A dog bite can cause serious physical injuries, scarring, infection, nerve damage, and emotional trauma. VanWa Legal PLLC helps dog bite victims in Vancouver and Clark County pursue compensation from responsible parties and available insurance coverage.
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A dog bite is rarely just a physical injury. Alongside the wound itself, victims often deal with infection risk, nerve damage, and a lasting fear around dogs that can follow them long after the physical healing is done.
Children face this especially hard, since their smaller size puts them at greater risk of facial injuries during an attack. Dog owners and their insurance companies are often quick to minimize what happened, whether by downplaying the injury or questioning what led up to the bite.
Getting medical treatment right away, and documenting the injury as it heals, matters both for your health and for the strength of your claim. VanWa Legal PLLC represents dog bite victims across Vancouver and Clark County, and homeowner's or renter's insurance often applies to these claims, even when it is not the first thing people think to check.
Common Injuries
Dog Bites Involving Children
Children are more likely than adults to suffer facial injuries in a dog attack, simply because of their height relative to the animal. When that happens, the road to recovery can include plastic surgery, scar revision treatment, and ongoing counseling as a child grows, not just the initial emergency care.
A parent or guardian brings the claim on their child's behalf, and that claim can account for both the medical reality today and the treatment a child may need years from now as they grow into the scarring or the emotional impact differently than an adult would.
Who May Be Responsible
Homeowner's or renter's insurance frequently applies to a claim against the dog's owner, which is one of the first things worth identifying early in a case.
Washington Dog Bite Claims
Washington law holds dog owners liable for injuries their dog causes in most situations where the victim was lawfully present, whether in a public place or on private property they had a right to be on. Unlike some states, Washington does not require proof that the owner knew the dog was dangerous before the bite occurred.
That said, questions can still arise around trespassing or claims that the victim provoked the dog, and those specifics matter to how a case is evaluated. An attorney can review the details of what happened and explain how Washington's rules apply to your specific situation.
Compensation
*The compensation available depends on the facts of your case,
Evidence Needed
What to Do After
Insurance Coverage
Homeowner's insurance is the most common source of coverage for a dog bite claim, and renter's insurance can apply in a similar way when the dog's owner rents rather than owns their home. If a business or property owner's negligence contributed to the attack, their business liability policy may also come into play.
Insurers sometimes deny coverage by pointing to a breed exclusion or a policy limitation, which is exactly why a full investigation into every available policy matters before accepting an insurer's first answer.
FAQ
Yes, in most situations. Washington law generally holds a dog owner liable for a bite regardless of whether the dog had bitten anyone before, as long as the victim was lawfully present.
Got some more questions? Send us a message at contact@vanwalegal.com
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If you or your child was hurt in a dog attack, you do not have to deal with the owner's insurance company alone. Talk to an attorney about your case at no cost, and pay nothing unless we win.
