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Kent Dog Bite Lawyer
Find out why we have one of the best Kent dog bite law firms
A dog bite is over in seconds. The medical bills, the scarring, and the fear of dogs that comes after can last for years, especially for a child. And while you are still focused on healing, the owner's insurance company is already working to pay you as little as possible.
Here is what they hope you never find out: in Washington, the law is squarely on your side. Under RCW 16.08.040, a dog owner is strictly liable the moment their dog bites you. You do not have to prove the dog was vicious. You do not have to prove the owner was careless. The bite alone is enough.
If you or your child was bitten in Kent, Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, or anywhere in King County, you do not have to prove the owner was careless. You have to prove the bite happened, where it happened, and what it cost you. Learn more what to do after a dog bite and about our firm.
Goldberg & Loren represents dog bite victims throughout the State of Washington from our Pacific Northwest offices, on a pure contingency basis. The first consultation is free. There is no fee unless we obtain a recovery for you.
Free Kent and King County consultation, fully confidential
Call (253) 336-5664Calls answered for Kent and all of King County. Our team handles Washington dog bite cases regularly and travels to clients in Kent for in-person meetings when needed.
Washington Dog Bite Law at a Glance
Under RCW 16.08.040, a dog owner in Washington is on the hook for a bite even if they did nothing wrong. This is called strict liability. You do not have to prove the owner knew the dog might bite. Washington threw out the old one-bite rule years ago.
You have a claim when three things are true. A dog bit you. The person you are suing owned the dog. And you were in a public place, or you had a right to be where you were. Owners sometimes claim you provoked the dog (RCW 16.08.050), but that excuse is narrow and rarely works in Washington.
Adults have three years from the date of the bite to file a claim (RCW 4.16.080(2)). For a child, the three-year clock does not start until they turn 18 (RCW 4.16.190). And if you were partly to blame, you can still recover money. Your award is just reduced by your share of the fault (RCW 4.22.005).
If a dog was already labeled dangerous under RCW 16.08.070, the owner can face a bigger claim and even criminal charges. According to the CDC, about 4.5 million dog bites happen in the United States each year, and more than 800,000 need medical care. Source: Washington Legislature, current through the 2025 session.
Washington Dog Bite Law: Strict Liability Without Exceptions
RCW 16.08.040: The "Strict Liability" Statute
Washington abolished the old common-law "one-bite rule" decades ago. Today, under RCW 16.08.040, the owner of a dog is liable for damages suffered by anyone the dog bites while the person is in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the dog owner's property.
This means you do not need to prove the dog had bitten anyone before. You do not need to prove the owner was negligent. The statute imposes liability based on ownership and the bite itself.
This is the single most important fact about a Kent dog bite case. In many states, victims have to prove the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous. Washington skips that step entirely.
RCW 16.08.040 Strict liability for dog bites
The owner must pay anyone the dog bites in a public place, or on private property where the person had a right to be. It does not matter how the dog acted before, or what the owner knew.
RCW 16.08.050 Provocation defense
The statute does not cover bites caused by lawful provocation. This defense is narrow. Petting, walking past, or normal interaction is not provocation. Insurance companies often raise this defense in bad faith.
RCW 16.08.070-.080 Dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs
Washington keeps a separate list of dogs labeled dangerous. If a dog on that list attacks, the owner can face a bigger claim and possible criminal charges.
RCW 4.16.080(2) Three-year statute of limitations
You generally have three years from the date of the dog bite to file a civil claim in Washington. For child victims, the clock is tolled (paused) until the child turns 18 under RCW 4.16.190.
RCW 4.22.005 Pure comparative fault
Even if you were partly at fault, you can still recover money. Your award is reduced by your share of the fault, not wiped out. Lawyers call this pure comparative fault.
What To Do After A Dog Bite In Kent
The first hours after a dog bite affect both how well you heal and how strong your claim is later. The steps below are the ones we walk Kent callers through every week.
Get medical attention immediately
Even minor punctures carry serious infection risk. Visit a Kent urgent care, MultiCare Auburn Medical Center, Valley Medical Center in Renton, or Harborview if the wound is severe. Document every visit.
Report the bite to local animal control
In Kent, dog bites are reported to King County Regional Animal Services at (206) 296-7387. A formal report creates a public record that establishes the date, location, and the dog's identity.
Identify the dog and the owner
Get the owner's name, address, phone number, homeowner or renter insurance carrier, and the dog's vaccination status. If the owner refuses, animal control can compel disclosure.
Photograph the scene and the injuries
Take photos of the bite location, the property layout (especially fencing or lack thereof), any signage, and the injuries themselves on day one, day three, day seven, and beyond.
Collect witness information
Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the attack, including delivery drivers, neighbors, or other dog walkers. Their statements often carry more weight than yours.
Do not give a recorded statement to insurance
Homeowner and renter insurance carriers often call victims within days of a bite. Do not give a recorded statement before consulting a lawyer. Anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
Call a Washington dog bite attorney
An early consultation lets us preserve evidence, send insurance preservation letters, and stop the carrier from contacting you directly. There is no charge for this call.
If the bite was severe or the dog is loose. Call 911 immediately. For non-emergency animal-control issues in Kent, call King County Regional Animal Services at (206) 296-7387 or contact the Kent Police non-emergency line.
Who Can Be Held Liable Beyond The Dog Owner
The dog owner is the main target of a claim under RCW 16.08.040. But in many Kent cases, other people share the blame too. Finding everyone who is responsible is often the difference between a quick low-ball offer and a full recovery.
Homeowner or renter insurance
Most dog bite claims are paid by the dog owner's homeowner or renter policy. Coverage typically ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 per occurrence.
Landlord liability
If a landlord knew a tenant kept a dog with a documented bite history and did nothing, Washington allows a separate negligence claim against the landlord.
Property managers
Apartment complexes and HOAs that ignored documented complaints about a tenant's dog can be named alongside the owner under common-law negligence.
Dog walkers, sitters, kennels
A paid dog handler who had the dog at the time of the bite can be on the hook too, often with their own insurance to draw from.
Employers (on-duty bites)
If you were bitten while delivering mail, packages, or food, or doing a job in someone's home, your employer's workers' comp may help too, on top of a claim against the dog owner.
Government entities
If animal control got earlier complaints about the dog and did nothing, you may have a claim against King County or the City of Kent. These claims follow strict rules and short deadlines, so the right legal notice has to be filed early.
What Your Kent Dog Bite Case May Be Worth
Money in a Washington dog bite case usually comes in two forms. Economic damages cover the costs you can put a receipt to. Non-economic damages cover the human side of the injury: pain, fear, scarring, and lasting emotional harm.
Economic damages
- Emergency room and urgent care charges from the day of the bite
- Follow-up wound care, rabies shots, and antibiotics
- Plastic surgery for facial bites and scar revision (often staged over months or years)
- Physical therapy for hand, arm, or leg bites that damage tendons or nerves
- Mental health treatment for post-traumatic stress, especially in child victims
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Future medical care proven through expert testimony
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering from the attack itself and the long recovery
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring, particularly facial
- Emotional distress, anxiety around dogs, fear of leaving the house
- Loss of enjoyment of life, including activities the survivor can no longer do
- Strain on your closest relationships, which the law calls loss of consortium, for the spouse or family of a badly hurt victim
No fee unless we recover. Goldberg & Loren handles every Washington dog bite case on contingency. You owe nothing up front. You owe nothing at all unless we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.
Table of Contents
Kent Practice Areas
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Car Accidents
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Dog Bites
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Motorcycle Accidents
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Personal Injury
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Truck Accidents
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Wrongful Death
Common Insurance Company Defenses (And Why They Usually Fail In Washington)
Once a Kent bite is reported, the dog owner's insurance company usually tries one of four moves. None of them beat a solid strict-liability claim under RCW 16.08.040 in most cases. But each one still has to be answered the right way.
Defense 1 "The victim provoked the dog"
Provocation under RCW 16.08.050 is narrow. Walking near a dog, reaching to pet a dog after the owner said it was friendly, or being a child who startled a dog rarely meets the legal standard.
Defense 2 "The victim was trespassing"
Strict liability under RCW 16.08.040 only applies if you were lawfully on the property. Delivery drivers, meter readers, invited guests, and people on public sidewalks or in public parks are all lawfully present.
Defense 3 "The dog has never bitten before"
This argument matters in some states. In Washington, it does not. RCW 16.08.040 holds the owner responsible no matter how the dog behaved before.
Defense 4 "Comparative fault reduces or bars the claim"
In Washington, being partly at fault only lowers your award by that amount. It does not block you from recovering, the way it can in some other states.
Kent And King County Local Context
Kent is one of the largest cities in Washington and one of the most densely populated parts of south King County. Animal control and licensing in Kent are handled through King County Regional Animal Services, which covers most of the county. Surrounding communities we serve include Auburn, Renton, Federal Way, Tukwila, and Des Moines.
Kent dog owners are required to license their dogs through King County. Licensing records, prior complaint records, and dangerous-dog designations are public information that we routinely pull when building a case.
Cases go to King County Superior Court, which sits at the courthouse in downtown Seattle and at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. The judges there know the strict-liability law well. The Maleng Regional Justice Center, at 401 Fourth Avenue North in Kent, is the main place to file civil cases tied to south King County.
Why Kent Dog Bite Victims Choose Goldberg & Loren
Aggressive trial attorney with over 20 years of practice. Represents dog bite victims throughout Washington and the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on cases involving children, severe facial scarring, and bites by dogs with prior incident histories.
Opened the firm in 1996 and has practiced personal injury and work injury law since then. Leads complex multi-defendant cases involving landlord liability and contested insurance disputes.
- Strict-liability focused. We build every case on RCW 16.08.040, and we refuse to let insurers turn it into a fight about fault.
- Insurance pushback. We stop the carrier from contacting you directly the moment you retain us.
- Medical network. Connections to Puget Sound area plastic surgeons, infection specialists, and therapists who work with injured children.
- Pure contingency. No retainer, no investigation cost, no fee unless we recover for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington follow the "one-bite rule"?
No. Washington abolished the one-bite rule. RCW 16.08.040 imposes strict liability on the dog owner regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten anyone before or whether the owner had any reason to believe the dog was dangerous.
How long do I have to file a Kent dog bite claim?
Usually three years from the date of the bite (RCW 4.16.080(2)). If the victim is a child, the clock is paused until they turn 18. Claims against a government agency follow special rules, including a mandatory claim filing and a 60-day waiting period before you can sue (RCW 4.96.020), so call early.
What if I was bitten on the dog owner's own property?
RCW 16.08.040 applies whether the bite happens in a public place or on the owner's own property, as long as you were lawfully there. Invited guests, delivery drivers, contractors, and family members are all covered.
Who pays my medical bills and damages?
Most claims are paid by the dog owner's homeowner or renter insurance policy. Many policies provide $100,000 to $500,000 in liability coverage. Additional defendants such as landlords or employers may carry separate coverage.
What if the bite was from a friend or family member's dog?
The civil claim is against the insurance, not the person. Recovering medical costs and damages from the insurance carrier almost never affects the personal relationship. Many of our clients are bitten by dogs they knew.
What if my child was bitten in the face?
Facial bites on children are the most serious kind of dog bite case in Washington. They often involve plastic surgery, scar repair over years, and large damages for the lasting scarring. The three-year filing deadline is paused until the child turns 18.
Can I sue if the dog had been declared dangerous?
Yes, and that label actually makes your case stronger. A bite by a dog already called "dangerous" or "potentially dangerous" under RCW 16.08.070 can mean a bigger claim, and it can also lead to criminal charges for the owner.
What about emotional injuries from a bite that did not break skin?
Washington lets you recover for emotional harm from a dog attack, especially for children. Even when the physical injury is minor, a solid record of trauma, anxiety, or fear of dogs can support real damages.
Is it worth suing for a dog bite?
In Washington, often yes. Strict liability under RCW 16.08.040 means you do not have to prove the owner was careless, so even a moderate bite can support a real claim for medical bills, lost wages, scarring, and emotional harm. Because most claims are paid by the owner's homeowner or renter insurance, and we work on contingency, pursuing a claim usually costs you nothing out of pocket.
How much does it cost to hire Goldberg & Loren?
Nothing up front. We work entirely on contingency, meaning we are paid only if we obtain a settlement or verdict for you. Initial consultations are free and fully confidential.
How long will my Kent dog bite case take?
Many cases settle within 6 to 12 months once medical treatment stabilizes. Cases involving children, contested liability, or significant scar revision typically run 12 to 24 months. Cases that go to trial take longer.
Talk To A Kent Dog Bite Lawyer Today
Free. Confidential. No fee unless we recover.
Free Case Review Call (253) 336-5664Goldberg & Loren · 21620 84th Ave S, Ste 201 D, Kent, WA 98032
Senior Partner, Goldberg & Loren | Member, Oregon State Bar | Serving clients since 1994 | 30+ years, 20,000+ cases, 98% success rate
Last updated: May 27, 2026
Goldberg & Loren Personal Injury Attorneys
21620 84th Ave S, Ste 201 D
Kent, WA 98032
(253) 336-5664
For most survivors, the hardest part of a case isn't the evidence — it's the decision to speak. When you're ready, our job is to carry the legal weight, guard your privacy, and make the people and institutions that failed you answer for it. You set the pace; we handle the fight.
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