{"id":377085,"date":"2019-05-21T16:03:43","date_gmt":"2019-05-21T21:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/washington-law\/washington-dog-bite-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-06-16T11:06:17","modified_gmt":"2024-06-16T16:06:17","slug":"washington-dog-bite-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/washington-law\/washington-dog-bite-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Washington Dog Bite Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Washington Dog Bite Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

It’s a safe bet that you didn’t have "be a dog bite victim" on your daily to-do list, but that doesn’t change the fact that you suffered a dog attack. It happens over 4.5 million times a year<\/a> in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and injury payouts exceeded $1 billion in 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Those statistics don’t mean much to you in the aftermath of a dog attack when you’re in pain and wondering who’s liable for your dog bite injury. If you’re the owner of the dog who bit someone, they’re probably meaningless to you as well. Whichever side of the dog bite incident you find yourself, one of your concerns is how the dog bite laws in the state of Washington apply to your dog bite case.<\/p>\r\n

As either a dog bite victim or the dog owner, it’s important for you to understand Washington state dog bite laws. In this article, we’ll show how to determine who is liable for medical expenses<\/a>, what dog classifications signify, and what to do if a dog bite injury happens.<\/p>\r\n

Washington Dog Bite Liability<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Washington recognizes strict liability<\/a> for dog bites. According to RCW 16.08.040<\/a>, if your dog bites someone in a public place or someone invited onto your private property, you are liable for their medical bills. Some states have a one-bite rule<\/a> that waives liability if your dog has no bite history or hasn’t previously shown aggressive behavior, but there is no such provision in Washington. You don’t need to be aware of your dog’s potential viciousness to be liable.<\/p>\r\n

While there is no explicit one-bite rule in Washington, others can be liable besides the owner. The dog owner’s homeowners’ insurance usually covers dog bite injuries. If you’re unsure about your coverage, check your insurance policy or speak with your insurance company.<\/p>\r\n

While strict liability applies to all dog bite wounds in Washington, it does not cover other dog attack-related injuries. For example, if a dog is chasing you and you break your ankle while leaping to safety, your medical expenses won’t get covered under strict liability.<\/p>\r\n

For non-bite injuries, you’ll have to prove the owner was negligent<\/a> in preventing the dog attack. This is easier to do if they knew the dog had dangerous propensities. If the dog has a vicious classification, the owner faces criminal charges, and you’ll have a strong negligence per se<\/a> case.<\/p>\r\n

The laws can be confusing, so if you have any questions, consider meeting with a dog bite lawyer<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Washington Dog Classifications<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Washington uses different classifications for dogs<\/a> that threaten public safety. These are below, with the elements specific to each grouping.<\/p>\r\n

Potentially Dangerous Dog<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

A dog is a potentially dangerous dog if they are guilty of any of the following acts:<\/p>\r\n