports documenting the bite
  • Witness names and statements from people who saw the dog before or during the incident
  • Information about prior complaints, leash violations, or dangerous behavior

This evidence can help connect the injury to the dog owner’s conduct, the dog’s history, and the losses being claimed.

How Can Fault Affect a Dog Bite Case?

ORS § 31.600 is relevant because it addresses comparative fault in civil injury cases. If a person bringing a claim is found partly responsible, their recovery can be reduced by their percentage of fault. If their fault is greater than the combined fault of the other responsible parties, recovery can be barred.

This means the facts around provocation, trespassing, leash control, and warnings can affect the case. Insurance companies often focus on these issues. Careful legal review by our Eugene attorneys helps place those arguments in context and keep the dog bite claim centered on the evidence.

Call Our Attorneys in Eugene About a Dog Bite Case for Damages

If you are trying to understand what happened after a bite and what options are available, Parke Gordon Law can give you a path forward. A Eugene dog bite lawyer could explain how state law, local animal rules, and available evidence may fit together in your situation.

A conversation could help you preserve records, avoid unnecessary insurance mistakes, and decide what steps make sense. Contact our team to discuss your injury and learn how your legal claim may be evaluated.

Frequently Asked Questions

You should hire a dog bite attorney as soon as possible. At the outset, we can speak to insurance adjusters, make sure you are getting the right medical treatment, and handle medical bills.

Hiring a dog bite attorney does not cost you anything upfront. Instead, dog bite attorneys are paid a percentage of your settlement funds when the claim is paid. This type of fee arrangement is called a contingency fee – the attorney fee is contingent on your attorney obtaining a recovery for you. You owe your attorney nothing if your attorney cannot obtain a settlement for you.

A person bitten by a dog is entitled to recover economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are damages that you can calculate by adding them up, including property damage, lost wages, and medical bills. Non-economic damages include intangible damages commonly referred to as pain and suffering. Non-economic damages can be significant and include compensation for scarring, disfigurement, permanent injury, emotional stress, and loss of enjoyment of life. The foregoing is a brief description of a few factors that are important in evaluating a dog bite case but are not intended to substitute for individual legal advice. If you want to learn more about evaluating your dog bite claim, please call us, and we’d be happy to discuss your claim with you.

The laws governing dog bites vary and include municipal and county codes, state statutes, and common law negligence. Some jurisdictions have enacted strict liability laws for dog bites, some have enacted strict liability laws for dog bites by certain breeds of dogs, and in other jurisdictions, you may have to prove that the dog owner knew that their dog had the propensity to bite someone and failed to take precautions to avoid dog bites before you can obtain a recovery. Call us and we can determine what the law is in your jurisdiction.

Yes, if the person who owns the dog that attacked you owns a home and has purchased homeowner’s insurance, then most homeowner’s insurance policies will provide liability coverage. Sometimes, a person who rents a home or apartment will purchase renter’s insurance, and the renter’s insurance policy will provide liability coverage for dog bites. Unfortunately, there are circumstances when the person who owns the dog that attacked you is not covered by any liability insurance policy.

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