One of the most well-known sayings is that “Dog is a man’s best friend,” and dogs truly are. They are faithful friends and are a part of most families. Even though most dogs are well-behaved and loving, there are times that they can cause fear and become aggressive.
Our Salt Lake City dog bite lawyer at Parker & McConkie provides legal counsel for those who have become victims of dog attacks. Our excellent track record in personal injury cases demonstrates our Salt Lake City dog bite lawyers’ unique strategy to prosecute dog owners for their pet’s destructive actions successfully.
If a dog has injured you or your family member, contact our Salt Lake City dog bite law firm to speak with our Salt Lake City dog lawyer for a free consultation protected by an attorney-client relationship. You can reach us at (385) 220-0383.
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The dog bite attorneys at Parker & McConkie are well aware of the devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences that dog attacks inflict on victims and their families. If a dog has bitten you, you’re probably dealing with severe injuries that will require extensive medical attention, not to mention a long healing time.
Our Salt Lake City dog bite attorneys ensure that the dog owner and their insurance company are held liable for medical expenditures, lost wages, continued treatment, and full restitution.
Here’s how our Salt Lake City Dog Bite Attorney can help you:
Our Salt Lake City dog bite lawyers can help you determine if the dog that attacked you has attacked anyone else or shown aggressive behavior before. If so, we might be able to show that the owner didn’t fulfill their responsibility for their dogs.
Once the dog ownership has been proven, our dog bite lawyer must identify the owner’s insurance provider and how their insurance policy can be applied. This will be the start of our financial recovery pursuit, as we will give the owner and the insurance provider legal notice of the claim.
Usually, most dog bites are very costly. Our Salt Lake City dog bite injury lawyer can help you figure out how much you should get for your medical bills, lost wages, future medical treatment, and other expenses.
Our experienced dog bite attorneys have great knowledge and expertise in dealing with insurance companies. They will not allow our injured clients to be bullied by these cold-hearted companies. We will work hard and fight for the maximum compensation you are owed.
Utah follows the strict liability rule. This rule states that canine owners are always responsible for injuries that their dogs cause. This rule still applies even if the owner has no reason to believe that his dog has the tendency to bite or be aggressive. Also, the law does not only cover instances in which a canine actually bites someone. Dog owners can also be held liable if their dogs inflict injuries to others by attacking them, knocking them down, or injuring them without biting.
A dog attack victim may file an injury claim against the dog owner under Utah’s dog bite statute. Alternatively, victims may file a dog bite claim based on the theory of negligence. This simply means that victims can seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc., by arguing that the owner was negligent. To do so, the plaintiff needs to show that the owner did not take reasonable care to make sure that their pet would not harm other people. An owner may be deemed negligent if they allow their pet to run loose in a public park and the canine, while off-leash, injures another park visitor.
Depending on the severity of the attack, dog bites can cause a wide range of various injuries. When a dog bites, it can leave a lasting scar or harm the surrounding tissue. Dog bites can cause a wide range of injuries, including but not limited to:
• Injuries to the head and neck
• Injuries to the face
• Damage to the nerves, tendons, and tissues
• Scars
• Laceration and cuts
• Puncture wound
• Blood loss
• Infections
• Rabies
With so many companion dogs in American homes, it’s no surprise that more than 800,000 people are treated for dog bites each year. This figure excludes other injuries, such as when a dog knocks someone down or causes an accident by chasing a motorcycle.
Dog owners are often accountable if their canines injure someone, depending on the circumstances and applicable legislation. This means that the owners may be liable to compensate the victims for their losses.
The following are examples of possible damages:
Medical Bills. Medical expenses are an important part of your reimbursement after a dog bite. Dog bites can cost a lot more than you think. Medical expenses may include both inpatient and outpatient care. The sufferer may be paid if they can show that a dog’s bite caused their symptoms or injuries. Among the possible medical bills are the following:
Pain and Suffering. Injuries from a dog bite often cause physical, mental, and emotional distress. Physical pain and lengthy medical treatments can cause emotional distress. It can also come from the attack’s trauma and other psychological symptoms. The pain and suffering of dog bite victims can also be compensated for. It’s hard to say how much this compensation will be. Nevertheless, because the injury resulted from a dog attack, sufferers are entitled to sue to recoup their monetary losses.
Lost Income. Victims who missed work due to medical treatment or recovery are eligible for dog bite claims for lost wages. Lost wages are generally easier to prove because they can be easily calculated and documented. Based on previous paychecks, the victim can estimate how much money they would have made each day.
Property Damage. Although property damage caused by a dog attack can be compensated, most dog bite cases don’t result in much harm to property. Clothing, such as t-shirts and jeans, is the most common type of personal property to be damaged. During the attack, dogs can also damage items such as a watch, backpack, pocketbook, sunglasses, etc.
Most dog bite-related property damage occurs when the victim is in a car accident. Victims might obtain anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars if the dog severely damages those things.
Punitive damages. Punitive damages for dog bites are rarely awarded by courts. Punitive damages are awarded to penalize a person for particularly heinous behavior. An owner who acted recklessly or outrageously, such as allowing a vicious dog to run loose, may be penalized by having to pay more than the victim’s compensation. These “punitive” or “exemplary” damages are intended to harm financially and send a strong message to deter future misconduct.
When attacked by a dog, it might be challenging to remain calm. But there are critical actions you should do to keep yourself safe and gather information for the authorities and your lawyer.
Seek Medical Help. If a dog bites you, you should seek medical assistance immediately. This depends on the severity of the dog bite if you’ve seen broken arms, lacerations, and blood. Dial 911 immediately. In addition to EMS, the police usually respond to serious calls to investigate.
Find the dog’s owner and notify the authorities. Obtain the owner’s name, address, and contact information if possible. Depending on the situation, you may want to contact the authorities. Call animal control if a stray dog bit you and you don’t know its owner. Animal control can identify the owner of the dog if it has a microchip.
Take pictures of your injuries. In every incident, taking pictures is very helpful. They potentially become evidence and are presented whenever you need proof. Medical records capture your medical history and future treatment needs. Sadly, most medical records lack photos. So you must do this alone. It’s tough to describe long-term injuries to a jury or an opposition insurance company without photographs.
Do as your doctor says. Obey your doctor’s orders! Suppose you missed your four-week checkup with your doctor. In that case, your injury will worsen. A severe infection might happen. As a result, you will be hospitalized and need antibiotics. It’s partly your fault for not attending your follow-up visit. You wouldn’t have needed antibiotics if you followed your doctor’s advice. Insurance companies will not cover these medical expenses since they could have been prevented.
Consult with a dog attack attorney after a dog bite. The laws governing dog and animal liability are pretty complex. Liability laws and damages can suddenly become exceedingly complicated. Remember to document your injury so that it can be used in court. Your Salt Lake City dog attack lawyer can use the evidence you obtained to develop a case to get you the money you deserve.
Parker & McConkie has been representing wounded persons in Utah since 1978, helping them obtain just compensation from insurance companies or those who have wronged them.
Our goal is to alleviate as much stress as possible from your life so that you may concentrate on your recovery. When an accident occurs unexpectedly, you may feel overwhelmed and alone. We can jump into your shoes and take on many of your responsibilities right away. We won’t stop until you’ve been fully paid for all that’s happened to you.
Given the terrible nature of dog attacks, bringing a lawsuit is unlikely to be the first thing on your mind. As with many other offenses, a dog attack has a statute of limitations for filing a complaint in state court. The statute of limitations (Utah code 78B-2-307) in Utah for filing a dog bite claim is four years from the date of the attack.
You might not have a case if you were trespassing on someone’s private land when you were attacked or bitten by a dog. But this does not mean that you can’t file a dog bite claim if a dog bit you on the dog owner’s property. You can still pursue a claim under Utah’s dog bite statute or possibly under the state’s premises liability rules if you can prove that you were lawfully on the property at the time of the attack.
You must speak with a knowledgeable Salt Lake City dog bite lawyer who can guide you through your options and provide individualized legal advice tailored to your unique circumstances.
Because Utah’s dog bites injury statute is relatively thorough, people facing a claim under the state’s dog bite statute have a limited number of defenses.
Utah upholds the “modified” comparative negligence doctrine. That is, if the injured party is found to be less than 50% at fault, Utah law requires the courts to limit the amount of compensation in damage that the injured party can receive by a percentage proportional to their responsibility. However, if the injured individual is found to be 50% or more at fault for the incident, they will not recover any claims from the dog owner or their insurance company.
If a dog owner’s negligence has harmed you, you might have the right to a dog bite claim. With the help of our highly experienced team of dog bite attorneys, we can guarantee that you receive the justice you deserve.
Send us a message to learn more about how we can help you claim your compensatory damages with the help of our finest Salt Lake City dog bite lawyer. Schedule a free no-obligation consultation by reaching us at (385) 220-0383 or through our online contact form.
Call 801-845-0440 to get in touch with a member of our firm after your accident. We can review your case for free!
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