Salt Lake City Dog Bite Attorney

Not every dog is humanity’s best friend. In many cases, dogs can be vicious when neglected by their owners. Some dogs are even trained to be malicious. If you find yourself confronted with a neglected or malicious dog, you may come away from your encounter with severe injuries. These incidents can leave you with as many mental scars as emotional ones.

You don’t have to resign yourself to a slow dog bite recovery. Instead, you can contact a dog bite lawyer in Salt Lake City at 1Law to discuss your accident. We can follow the evidence back to the party liable for your losses and help you file a dog bite complaint. You can then rely on our representation as you argue for the compensation you need to recover.

How to Respond to a Dog Bite Accident

Dog bite cases, like cat bite personal injury cases, can often leave victims and dog owners alike questioning who bears liability for the injured party’s losses.

If you do want to take a dog and its owner to civil court, you need to indicate that the owner allowed the dog to engage in reckless or unreasonable behavior. Alternatively, you can find evidence of a lack of preparation or care on the part of the owner to allege negligence as the source of your injury.

What to Expect from a Dog’s Owner After an Accident

Utah law considers a dog owner to be liable for that dog’s behavior. This is the case regardless of whether or not the dog in question is known to be “vicious or mischievous,” as stated by Utah Code Ann. §18-1-1. That said, there are some exceptions to this ruling that a Salt Lake City, UT, dog bite attorney has to consider.

Owners nor their dogs can be held liable for another person’s losses if the party injured or even killed was another animal. Similarly, you may struggle to take legal action against a dog owner whose dog injured you on private property or while well-secured.

Similarly, dogs in the service of law enforcement representatives are often immune from civil suits, as are their owners. So long as the dog’s behavior is reasonable and in line with those standards set forth by Title 53, Chapter 6, Part 4, Law Enforcement Canine Team Certification Act, you won’t be able to bring your losses to civil court.

Requesting Compensation for Dog Bite Losses With a Civil Complaint

So long as your dog bite case falls within Utah’s understanding of reasonable civil action, you have the right to request compensation for your losses. This compensation can cover:

• Medical expenses related to the bite
• Psychological care related to the attack
• Property damage, as applicable
• Future surgeries, mobility aids, and pain management aids
• Pain and suffering
• Lost opportunities to work or to secure a wage
• Emotional damages

Make sure you have evidence to back your request for compensation on hand when you submit your complaint. If you have the means to defend your claim to certain losses, it will be easier for you to argue for that support in court or throughout negotiations.

How to Draft a Dog Bite Accident Claim

To bring a dog bite accident claim forward in civil court, you need to name the party liable for your losses and elaborate on the compensation you’d like in exchange for your injuries. More importantly, our dog bite attorneys in Salt Lake City, UT, must defend both of these stances with applicable evidence.

You don’t have to gather this evidence on your own. When you bring your case to a member of our team, we can instead step in and work with professionals to elaborate on your case. This can include gathering:

• Forensic evidence
• Evidence of a scuffle at the site of the attack
• Eyewitness statements
• Video or photo footage of the attack
• Professional opinions on your injuries

When it comes time to submit your dog bite claim, we can submit this evidence alongside your statements. Should your case move forward, we can elaborate on this evidence in negotiations or before a judge.

All that said, you have a limited amount of time to file your dog bite claim. If you want to request financial support for your losses, look to Utah Code Ann. §78B-2-307. This statute of limitations gives you four years to act on your losses. If a dog bite results in a wrongful death, Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-304 only gives you two years to file your suit.

How to Prepare for Conversations About a Civil Dog Bite Case

There’s a good chance that the owner of the dog that attacked you may be reluctant to work with you. That said, settlement negotiations are not off the table. If a Salt Lake City civil court opts to move your complaint forward, you can summon the dog’s owner to talks. There, you can elaborate on your losses and, with the help of evidence, present your case for support.

If you’re contending with an individual dog owner, negotiations may not last long. Negotiations involving an institution and its dog, however, may see you have to haggle for a sufficient settlement. In either case, you retain the right to bring your case to trial, particularly if the defendant appears reluctant to provide you with comprehensive compensation.

You do not have to maneuver through negotiations or a trial’s preliminary steps on your own. Instead, our attorneys can represent you throughout both processes.

We Can Answer Your Questions About Dog Bite Civil Cases

Interacting with dogs that aren’t yours puts you in a complicated legal position. If you’re injured by a stranger’s dog, you have to ensure your case fits within specific state guidelines if you want to fight for compensation based on your losses. You don’t have to wade through dog bite legislation alone, though. Instead, you can turn to 1Law.

Dog bite attorneys in Salt Lake City know how to break down dog bite law and fit your case to the city’s civil standards. If you have questions about the compensation to which you may be entitled, you can schedule a case consultation with our team. Contact us over the phone or use our online chat box to learn more about your legal options.