Dog Bite Lawyers in Washington

Washington has one of the clearest dog bite laws in the country: the owner is responsible for a bite, whether or not the dog had ever shown aggression before. There is no “one free bite.” That rule matters because dog bite victims are so often children, and the injuries, from facial lacerations and nerve damage to infection and lasting fear, are the kind that require surgery now and follow-up for years.

The dog bite attorneys at Ritchie-Reiersen Injury & Immigration Attorneys represent bite victims and their families across Washington from eleven offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona. Most claims are paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, not the owner personally, which is why neighbors and relatives can and do bring them. No fees unless we win.

Washington Dog Bite Law: Strict Liability

• The rule: under RCW 16.08.040, a dog owner is liable for damages when the dog bites a person who is in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner’s property, regardless of the dog’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge of it.
• Who is covered: anyone lawfully present, including guests, delivery drivers, utility workers and people on sidewalks and in parks. Trespassers are not covered by the strict liability statute.
• Provocation: an owner can defend by proving the victim provoked the dog. Ordinary interaction, such as petting or walking past, is not provocation, and the standard is applied carefully when the victim is a young child.
• Beyond bites: injuries that are not bites, such as being knocked down or chased into traffic, are pursued under ordinary negligence, where the owner’s knowledge and control of the dog matter.
• Other responsible parties: a landlord is generally not liable for a tenant’s dog unless the landlord knew of the danger and had the ability to remove it; a dog sitter, kennel or someone harboring the dog may share responsibility.
• Deadlines and fault: three years to file a lawsuit, and pure comparative fault applies to any negligence claim. Our Oregon, Idaho and Arizona offices handle bites under those states’ different rules, including Arizona’s one-year deadline for its strict liability claim.

Injuries We See in Dog Bite Cases

• Facial injuries in children, often requiring plastic surgery and leaving permanent scars
• Deep puncture wounds and lacerations to hands, arms and legs
• Nerve and tendon damage with loss of function
• Infection, including the need for rabies treatment when the dog’s vaccination status is unknown
• Fractures and head injuries from being knocked down
• Post-traumatic stress, nightmares and lasting fear of dogs, which is a real and compensable injury, especially in children

What to Do After a Dog Bite

• Get medical care right away. Bite wounds infect easily, and the medical record created in the first 24 hours is the foundation of the claim.
• Identify the dog and the owner, and ask for proof of rabies vaccination.
• Report the bite to local animal control. The report documents the incident and may reveal prior complaints about the same dog.
• Photograph the injuries as they heal, from the first day through the scar.
• Get witness names and, if possible, photos of where the bite happened.
• Do not accept an offer from the owner or their insurer before the extent of scarring and any need for revision surgery is known, which for children can take years.

What Your Claim Can Include

• Medical expenses, including emergency care, plastic surgery and future scar revision
• Lost wages, and a parent’s lost wages while caring for an injured child
• Pain and suffering, disfigurement and emotional trauma
• Counseling for post-traumatic stress
• Property damage, such as torn clothing or a damaged phone

Washington does not cap damages. Claims for children are handled with court approval of the settlement and the funds protected until the child is an adult, which we manage as part of the case.

How We Handle Your Case

• Identification of the owner and every applicable insurance policy, usually homeowner’s or renter’s coverage
• Animal control records, prior complaints and witness statements
• Documentation of the injury over time, including photographs and plastic surgery opinions on future scar treatment
• Demand and negotiation with the insurer
• Litigation in superior court when fair value is refused

Dog Bite Lawyers Near You

We handle these cases from every office: Seattle, Kennewick, Tacoma, Auburn, Yakima, Moses Lake, Spokane, Wenatchee, Portland, OR, Twin Falls, ID, Mesa, AZ. Phone and video consultations are available anywhere in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona.

Our Personal Injury Attorneys

Attorney Steve Ritchie, admitted in Washington, also handles personal injury claims; before law school he spent seven years in rental car management working with customers and insurance companies during the claims process. Consultations are available in English and Spanish.

Related Reading

• What Is the Dog Bite Law in Washington?

Frequently Asked Questions

The dog had never bitten anyone before. Does that matter?

Not in Washington. The strict liability statute makes the owner responsible for a bite regardless of the dog’s history, as long as you were in a public place or lawfully on private property.

The dog belongs to a friend or family member. Do I have to sue them?

In nearly all cases the claim is paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, not by the owner personally. The claim is made against the policy, and a lawsuit is rarely necessary.

My child was bitten. How is the case different?

Children’s injuries, particularly to the face, often require future surgery as they grow, so the claim must account for treatment years away. Any settlement for a minor requires court approval, and the funds are protected until adulthood. We handle both steps.

What if I was bitten while working, for example delivering a package?

You may have both a workers’ compensation claim through your employer and a strict liability claim against the dog owner. The two interact, and we coordinate them so the workers’ compensation lien does not consume your recovery.

How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Washington?

Three years from the date of the bite. If the bite happened in Arizona, the strict liability claim must be filed within one year, so contact us promptly.

Talk to a Washington Injury Lawyer

Call (888) 884-7337 or send us a message for a free consultation. No fees unless we win. Se habla español.