Salt Lake City Dog Bite Attorney

Dog attacks can have potentially devastating consequences, and unfortunately, children are the most common victims. If you or a loved one were injured in a dog attack, a Salt Lake City dog bite attorney can help you seek compensation for medical bills and other damages.

When Should I Call a Salt Lake City Dog Bite Attorney?

If you have been injured by a dog bite, the first and most important thing is to get medical attention. Then, call a Salt Lake City dog bite lawyer to discuss the details of the incident and determine the best course of action in your case.

What Happens When Someone is Attacked by a Dog?

Utah is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites. In other words, dog owners will always be responsible for any injuries caused by their animals, even if they had no reason to believe the dog was aggressive or may bite.

In addition to bites, animal owners are also responsible for injuries caused by:

Knocking someone down
Attacking someone
Causing any other type of injury

Injured victims can pursue compensation for medical bills and other damages through the state’s dog bite statute or a personal injury claim.

You generally have four years from the date of the bite to file a claim.

What are The Most Common Injuries Caused by a Dog Bite?

Dog bites can cause many types of injuries at varying levels of severity. Some victims suffer permanent disfigurement or scarring. Others experience mental or emotional trauma.

Some of the most common dog bite injuries include:

Broken bones: The PSI from a dog’s bite can be so strong that it crushes or breaks the bone. Victims may also suffer broken bones when running away from the dog or if the dog pushes them down.
Facial injuries: If an aggressive dog attacks the face, it can lead to severe facial injuries and even disfigurement.
Puncture wounds: Although they can be smaller than lacerations, puncture wounds can be deep and increase the risk of infection.
Rabies: A serious injury that can lead to confusion, aggression, difficulty speaking, muscle spasms and more. Symptoms may not appear for a few days, so seeking medical attention is crucial.
Emotional trauma: Dog bites and attacks can cause severe emotional trauma or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These injuries, although not physical, can impact your daily life and make it difficult to go through your daily routine.
Avulsions: These are injuries in which something is ripped or torn away from the body. For example, an aggressive dog may rip the ear off of the head. This would be considered an avulsion injury. Avulsions are very serious and often require reconstructive surgery.
Lacerations: Deep cuts that tear the skin and can affect muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.

Dog bites can cause severe injuries that may have long-term or lifelong effects.

Find out How Much Is Your Case Worth?

Who is Responsible for Injuries from a Dog Bite?

Because Utah is a strict liability state, dog owners are liable for injuries caused by their animals. Under Utah law, dog owners can be held liable even if the dog previously showed no signs of aggression. However, there are some exceptions.

Provoking the Dog

If the dog owner can prove that you provoked the dog and were more than 50% at fault for the incident, you may not be able to recover compensation.

If you were found to be less than 50% at fault, then you may still be able to recover some compensation for damages and injuries. However, the amount you recover will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Trespassing

If you were trespassing on someone’s property and bit by their dog, then you may not be able to make a claim. Property owners have less of a duty of care to those who are unlawfully on their property (trespassing) than those who were invited to their home.

Trespassing doesn’t automatically negate your claim. A Salt Lake City dog bite attorney can help determine whether you have a valid claim and guide you through the process of recovering compensation.

Call a Salt Lake City Dog Bite Attorney Near You

Dog bite injuries can lead to costly medical bills, emotional trauma, time off work, and other damages. Recovering from serious bite injuries can take several weeks or months. Some injuries cause permanent disfigurement and scarring. Others require complex reconstructive surgery.

If you have been injured in a dog bite attack, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. However, you only have a limited window of opportunity to file a claim, so don’t wait to contact a dog bite lawyer.

Answers for your questions

Should I Get a Lawyer for a Dog Bite?

If you want to pursue compensation for your injuries, it’s best to work with an experienced dog bite lawyer. Dog bite claims can be complex. To achieve the best outcome in your case, you need the expertise and help of a lawyer experienced in Utah’s dog bite laws.

Can I Sue After a Dog Bite?

When a person is injured by a dog bite, typically, the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the cost of medical care. Damages may also be covered by pet owner’s insurance, tenant/landlord insurance, or another insurance policy.
If the dog owner does not have insurance or the insurance company will not cover the cost of your injuries, you may be able to sue the dog owner.

What Questions Should I Ask A Salt Lake City Dog Bite Attorney?

There are several questions that you should ask a dog bite attorney, such as:
How much experience do you have with dog bite cases?
What is your track record for dog bite cases?
What compensation can I collect?
You may have questions of your own that you want to ask your attorney. Be sure to write them down and ask them when interviewing attorneys.

Salt Lake City Dog Bite Attorney

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