Dog Bites and Dog Injuries Have you been injured as a result of a dog bite or dog aggression? Injuries from dog bites and dog aggression can have devastating life-long effects. It is a common misconception that a dog gets “one free bite” before and the owner is liable for his or her dog biting another person. In Utah, there is no such thing as “one free bite.”

Utah law states that, “[E]very person owning or keeping a dog is liable in damages for injury committed by the dog.”[1] This language imposes a very high degree of care on dog owners to prevent dogs from injuring individuals, which means that the dog owner is liable for a dog bite in most situations. This same law also imposes a high degree of care on a dog owner to prevent his or her dog from jumping or behaving aggressively towards people. For example, if you were injured because a dog jumped on you and knocked you to the ground, you may be able to recover under Utah law. Additionally, Utah law allows relatives of dog bite victims to recover damages for emotional distress due to witnessing the dog attack in some limited situations.

Our office can tell you if you can potentially recover for witnessing a dog attacking a relative or loved one. Most homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies cover dog attacks. Working with insurance companies to fairly compensate victims of dog bites takes experience and determination. Our office has experience working with insurance companies to achieve the best possible outcome in your dog bite or dog aggression case. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, please call Hepworth and Associates at 801-872-2222, to schedule a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney regarding your dog injury.   [1] UCA 18-1-1