Find an Attorney in Washington

Washington has a strict-liability dog-bite statute (RCW § 16.08.040) — the owner pays for unprovoked bites even on first offense.

Washington’s 2020 non-compete law (RCW § 49.62) sharply restricts enforcement against workers earning under set income thresholds — major shift from prior law.

Washington is a fault state with pure comparative — and PIP coverage is offered (though not mandatory) with most auto policies under RCW § 48.22.085.

The Washington CPA (RCW § 19.86) lets consumers recover treble damages up to $25,000 plus attorney fees — one of the strongest UDAP statutes in the West.

Washington’s Sentencing Reform Act and the Blakely-influenced exceptional-sentence rules make sentencing strategy critical from arraignment forward.

Washington follows the Product Liability Act (RCW § 7.72), which consolidated common-law and warranty claims into a single statutory framework.

Washington Law Against Discrimination (RCW § 49.60) is broader than Title VII — applies to employers with 8+ employees and allows uncapped damages and attorney fees.

Washington is a community-property state — and committed intimate relationships (Connell v. Francisco) get equitable treatment even without marriage.

Washington has immigration courts in Seattle and Tacoma — and proximity to the Canadian border creates unique entry and admissibility issues.

The Washington Lemon Law (RCW § 19.118) covers new vehicles within 24 months/24,000 miles — and the AG-administered arbitration program is a real alternative to suit.

Washington had its damages caps struck down in Sofie v. Fibreboard (1989) and Schreiner v. Fruit (1986) — leaving WA one of the more plaintiff-friendly med-mal states.

A 3-year SOL under RCW § 4.16.080 and pure comparative fault make Washington one of the more plaintiff-friendly PI states in the West.

Washington premises liability turns on notice and reasonableness — Iwai v. State established a self-service doctrine for commercial slip-and-falls.

Washington SSA hearing offices in Seattle and Spokane process moderate volumes — and the Ninth Circuit’s SSA jurisprudence is comparatively plaintiff-friendly.

Washington is a state-monopoly comp state — L&I is the sole insurer under RCW § 51, with limited self-insured employer exceptions, and BIIA handles appeals.