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!
Immediately after being bitten, assess your injuries
Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery
Seek medical attention as soon as you can
Keep track of all treatment you receive during recovery
Once you’ve completed treatment, your case can move forward
Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party
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.
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:
Mark Stewart was a great attorney. My case wasn't easy but he made it seem easy. His main concern was making sure I got all the help I needed medically. He check up on me all the time to see how I was feeling and any questions I had he had answers to and took the time to explain it so I could understand. I hope no one needs a accident attorney but if you do go with Mark
I was referred to The Advocates by a colleague and I don’t think 5 stars is a high enough rating for them. My initial consult was informative and straight to the point. They gave me realistic expectations from the beginning and they were with me every step of the way. They best part is they did everything to maximize my settlement without me having to ask! Very friendly staff!
I was in a motorcycle accident back in February and I called the Advocates the next day and they’ve been on my case ever since. They always kept me up to date on what was going on with my case and they were able to get me a good chunk of the settlement. They have been great to work with!
I recently was in a motorcycle accident, and after fighting with my insurance I reached out to Brad Johnson with The Advocates. I couldn't be happier and more thankful for the help I received from him, and his team. They made me feel like I was well taken care of, and got me the settlement I needed. I highly recommend going to Brad if you have any legal issues and need assistance. If anything like this happens in my future he will be the first person I reach out to.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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:
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.
