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A dog attack can happen in an instant, and the consequences can last a lifetime. From lacerations and fractures to dangerous infections and permanent scarring, the physical and emotional toll of a serious dog bite is far greater than most people realize before it happens to them. Washington dog bite victims deserve to understand three things clearly: how to recognize and respond to a threatening dog before an attack occurs, what diseases a dog bite can transmit and why immediate medical care is critical, and what compensation a settlement can cover, including plastic surgery and long-term care. This guide addresses all three.

Dog bite cases are not simply about the bite itself. They involve ongoing medical treatment, potential disfigurement, psychological trauma, lost income, and future costs that must all be accounted for before any settlement is accepted. Understanding your rights and the full scope of what you are entitled to recover is the foundation of a successful claim.

What to Do If You Think a Dog Is Going to Attack You

If you ever get the feeling that a dog is about to attack, your instincts about how to respond may actually work against you. Most people would want to run, shout, or fight back. In most situations, those reactions are exactly the wrong ones. Knowing what to do in those critical seconds before and during an attack can mean the difference between walking away uninjured and suffering wounds that require surgery to repair.

Read the Warning Signs Before the Dog Gets Close

Dogs communicate threat before they act on it. Recognizing these signals early gives you the best chance to create distance before the situation escalates. A dog that is feeling angry, scared, or territorial may display several physical signs:

  • Tensing its body and going rigid
  • Raising the hair on its neck and back, known as raising its hackles
  • Opening its eyes wide enough that you can see the whites, sometimes called ""whale eye""
  • Backing away as if preparing to lunge
  • Flattening its ears against its head

If you notice any of these warning signs, move away from the dog calmly and deliberately. Do not run. Do not make sudden movements. Simply create as much distance as you can, because giving an agitated dog enough space is often all it takes to prevent an attack from happening at all.

Remain Motionless If You Cannot Get Away

If a dog is already close enough to attack and moving away is no longer an option, the most effective thing you can do is remain as still as possible. Do not move until the dog moves away on its own. A dog is considerably faster than a human being, and attempting to flee will only trigger the chase instinct. Remaining calm and still may defuse the threat entirely. Your stillness removes the stimulus that makes the dog feel it needs to act.

Avoid Direct Eye Contact

Dogs read sustained eye contact as aggressive behavior. You do not need to take your eyes off the dog completely, but turning your head slightly and watching from the corner of your eye signals submission rather than challenge. Dogs typically attack because they feel threatened, believe their young are at risk, or interpret you as an intruder on their territory. In most cases, the result the dog is seeking is simply for you to submit and leave the area. Giving the dog that signal without direct confrontation can satisfy that instinct.

Resist Your Natural Impulses During the Attack

Your instincts in the face of an attacking dog will push you to scream, run, or fight back. Avoid all of these responses if at all possible. Screaming and sudden movement can escalate the dog's aggression significantly. If an attack is underway, remain as quiet and still as you can, and put something between yourself and the dog, such as a coat, bag, or any nearby object. Try to make sure your face and throat are protected. Fighting back can enrage the animal and make the injuries far worse.

If a dog in Washington attacks you, you have the right to recover damages from the owner. Washington follows a strict liability standard for dog bites, meaning that owners are liable when their dog injures someone, regardless of whether the dog had previously shown any aggressive behavior or whether the owner had any warning of the danger.

Can You Contract a Disease from a Dog Bite?

Yes. People who are bitten by a dog can contract serious diseases from the bite. Some of these conditions can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Seeking medical attention immediately after any dog bite, regardless of how minor the wound appears, is not optional. It is essential.

The four most important diseases and infections to be aware of after a dog bite are outlined below.

Rabies

Rabies is the most well-known disease associated with animal bites, and for good reason. It attacks the central nervous system and can result in death if not treated immediately after exposure. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pain. As the disease progresses, it can cause inflammation in the brain, seizures, paralysis, and coma. Anyone bitten by an unknown or unvaccinated dog should treat rabies as a possibility and seek medical evaluation without delay.

Staph Infection

Staph bacteria are not uncommon in everyday environments, and many people carry the bacteria without becoming infected. However, a dog bite or attack that punctures the skin and tissue can allow staph bacteria to enter deep into the body, where it can cause serious infection. Symptoms vary considerably, which is one of the reasons why prompt medical care is so important after any bite. Pain, fever, and severe headache are among the more common signs that a staph infection has taken hold.

Pasteurella Infection

Pasteurella multocida is a common bacterium that can cause infection following an animal or dog bite. It typically produces pain and swelling in the area around the bite wound and can also cause joint infections if it spreads. Like staph, it requires prompt medical attention and antibiotic treatment to prevent it from becoming more serious.

Tetanus

Tetanus is an infection of the nervous system that can cause severe muscle spasms and contractions, most notably the jaw spasms that give it the common name ""lockjaw."" Anyone who has not received a tetanus booster within the recommended timeframe, which many physicians suggest should occur every ten years, may be encouraged to receive a shot following a dog bite. If you are not sure when your last booster was, a dog bite is an important reason to find out immediately.

Any of these conditions can significantly increase the medical costs associated with a dog bite, extend the treatment timeline, and add to the overall damages you are entitled to recover. Medical costs related to disease or infection contracted through a dog bite can and should be included in a dog bite injury claim, alongside treatment for the physical wounds themselves.

What Compensation Is Available in a Washington Dog Bite Settlement?

Dog bite injuries can be far more extensive than the wound itself suggests in the immediate aftermath of an attack. Puncture wounds, lacerations, and tears from a dog bite can cause significant scarring, permanent disfigurement, and lasting physical and psychological harm. A well-constructed dog bite claim must account for all of these consequences, including costs that have not yet been incurred at the time of settlement.

Does a Dog Bite Settlement Cover Plastic Surgery?

Yes, it is possible for a dog bite settlement to cover plastic surgery costs. What must be established is that the surgery is directly connected to the bite injuries and is medically necessary to repair the damage caused. In some cases, achieving satisfactory results requires not one but several procedures, and each of those anticipated procedures needs to be factored into the settlement before you agree to accept it.

Plastic surgery is particularly common and often necessary when bite injuries occur on the neck, face, or scalp, which are highly visible areas where the cosmetic impact of scarring is most significant. Some open wounds can be closed with stitches, but in more severe cases, reconstructive procedures such as skin grafting may be required. Reconstructing complex facial structures such as the nose involves especially complicated surgical work, and even after skilled surgery, there may still be visible signs of permanent scarring.

This is an important and often painful reality of serious dog bites: even with the best surgical care available, some level of permanent disfigurement may remain. Additional surgeries can sometimes improve appearance further, but there are circumstances in which no further aesthetic improvement is achievable. This type of permanent change in appearance can lead to or worsen significant emotional trauma, and that psychological harm is itself a recognized element of damages in a dog bite claim.

The Full Scope of Compensation Available in a Dog Bite Claim

A comprehensive dog bite settlement should address every form of harm the attack has caused, from the emergency room visit on the first day to ongoing and future costs that have not yet been incurred. Generally, all medical costs stemming from a dog bite can be addressed in the claim. This typically includes:

  • Emergency room treatment and initial wound care immediately following the attack
  • Surgeries already performed, including any reconstructive procedures
  • Hospitalization costs
  • Prescription medications and ongoing wound care
  • Future plastic surgery or additional reconstructive procedures reasonably anticipated
  • Treatment for infections or diseases contracted as a result of the bite
  • Mental health counseling and treatment for anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress

Beyond direct medical costs, the time spent healing from plastic surgery or recovering from the bite itself can significantly affect a victim's ability to work. Lost wages during recovery must be calculated and included in the claim, and if the injuries are severe enough to affect long-term earning capacity, those future losses must be accounted for as well.

Noneconomic damages are also available and can be substantial in serious dog bite cases. These include pain and suffering, mental anguish, post-traumatic stress, reduced quality of life, and compensation specifically addressing disfigurement and disability. The psychological impact of a serious dog attack, particularly one that leaves permanent scarring in a visible location, is a real and recognized form of harm that belongs in the total calculation of your damages.

Dog Owner Liability and Why It Matters for Your Claim

Washington follows a strict liability standard for dog bite cases. This means that a dog owner is liable for damages when their dog bites or attacks someone, regardless of whether the dog had ever shown aggressive tendencies before, and regardless of whether the owner had any prior knowledge of the animal's dangerous behavior. The first-bite defense that dog owners sometimes attempt to raise does not shield them from liability under strict liability law.

That said, challenges can still arise in these types of cases. Whether the dispute centers on the extent of the damages suffered, the connection between specific injuries and the attack, or a claim that the dog was provoked, having legal representation ensures that your interests are protected and that the full value of your claim is properly documented and pursued.

One of the most critical mistakes a dog bite victim can make is settling a claim before the full picture of future medical costs is known. If plastic surgery, additional reconstructive procedures, or ongoing psychological treatment may be needed in the future, those anticipated costs must be addressed in the settlement before you agree to close the case. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you generally give up the right to seek additional compensation, even if new medical needs arise. An experienced Washington dog bite attorney can make sure that every element of your present and future damages is properly accounted for and included.

When to Contact Washington Dog Bite Lawyers

For the complete list of things you should do if bitten by a dog you can request our FREE book, "Iowa Consumer's Guide to Dog Bites- Secrets to Not Get Bitten by Your Case" which is available to you with no risk or obligation by clicking here or by calling 641-792-3595. 

Why offer a Free Dog Bite Book?  Since 1997, I have been representing injured Iowans, including many dog bite victims from central Iowa and throughout the state.  I have heard too many horror stories about people making costly mistakes, causing them to lose thousands of dollars.  Before you talk to the insurance company you should know your rights and perhaps more importantly your responsibilities.   

If you need immediate assistance, contact us online or call us at (641) 792-3595. If you are not local to us, we will come to you.

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