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Salt Lake City Dog Bite Lawyers

Dog attacks are painful. Reach out to The Advocates personal injury attorneys, and we can get you fair compensation through legal action.

A Dog Bite Attorney Can Help Your Case 

A little over 58% of Utah households own a dog. The key word here is ‘own.’ A dog, like homes, vehicles, and bicycles, is considered property. If a dog bite incident occurs because of an owner’s negligence, they will likely be responsible for damage done to you.
 
The Advocates have seen countless personal injury claims stemming from dog attacks. They are painful and terrifying and often leave dog bite victims hopeless about what to do next.  
 
That is where our Salt Lake City dog bite lawyers come in. They will represent you through the legal process, help you contact medical professionals, and ensure you are fully compensated for the animal attack.  

Our mission is not to pursue punitive damages against the dog owner but to ensure that you do not experience financial strain from an animal attack that was not your fault. Contact us today!

The Next Steps in Your Utah Dog Bite Case

Injury

Immediately after being bitten, assess your injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as you can

Medical Records

Keep track of all treatment you receive during recovery

Finish Treatment

Once you’ve completed treatment, your case can move forward

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.  
Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.  
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We do not get paid unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.  
For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.  

If the dog’s conduct resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.  
Your attorney will gather evidence, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary.   

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. 

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.  
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to several years. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.  

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.  
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.  

A Team of Dog Bite Professionals Assigned to Your Case 

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their injuries, and we are prepared to do the same for you.  
We can help you: 

  • Understand the claims process 
  • Investigate your accident 
  • Work together with you towards a full resolution of your injuries 
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters 
  • Obtain a fair resolution of your claim 

Hable con un profesional

When Should I Hire a Utah Dog Bite Injury Attorney? 

Call our team of legal professionals today to start your journey of recovery. The Advocates are here to help you and your family members recover from the dog bite.   

Together, we will navigate insurance companies, fight for a fair settlement, and help you put liens on your medical bills.   

Our Utah dog bite attorneys will use their decades of experience to provide you with the most essential thing: Peace of mind. We are a law firm dedicated to fighting on behalf of our fellow Utahns.  

Call us for a free case evaluation. It is quick, easy, and worthwhile. You deserve Salt Lake City personal injury attorneys who know how to get you what you deserve. You deserve an Advocate.     

Utah Dog Bite Laws 

Strict liability for dog bites  

Are you responsible for the first time your dog bites someone? Yes. According to the Utah Code, you are still responsible for your dog, even if it has never bitten someone or shown signs of aggression.  
This is called strict liability. Some states have a one-bite rule, allowing a dog owner to usually be off the hook legally the first time their dog bites someone. Utah does not have this rule.    

The defenses against a dog bite claim 

A dog has bitten you. You have serious injuries from the attack, but does dog bite laws in Utah immediately guarantee you will win your case? Not necessarily. There are two defenses a dog owner can make to prevent you from filing a claim against them:  

  • The injury or death is to another animal 
  • The injury or death occurs: 
  • On the person’s private property 
  • While the dog is reasonably secured within a fence or other enclosure 
  • The animal killed entered a homeowner’s private property without consent. 

The most common dog bite injuries   

Even if you do not think you have severe injuries from a dog bite, you should still seek medical care. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 81 people died from dog attacks in 2021. Dog bite injuries can be more serious than they appear due to rare but still prevalent diseases such as rabies.  
These are the common physical injuries dog bite victims face:   

  • Puncture wounds 
  • Broken bones   
  • Eye and face injuries   
  • Scarring and disfigurement   
  • Bruising and lacerations   
  • Tissue and nerve damage  
  • Emotional trauma  
  • Wrongful death of a loved one  

How to avoid being bitten by a dog 

You could follow all the rules of the road and still get in a car accident. The same thing applies to dog bites. Even when doing everything right, there is still a chance a dog might bite you. 
Here is some advice to follow to lessen the probability:  

  • Do not provoke the dog or trespass on the property where it lives  
  • Choose not to approach or pet dogs you do not know  
  • If you must pet a dog, ask for the owner’s permission and approach slowly  
  • Watch the dog’s body language; this is a good indicator of how it is responding to you  
  • Be calm and gentle, and do not act in an erratic manner  
  • Do not ever approach working dogs, such as guide dogs

A Dog Has Bitten You, What Next? 

Does insurance cover dog bites?  

Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance covers dog bites through personal liability coverage, meaning you are covered up to a limit when your negligence causes someone to be injured.  
Keep in mind that not all policies cover animal attacks, and some don’t cover certain dog breeds, such as Rottweilers, Pitt Bulls, and German Shepherds. Dogs with a history of aggression or biting probably will not be covered.  

What damages can I seek in my dog bite case?  

The damages you can seek depend on the nature of your dog bite injury claim. No two cases are ever the same in law, which means even an experienced Salt Lake City dog bite lawyer cannot predict the trajectory without first doing a case evaluation.   
The following are commonly sought damages in a personal injury case:    

  • Medical expenses  
  • Pain and suffering  
  • Lost income and loss of future earnings   
  • Non-economic damages such as emotional trauma   
  • Funeral expenses for a loved one   

What is the statute of limitations for dog bites?  

A dog bite claim is no different from other personal injury cases. Therefore, a dog bite victim generally has four years from the incident to file a claim.   

Steps to take after getting bit by a dog  

  • Get away from the dog 
  • Seek medical attention 
  • Obtain information about the dog owner right away 
  • Call animal control and obtain a report 
  • Document everything by taking pictures or videos of the dog, the injury, where the bite occurred, and any other piece of evidence 
  • Follow up with a doctor to ensure you have not contracted rabies or other diseases 
  • Call a personal injury lawyer to know your legal options