Help Erik Schlenker with Medical Bills After Dog Attack

Hi Everybody,

On February 21st of this year, I found out firsthand that there are responsible dog owners and irresponsible dog owners, responsible homeowners and irresponsible homeowners.

Right after finishing work for the week, I was walking to a bus stop on S 304th St in Federal Way (Washington State) to get the 183 bus to the Federal Way Commons area.

As I was just stepping ahead to cross a street along the way, four dogs charged from their owner's property toward me, and I was bit multiple times in the legs. There was not an adequate fence around the property, and the dogs were not on any kind of leash. The homeowner was not outside. Looking back, I probably could have walked to the ER with the adrenaline masking a lot of the pain, although the dogs could have hurt others, and I called 911. I was initially treated by paramedics, and then EMTs took me to the hospital.

I was treated at MultiCare Tacoma General-Federal Way, and Federal Way Police-Animal Services visited me in the ER to interview me and take photos for the case records. This was recorded with Federal Way Police as case 25-2151.

As soon as possible to not delay, when the immediate medical needs were taken care of and I was home from the ER, I contacted Park Chenaur Injury Lawyers to have this situation considered as a case.

The next day, I talked on the phone with Federal Way Police-Animal Services, and they told me that these dogs were not vaccinated against anything and the dog owner-homeowner was a repeat offender with animal policy violations stacked against him. As I do not know much about dog breeds, I asked the officer about which breed the four dogs were, and they said the dogs were likely a mix of Border Collie and Aussie (Australian Shepherd). Fortunately, through the quality medical care received at MultiCare Tacoma General and the antibiotic prescribed, there were not secondary impacts that would have led to more pain and more costs.

The Park Chenaur Injury Lawyer's case manager gathered the information I gave him of what happened, the case number with FW PD, and my health insurance information in hopes that if the dog owner-homeowner had pet owner's insurance and/or homeowner's insurance, that a claim for those would reimburse both my health insurer and would pay my medical billing due.

After weeks of diligent work the case manager did, the case manager informed me this past week (Late April/Early May) that no results had come back from the research to scan if there were any active policies for the homeowner-pet owner.

Sadly, this meant that the type of compensation standard for Injury Law would not come to fruition, that an active pet owner's or homeowner's insurance policy would cover the medical costs. The other avenue is one that they, and likely many Injury Law firms, do not get into and that is suing an offender to go after their assets.

My common sense has told me not to sue. If an individual has owned four dogs with no vaccinations and has an incomplete fence around the property, with stacks of repeat offenses against them, I cannot trust that individual to be a safe individual when I consider that I would be suing someone who lives in the neighborhood. It also would not be just for me to endanger the heroes in the neighborhood who helped me while the paramedics were on the way- for them to potentially be put in a witness protection situation if put on the witness stand, as this is where they live as well.

That is why I have chose GoFundMe as a platform to announce the help needed with medical bills.

Regards,

Erik Schlenker