If you’ve found yourself searching for a Washington dog bite lawyer after an attack in a rental home or apartment, you’re not alone. Washington state has a number of rental units. In fact, just over 32% of people in Washington live in a rental, and nationally, 37% of renters report owning one or more dogs. Inevitably, some of those dogs are going to bite.
When a dog bite happens, and the dog is owned by a tenant in a rental house or apartment, whether in Tacoma, Olympia, Lakewood, Lacey, Puyallup, Tumwater, or a nearby community, liability can get complicated fast. The dog owner may be responsible. But what about a landlord, property manager, or apartment complex? That answer depends on the facts of the case, which is one of the reasons it makes good sense to have your case investigated by a qualified and experienced Washington dog bite lawyer.
Establishing liability is an essential part of a dog bite claim. Your lawyer can work quickly to preserve evidence, identify all liable parties, and help you secure the fair compensation you are due.
Our Washington Dog Bite Lawyers Are Here to Listen
If you have been bitten by a dog in Olympia, Tacoma, or elsewhere in Washington, call Fuller & Fuller at (800) 570-4878 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our dog bite lawyers today. Our firm has been helping victims of dog bites in Washington for more than 50 years. We have the resources, background, and experience needed to identify who can be held liable and pursue maximum compensation.
Who Is Liable for a Renter’s Dog?
In Washington, the starting point for liability after a dog bite is the dog’s owner. Washington dog bite statute, RCW 16.08.040, says the owner of a dog that bites someone is liable for damages when the person bitten was in a public place or was lawfully on private property. This applies regardless of whether the dog had bitten before or whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
In many rental cases, the renter who owns the dog is the first and most important party to investigate. Under most circumstances, landlords and property owners cannot be held liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s dog.
So who can be held liable for a dog bite in Washington? That depends on the facts of the case, but most often, liability will fall to:
- The dog owner (even if they are a renter)
- Another person who kept, harbored, or controlled the dog
In dog bite cases, the question is less “Who owned the building?” and more “Who owned or controlled the dog?” Another crucial question that can be established through investigation is whether the renter had renter’s insurance, and whether it contains a dog bite exclusion. But this issue is not always straightforward.
Understanding your rights after a dog bite can be difficult. This is why having a Washington dog bite lawyer on your side is so important. Your lawyer will examine the facts of the case and work to ensure those responsible for controlling the dog are held accountable.
Is Dog Bite Liability Ever Shared?
A dog bite case at an apartment or rental property might involve more than one responsible party. However, Washington courts have made clear that injured people cannot assume that a landlord or apartment complex is liable simply because the incident occurred on rental property, even in a common area.
Your dog bite lawyer might need to look at the lease, pet rules, incident history, witness statements, and the exact location of the attack to determine if someone beyond the dog’s owner can be held partially liable for damages. Steps you take after a dog bite, such as documenting and reporting your injury to Animal Control or the authorities in that county, can help your lawyer obtain the information necessary to identify who might be responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
How Can I Tell if I Have a Dog Bite Case?
It’s common to second-guess yourself after a dog bite, especially when the dog belongs to a neighbor or another tenant. However, it’s a good idea to talk to a dog bite lawyer whenever you are bitten by a dog, especially if you suffer from harm such as:
- Puncture wounds
- Scarring
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Facial injuries
- Emotional trauma
- Medical bills
- Lost time from work
It is equally important to talk to a dog bite lawyer if:
- The bite happened in an apartment hallway, parking lot, stairwell, courtyard, or shared outdoor area
- You reported the dog before (or management had prior complaints)
- A child was bitten
- You are getting mixed stories about who owned the dog
- The renter, landlord, or property manager is already shifting blame
Even when liability looks obvious, defense may argue about who owned the dog, whether you were lawfully on the property, or whether someone else should share fault. While liability typically falls to the owner, there are some situations where other parties share the blame, making it important to have a dog bite lawyer look into the incident as quickly as possible.
When you wait to contact an attorney:
- Security footage may be overwritten
- Incident reports may disappear
- Witness memories may fade
- Other tenants may move out
- Pet records and lease documents may become harder to track down
The sooner you speak with a dog bite lawyer, the sooner your legal team can investigate the dog owner, the rental property, and any other potentially liable parties.
Why Choose Fuller & Fuller for Your Dog Bite Case?
When you need a dog bite lawyer in Olympia, Tacoma, or another area of Washington, you want a specialist in accident and injury law who treats you like family, not a file number. That’s exactly how our attorneys, Marya Fuller and John Mango, work.
Founded in 1972, Fuller & Fuller has a long and proud history of standing up for the rights of injured people and their families. Clients trust us because:
- We know how to investigate complex claims thoroughly.
- We understand Washington’s liability rules and how they affect dog bite cases in rentals and apartments.
- We are a family firm with a long history of personal service.
- We work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay for our services until we have secured a settlement or verdict on your behalf.
Dog bite cases can look simple on the surface, but get complicated in a hurry once the landlord, property manager, renter, and insurance companies start pointing fingers. Fuller & Fuller helps by cutting through the noise and focusing on what matters: your recovery, your comfort, and the compensation you need to fully heal.
Talk to a Washington Dog Bite Lawyer for Free
If you, a family member, or a friend were bitten by a dog at a rental home, apartment complex, or on leased property, Fuller & Fuller is here to help. Use our online contact form to get in touch and schedule your no-cost, no-obligation case review today. Our Washington dog bite lawyers are here to listen, explain your options, and help you figure out who may be liable. We help families in Tacoma, Olympia, JBLM, Boston Harbor, Parkland, Sumner, Gig Harbor, and all nearby Washington Communities.
