Dog Bite Infections in Washington Can Lead to Serious Injury Claims

Why Even a Minor Bite Can Lead to Major Medical Problems and Legal Action

In the moment, a dog bite might seem like a simple wound: a quick snap, maybe a few punctures, some swelling. But in the hours or days that follow, the situation can quickly change. Redness spreads. The pain intensifies. Fever sets in. These aren’t just signs of trauma; they’re signs of infection, and they can make a bad injury much worse.

At The Scott Law Firm, PLLC, our lawyers are familiar with how untreated dog bite infections can lead to medical complications, long-term hospital stays, and high-stakes legal battles with insurance companies. If you were bitten by a dog in Vancouver or anywhere in Southwest Washington and later developed an infection, your case deserves to be taken seriously — and our attorneys are ready to fight for every dollar you’re owed.

Why Dog Bites Are So Prone to Infection

Dog bites are unlike other injuries because they often involve deep tissue punctures and tears mixed with bacteria-rich saliva, which can lead to severe infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 5 dog bites becomes infected, and in severe cases, those infections can lead to serious health threats like:

• Cellulitis: A fast-spreading skin infection that causes swelling, redness, and warmth around the wound
• Sepsis: A life-threatening condition where infection spreads into the bloodstream
• MRSA or other antibiotic-resistant infections
• Tetanus or exposure to rabies in rare cases, particularly if the dog’s vaccination history is unknown

Even a shallow bite can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, especially if the wound isn’t cleaned and treated promptly. For children, elderly adults, or immunocompromised individuals, the risk of infection is even higher.

How Long After a Dog Bite Does Infection Set In?

Infection may not be immediately noticeable. That’s why early medical attention and close monitoring are critical, even when the bite doesn’t look serious at first.

• Within 24 hours: Early signs like swelling, redness, and pain at the wound site may be the first symptoms to develop.
• Within 72 hours: Fever, pus discharge, and spreading redness may appear.
• Within days: Symptoms may worsen, with lymph node swelling, fatigue, and systemic signs of infection.

If your bite wound worsens instead of healing, you may be dealing with an infection. Left untreated, these infections can require IV antibiotics, surgery, or hospitalization — and they may lead to permanent scarring, nerve damage, or lasting disability.

Symptoms That Could Signal a Serious Infection

Knowing the signs of infection is critical to your recovery and your legal claim. That’s why you should always seek proper medical attention if you’ve been bitten or attacked by a dog.  Medical attention can be urgently needed if you notice:

• Redness or warmth around the bite that’s spreading
• Increased swelling or pain
• Pus or cloudy discharge
• Red streaks moving from the bite toward your body
• Fever, chills, or body aches
• Loss of mobility or numbness around the area

How Infections Affect Your Legal Claim

Insurance companies often try to minimize dog bite injuries by focusing only on the visible wound or what it looks like after the wounds have healed. But when an infection sets in, everything changes. Here’s how:

1. More Extensive Medical Treatment

Infected wounds may require emergency room visits, intravenous antibiotics, hospital admission, wound debridement, or even surgery. You may also require follow-up care, consultation with infectious disease specialists, or plastic surgery to address lasting scarring.

All of this can increase the value of your claim.

2. Higher Risk of Long-Term Complications

Infections can damage muscles, tendons, or nerves beneath the skin. Some victims experience permanent pain, numbness, or limited movement.

Proving these outcomes is key to recovering compensation for future medical costs and lost earning capacity.

3. Greater Pain and Emotional Distress

An infection doesn’t just cause physical suffering. Many bite victims experience heightened trauma when their recovery becomes more complicated, painful, and uncertain. This can strengthen your claim for non-economic damages, which can include things like pain and suffering or emotional distress.

4. Disputes Over Timing

Insurers may argue that your infection “wasn’t related” to the bite if there’s any delay in treatment. That’s another reason why it’s so important to seek medical care right away and contact a dog bite lawyer early on in your case.

Can I Still Make a Claim If the Infection Developed Days Later?

Yes. The risk of potential infection is just one component of a dog bite claim, and they are a recognized and foreseeable complication when someone has been bitten or attacked by a dog. Under Washington’s strict liability law (RCW 16.08.040), a dog owner is responsible for injuries caused by their dog — and that includes injuries that develop after the fact, such as:

• Infection-related hospitalization
• Wound reopening or additional surgery
• Psychological trauma triggered by prolonged recovery
• Scarring or loss of function

As long as you weren’t trespassing or provoking the dog, you likely have the right to make a personal injury claim and pursue financial compensation for your injuries and damages, even if all your symptoms related to the attack did not develop until later. The key is to consult an experienced dog bite lawyer as soon as possible so you can get a clear understanding of your legal rights and options.

What If the Dog Owner Says the Bite Was Minor?

Many dog owners and their insurance companies will try to downplay the situation, especially if you didn’t go to the hospital immediately. But infection is unpredictable. A bite that looked “small” or “slight” at first can become a serious medical issue if left untreated.

If this happened to you, don’t let the insurance company minimize your suffering. You’re not just seeking compensation for the wound; you’re seeking justice for everything that happened because of it, including things like:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Ongoing pain
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Emotional trauma

Attorney Colin Scott and his dedicated legal team can help you build a strong claim based on the entire picture, not just what the wound looked like on the day of the incident or after you were fully healed.

Who Pays for a Dog Bite Infection in Washington?

In most cases, compensation comes from the dog owner’s:

• Homeowner’s insurance
• Renter’s insurance
• Umbrella policy (for high-damages claims)

If the owner is uninsured, you may still be able to pursue damages through a personal injury lawsuit and, in limited circumstances, you may be able to hold others accountable for the injuries and damages you sustained. Our law firm can identify all potential sources of coverage and aggressively pursue the maximum compensation you deserve under Washington State law.

Why Prompt Medical Treatment and Reporting Matter

When dealing with infection-related dog bite claims, timing is everything. Here’s what to do immediately after a bite, even if it looks minor:

• Clean the wound thoroughly and seek medical care the same day
• Get the dog owner’s contact and vaccination information
• Report the bite to local animal control
• Take photos of the wound over time, especially if it worsens
• Track your symptoms and follow up with your doctor as needed
• Speak with a dog bite lawyer as soon as possible

Fast action protects both your health and your right to seek compensation.

How The Scott Law Firm, PLLC Can Help

At The Scott Law Firm, PLLC, we understand how overwhelming it can be to deal with an injury that leaves lasting physical and emotional scars. You didn’t ask for this, and you shouldn’t have to pay the price because someone else failed to control their dog.

Attorney Colin Scott has successfully represented dog bite victims in Vancouver and throughout Southwest Washington. He understands how to build a case that reflects the full measure of your damages.

From investigating the initial attack and contacting witnesses, to finding all available insurance coverages and obtaining maximum compensation, we’ll handle everything so you can focus on healing.

Get an Experienced Washington Dog Bite Lawyer To Protect Your Rights

If you or someone you love was bitten or attacked by a dog, regardless of whether they later developed an infection, don’t wait to get legal advice. At The Scott Law Firm, PLLC, we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover money for your case.

Contact us today to speak directly with attorney Colin Scott and find out how we can help you recover the full compensation you deserve.