St. George is surrounded by nature, so you will frequently see dog owners and their furry friends out and about. Most canines are harmless, but a dog attack can happen anytime, anywhere.
The Advocates personal injury attorneys have helped thousands of people in St. George and the rest of Utah with their dog bite claims. An animal attack can inflict unprecedented pain and suffering. You might have to go to the emergency room, be left with permanent scars, or have lasting emotional trauma.
We know for a fact that you will have to get medical attention, deal with insurance companies, and navigate the complexities of personal injury law.
Getting fair compensation is not easy, but it is worthwhile. Call our St. George office today, and we can begin the process of representing—and winning—your dog bite case.
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.
Dogs are considered property. As is the case with a car accident you cause, if your dog bites someone, you will be responsible, which is why many dog owners have an insurance policy for their canines. A lot of renters’ and homeowners’ insurance policies cover dog bites.
According to the Utah Code, this state has strict liability for dog bites. Dog owners are responsible for the damage their dogs inflict, even if it is the first time they have bitten someone.
Dog bite victims are not automatically entitled to compensation. There are situations when the dog owner might not be held accountable for their dogs. Here are two defenses a dog owner can make to prevent you from filing a claim against them:
There are no statewide laws requiring dogs to be leashed. It varies by county and city. Salt Lake City has mandatory leashing rules unless you are in a designated off-leash area.
According to the St. George municipal code, a dog at large is, “Any domesticated animal off the premises of the owner or custodian of the animal, and not under immediate control of the owner or custodian. In the case of a dog, immediate control shall mean on a leash, cord, chain or confined within a vehicle.”
This establishes how owners must have immediate control over their dog. Any owner who violates the code will be subject to the following penalties:
An experienced St. George dog bite attorney will be honest with you and say it is impossible to say how long a claim takes. It could take several months or years.
This is because each case is different. Several factors determine how long it will take: Disputes about liability, insurance companies’ settlement offers, the severity of your injuries, and the amount of time it takes to negotiate.
Given the unique nature of your case, even the most experienced Utah dog bite lawyer cannot say exactly what damages you can seek.
The following are commonly sought damages in a personal injury case:
Legally speaking, 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.
Always seek medical care for dog bite injuries. Even if you do not go to the emergency room, at least see a doctor shortly after the incident.
These are common physical injuries dog bite victims face:
