St. George Dog Bite Attorney

If you’ve been attacked by a dog that belongs to your friend or neighbor, you might feel guilty about filing a claim for compensation. You might even decide to pay out-of-pocket for your medical bills in an attempt to preserve your relationship. But did you know that when you file a dog bite claim, you’re not actually filing it against the owner? 

That’s right! Dog attack claims are filed with the owner’s insurance company, so there are no hard feelings involved. Don’t let a common social mistake rob you of your compensation. Contact a St. George dog bite lawyer from 1Law and get the payment you need to cover your losses. Our legal team will answer any questions you have and get your claim settled fast.

Dog Bite Injuries a Lawyer Can File a Claim for in St. George

In a matter of seconds, dogs can inflict injuries that leave permanent scars and require expensive medical attention. Luckily, our attorneys can secure payment to cover your medical costs and other losses. If you’ve sustained one of the following injuries from a dog bite in St. George, our firm can help you on your road to recovery:

• Cuts
• Lacerations
• Nerve and tissue damage
• Tendon injury
• Face injury
• Infection
• Scarring
• Head and neck injury

Dog attacks can also leave victims with anxiety, mental distress, and a newfound fear of dogs. If your mental health has taken a hit after your altercation, you may qualify for non-economic damages. Such damages can make up for the psychological effects caused by the dog attack. 

Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Dog Bite in St. George

If the owner of the dog that bit you has homeowner’s insurance that covers animal attacks, you’ll be able to use their policy to get payment for your bills and non-economic damages. However, insurance companies can be difficult to deal with when it comes time for them to pay up.

Fortunately, our St. George dog bite attorneys have decades of experience dealing with stubborn insurers. When it comes to insurance negotiations, our team will use their communication skills and legal knowledge to successfully complete the following steps:

Communicate Effectively

If you’re seeking damages for a dog bite, it’s important that you let your attorney take care of insurance company communications. It’s highly likely that the dog owner’s insurer will reach out to you for a statement. We suggest that you abstain from giving them any information, as they could twist your words and try to blame you for the attack.

Your dog bite lawyer will provide the insurer with a statement that can’t be used against you. They’ll make sure that the story given to the dog owner’s insurance company is truthful and makes it clear that this incident was not your fault.

Prove Fault

Dog bite cases in St. George are subject to Utah’s comparative negligence standard. Under comparative negligence, dog attack victims that are found to be 50% or more responsible for the attack won’t be able to receive compensation for their injuries. 

Because this law exists, the owner of the dog or their insurer will likely try to claim that you provoked the attack or were trespassing when it occurred. Our attorneys have heard these phony excuses before and know exactly how to dismiss them. They’ll make sure the insurer knows that the attack wasn’t your fault so that you can collect the payment you’re owed.

Negotiate a Settlement

Once your dog bite attorney has made it perfectly clear that the attack you were injured in was by no means your fault, there’s still one last step to complete before you receive your compensation. That final step is negotiating a settlement that accounts for the sum of your losses. 

Insurance companies are infamous for dragging their feet through the negotiation process and offering settlements that don’t fully make up for the losses that victims have endured. This would be a major roadblock if our lawyers weren’t expert negotiators. They’ll broker a settlement that covers your medical bills, lost income, and non-economic losses.

Our Attorneys Will File Your Dog Bite Claim Before Utah’s Deadline

If you’ve been bitten by a dog in St. George, it’s essential that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Taking legal action right away will ensure that your claim is filed in accordance with Utah’s statute of limitations. 

Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307 states that dog bite victims have four years from the date of the attack to file a claim. If you delay legal action and your claim’s deadline passes, it could be very difficult for you to get the compensation you need. 

Although there are exceptions to Utah’s legal deadline, it’s best to not take any chances. Contact a lawyer from our firm today to get an early start on your claim. Your dog bite attorney in St. George will make sure that all the necessary documents are filed correctly.

Talk to an Attorney Online About Your Legal Options Following a St. George Dog Bite

Filing a dog bite claim can be confusing if you don’t have a background in personal injury law. That’s why we offer a free legal chat service to dog attack victims in St. George. You can use our online service to talk to an experienced dog bite attorney who will answer any question or concern you may have.

Our free legal chat feature will equip you with all the information you need to understand your rights and the nuances of the claim-filing process. Once you’ve had all your questions answered, you’ll want to contact our firm directly so that you can get started on your claim.

Contact a Lawyer in St. George Today to File a Dog Bite Claim

Injuries from dog bites can take a long time to heal and may even require a visit to the ER. If you’ve been attacked by a dog, don’t wait to contact a St. George dog bite attorney. The right lawyer can negotiate a settlement that will cover all your expenses, including ambulance rides to the hospital.

At 1Law, our attorneys have what it takes to bring your claim to a favorable conclusion. They’ll provide legal representation on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t have to use your own money to pay for their services. Instead, they’ll take a portion of the settlement you receive for your injuries. Contact our firm for the no-cost advocacy you deserve!