Washington follows a strict liability rule. If a dog bites you in a public place or while you’re lawfully on private property, the owner is responsible—regardless of whether the dog showed aggression before. In plain English: you don’t have to prove the owner “should have known” their dog was dangerous.
There are narrow defenses. Provocation can be a complete defense, and the law doesn’t apply to police dogs used lawfully. If you’re unsure whether a defense may be raised, it’s critical to talk with a lawyer early.
Do I have to prove the dog was dangerous?
No. Washington’s strict liability law applies if you were in a public place or lawfully on private property.
What if the owner says my child provoked the dog?
Provocation can be a defense, but it’s fact-specific. We gather neutral evidence like witness statements, video, and animal-control records.
Is there a deadline?
Generally three years, but special rules apply to minors. Act fast, because evidence disappears quickly.
Across Washington, cities and counties require dogs to be leashed or under control in public, with only limited off-leash exceptions. Even state parks generally require leashes outside posted areas.
Local codes in Vancouver, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Camas, Washougal, Kelso, and Longview all reflect a simple duty: owners must control their pets. When they don’t, state law provides strong remedies for people who are injured.
Dog bites are not “just” puncture wounds. They can leave disfiguring scars, nerve damage, infections, and PTSD. For children, the impact is often lifelong.
We’ve seen kids who needed multiple surgeries as they grew, with scars that stretched and distorted over time. We’ve seen families navigating counseling for deep anxiety around dogs or crowded spaces. Even adults bitten as children carry both visible scars and invisible wounds into their relationships and daily lives.
That’s why documenting both medical care and emotional impact matters from the very beginning.
As a parent, you can pursue compensation for medical treatment, counseling, future scar revisions, and the pain and disruption your child has endured.
Washington law allows recovery for both economic costs and non-economic harm—pain, suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. There’s no cap on pain-and-suffering damages. Deadlines apply, and special rules may extend timelines for minors, so early legal guidance is key.
Most families don’t realize that insurance—not the dog owner personally—often pays for medical care, counseling, and scar treatment. Our job is to identify every possible policy and put it to work.
Common sources include: homeowners or renters insurance (often with no-fault “med-pay”); umbrella or excess policies that add another layer of coverage; landlord, HOA, or property manager policies in certain situations; business coverage for bites involving dog walkers, groomers, or pet-related facilities.
Heads-up: some policies exclude animal liability or certain breeds. We don’t take an insurer’s “no” at face value. We read the policy language and look for every available avenue.
Health insurance can get treatment started quickly. We handle lien and reimbursement issues so you’re not navigating them alone. If Medicare or Medicaid applies, we protect your benefits and deal with their rules on conditional payments.
We work to find all policies and identify the owner or keeper, confirm coverage, and tender claims. We help with securing early med-pay focusing on getting no-fault funds to cover urgent treatment. For catastrophic injuries, gettin full policy limits as soon as possible is the goal to get the most money possible for future losses and pain and suffering. Our focus on proving the full harm starts early. We document not just bills but also scars, trauma, and long-term effects. Often, we are able to negotiate liens and reduce paybacks so more recovery stays with your family. We are litigators who are not afraid to litigate if needed. If insurers won’t play fair, we often file suit and let them know we are just fine with letting a jury decide.
Dog bites are different from other injuries because they change how people see the world. A scar on a child’s face or the fear that lingers around animals is not something insurers should minimize. I handle these cases with urgency and compassion because I know what’s at stake: dignity, stability, and a fair future.
Dog bites can leave scars you see—and scars you don’t. If you or your child was bitten, you deserve more than a quick settlement. At Dalton Law, we investigate every angle, pursue every available policy, and fight for compensation that covers the care and stability your family needs.