Redmond Dog Bite Lawyer

If a dog has bitten you or someone you love in Redmond, you need to know one thing right away: under Washington law, the dog’s owner could be responsible.

Many people believe you must prove the dog had a history of aggression to have a claim. That is incorrect. Washington is a “strict liability” state, which means the owner is accountable for the harm their dog causes, regardless of the animal’s past behavior. The fact that the bite happened is enough to establish their legal responsibility.

But knowing your rights is one thing. Getting fair payment from an owner’s insurance company is a completely different challenge. The process is deliberate, requires precise documentation, and moves on strict deadlines you cannot afford to miss. While you are trying to heal, the last thing you should be doing is managing a claim on your own.

At Narwal Injury Law, we focus entirely on helping people hurt by the carelessness of others. If you have questions, we can provide clear answers.

For a no-cost, no-pressure review of your case, call us at (425) 474-2714 to speak with a Redmond dog bite attorney.

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Redmond Dog Bite Guide

• Why Choose Narwal Injury Law for Your Redmond Dog Bite Claim?
• What Is a Dog Bite Claim Actually Worth?
• The Lasting Impact of Dog Bite Injuries
• Where Do Dog Bites Happen in Redmond and King County?
• Washington State Dog Bite Law: What You Need to Know
• When a Child is the Victim
• Dealing with the Dog Owner’s Insurance Company
• Frequently Asked Questions for a Redmond Dog Bite Lawyer
• You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Why Choose Narwal Injury Law for Your Redmond Dog Bite Claim?

Our Courtroom Experience Gives You an Edge

Gurjot Narwal, Redmond Dog Bite Lawyer

At Narwal Injury Law, our team is built to serve injury victims across Washington. Our founder, Gurj Narwal, brings a perspective few personal injury attorneys have.

He spent nearly a decade in the courtroom, first as a former Assistant State Attorney General and later as a former Assistant Seattle City Attorney. This background gives us a detailed understanding of how to build a powerful case, anticipate legal challenges, and hold people accountable for the harm they cause.

A Singular Focus on Personal Injury

Our firm is dedicated to personal injury law. We don’t dabble in other areas of law; we pour all of our resources, knowledge, and energy into one goal: pursuing the maximum compensation available under the law for our clients. We have a deep well of experience in the specific hurdles and details that dog bite cases present.

Your Redmond Neighbors

Our Redmond office is located at 7981 168th Avenue NE, Suite 110, Redmond, WA 98052. We are a short walk from Downtown Redmond Park and the Redmond Town Center, making our office easy to reach for local residents. As a proud member of OneRedmond, we are an active part of the local business community.

Our Promise: A Client-First Approach

We believe that clear communication and trust are the bedrock of any successful attorney-client relationship. When you work with Narwal Injury Law, your well-being is our priority.

You can expect:

• A Free, No-Obligation Case Review: We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your legal options clearly and honestly, without any pressure.
• You Pay Nothing Unless We Win: We work on a contingency fee basis. This means our fee is a percentage of the money we recover for you. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.
• Direct and Personal Attention: Your case will receive the care and attention it deserves. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions and give you regular updates, so you are never left wondering what’s happening.

What Is a Dog Bite Claim Actually Worth?

The Goal: Covering Every Single Loss

Financial compensation in a dog bite claim is designed to cover every loss the incident has caused. The idea is to restore you to the financial position you were in before the injury.

What are Economic Damages?

These are the concrete, measurable financial losses you’ve taken. Anything with a receipt, invoice, or pay stub attached falls into this category. Our job is to carefully document these costs to build a strong foundation for your claim.

This includes:

• Current and Future Medical Bills: This covers everything from the initial emergency room visit to physical therapy, psychological counseling, and even plastic surgery for scarring.
• Lost Wages: Payment for the time you were unable to work while recovering.
• Loss of Future Earning Capacity: If the injury permanently changes your ability to do your job or move up in your career.
• Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses: This includes prescription costs, gas for driving to medical appointments, and any other costs that came directly from the bite.

What are Non-Economic Damages?

These damages are meant to address the personal, non-financial losses that can rewrite aspects of your life. They don’t have a price tag, but they are very real and often make up a large portion of a claim.

These damages recognize:

• Pain and Suffering: The physical pain of the injury and the discomfort of the recovery process.
• Emotional Distress: This can include anxiety, a new fear of dogs (cynophobia), depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is especially common in children who have been bitten.
• Scarring and Disfigurement: Payment for the permanent physical changes from the attack and the emotional impact those changes have.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: This looks at how the injury affects your ability to participate in hobbies, activities, and routines that once brought you happiness.

How Can Your Own Actions Affect Your Claim?

In certain cases, the dog owner’s insurance company may try to argue you were partially at fault. For example, they might claim you were trespassing or that you provoked the dog.

Under Washington’s comparative negligence rule, your total compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were found 10% at fault, your final award would be reduced by 10%. Our job is to build a case that keeps them accountable and ensures no blame is unfairly placed on you.

The Lasting Impact of Dog Bite Injuries

A dog bite is more than just a momentary event. The physical and emotional fallout can linger for months, years, or even a lifetime.

• Infection Risks. A dog’s mouth contains over 60 types of bacteria. Up to 18% of dog bites become infected. Puncture wounds can drive bacteria like Capnocytophaga or Pasteurella deep into the tissue, sometimes leading to serious illness, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
• Nerve and Tissue Damage. A dog’s jaw can exert enough pressure to crush bones and tear muscle, tendons, and nerves. This damage may lead to chronic pain, loss of sensation, or limited mobility in the affected area, long after the skin has healed.
• Scarring and Disfigurement. Scars, particularly on the face or hands, are a constant reminder of the attack. They can cause self-consciousness and emotional distress, and may require costly plastic surgery procedures to minimize.
• Psychological Trauma. The attack itself is terrifying. The experience can trigger lasting mental health conditions. Many victims develop PTSD, with symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. Others develop cynophobia, an intense and sometimes debilitating fear of dogs that can make it difficult to go to parks, visit friends, or even walk down the street.

Where Do Dog Bites Happen in Redmond and King County?

Dog bites can happen anywhere, but some places present a greater risk. While the City of Redmond does not publish its own bite statistics, data from King County Regional Animal Services (RASKC) provides a picture of incidents in our area.

We often see cases that start in:

• Public Parks and Trails: Places like Marymoor Park’s off-leash area can become hotspots for incidents when owners are not watching their dogs. Even in leashed areas, a bite can happen if an owner does not properly control their animal, which is required by both King County and Redmond regulations.
• Residential Neighborhoods: Many bites happen close to the dog’s home, affecting neighbors, postal workers, delivery drivers, or people simply out for a walk.
• Private Homes: A significant number of bites happen at the home of a friend, relative, or neighbor. These situations usually involve someone interacting with a dog they don’t know well in an unfamiliar setting.

Situational Factors to Consider

Incidents can increase during warmer months when more people and their pets are outside. Holidays and large gatherings are also a factor. New people and extra activity can create stress in a dog, sometimes causing it to react defensively.

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Washington State Dog Bite Law: What You Need to Know

Washington is a “Strict Liability” State

The most important part of your case is found in Washington’s dog bite law, RCW 16.08.040. This law holds a dog owner liable for damages when their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property.

What “Strict Liability” Means for You

You do not have to prove the owner knew their dog was dangerous. You do not have to prove the dog had a history of aggression. The fact that the bite happened is enough to establish the owner’s legal responsibility. This is very different from states with a “one-bite rule,” where a victim typically has to show the dog was a known risk before the owner can be held liable.

Are There Exceptions?

Yes. The law carves out two main situations where an owner might not be held responsible. The owner’s insurance company will investigate to see if either one applies.

• Trespassing: The strict liability rule only protects people who are in a public place or lawfully on private property. This includes invited guests or people with implied permission to be there, like a mail carrier. If you were unlawfully trespassing when the bite happened, the owner may not be at fault.
• Provocation: The law also considers if the dog was provoked. If evidence shows you were tormenting, abusing, or physically assaulting the dog, the owner can use this as a defense to argue you caused the incident.

Who Counts as the “Owner”?

The law defines the “owner” as anyone who keeps, harbors, or has care, custody, or control of the dog. This means responsibility can extend beyond the person on the paperwork. A kennel, a professional dog-sitter, or another caretaker who was in charge of the animal when the bite happened could be held liable.

What if a Dog Injured You Without Biting?

Washington’s strict liability law specifically covers bites. But what if a large, unleashed dog jumps on you and knocks you down, breaking your arm?

In these “non-bite” cases, you may still have a valid claim, but it falls under general negligence. To succeed, we would need to show the owner failed to use reasonable care to control their dog (for instance, by violating a local leash law) and that this failure directly caused your injuries.

When a Child is the Victim

It’s a terrible reality that children, especially boys between 5 and 9 years old, are the most frequent victims of dog bites. Their injuries are often more severe, not just because of their smaller size, but because their height puts their face, head, and neck within easy reach of a dog’s mouth. The consequences can be devastating and require a unique legal approach.

The emotional scars can be even deeper than the physical ones. A frightening encounter with a dog can reshape a child’s sense of safety in the world, leading to long-term anxiety or PTSD.

Washington law has special protections for injured minors. Any settlement reached on behalf of a child must be approved by a judge in a process sometimes called a “minor’s compromise.” A neutral third-party, known as a Settlement Guardian ad Litem (SGAL), is appointed by the court to review the settlement and ensure it is fair and in the child’s best interests. The funds are typically placed into a protected account or structured settlement that the child cannot access until they turn 18.

Dealing with the Dog Owner’s Insurance Company

Remember Who They Work For

Dog bite claims are usually paid through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. You aren’t seeking money directly from your neighbor; you are dealing with their insurance provider. It’s useful to remember that an insurance company is a business. It must balance paying legitimate claims with protecting its own financial stability.

What to Watch Out For:

• Requests for a Recorded Statement: The adjuster may ask you to record a statement about the incident. You are not obligated to do this. Anything you say might be taken out of context to argue you were partly at fault. It is always best to let your attorney handle all communications.
• Quick Settlement Offers: An insurer might offer a fast payout before the full extent of your injuries is known. A scar may need future plastic surgery, or a nerve injury might not fully show itself for months. Accepting an early offer closes your claim permanently.
• Requests for Your Entire Medical History: The insurance company may ask you to sign a form giving them access to all of your medical records. This is sometimes an attempt to find a pre-existing condition they can blame for your pain. We will make sure they only receive records directly related to the injuries from the bite.

Frequently Asked Questions for a Redmond Dog Bite Lawyer

What is the deadline for filing a dog bite lawsuit in Washington?

In Washington, you generally have three years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. If you miss it, you will lose your right to pursue compensation forever, no matter how strong your case might be. For minors, this clock usually doesn’t start until their 18th birthday.

What happens to the dog after it bites someone?

The bite will likely be reported to King County Regional Animal Services (RASKC). RASKC may require the dog to be quarantined for 10 days to check for rabies, especially if its vaccination history is unknown. In cases involving severe attacks, an animal may be deemed “dangerous,” but that is a separate administrative process and does not directly affect your civil claim for damages.

What if I was bitten by a dog belonging to a friend or family member?

This is a common situation that can feel incredibly awkward. Remember, your claim is made against their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, not against them personally. Your friend or family member will not have to pay your medical bills from their own pocket. Filing an insurance claim is the proper way to get your expenses covered without creating a financial burden for someone you care about.

Does the dog’s breed matter for my case?

No. Washington’s strict liability law does not distinguish between breeds. An owner of a Chihuahua is just as responsible for a bite as an owner of a Pit Bull. The law focuses on the owner’s responsibility for their dog’s actions, not the dog’s breed.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

You may be worried about the cost of a lawyer, the stress of a legal claim, or the awkwardness of seeking payment from a neighbor. These are normal fears. But letting them stop you from acting means you are the one left paying for someone else’s responsibility. You do not have to figure this out on your own.

Our role is to lift that burden. We manage the paperwork, the deadlines, and all communication with the insurance company. We will give you a clear path forward so you can focus on one thing: healing.

Your first step is a simple phone call. Contact a Redmond personal injury attorney at Narwal Injury Law today for a confidential, no-cost discussion about your case.

Call us at (425) 474-2714.

Start a Free Consultation