If there was a beware of dog sign, can I still sue for a dog bite? You can still sue for a dog bite even if there was a beware of dog sign.
Meet with a Salt Lake City dog bite lawyer, as they can build an argument to prove that a pet owner should be held accountable for your injury costs and other losses.
You Can Still Sue for a Dog Bite Even If a Beware of Dog Sign Was Set Up and in Plain Sight
Ultimately, if there was a beware of dog sign, you can still sue for a dog bite. The sign does not take a pet owner off the hook for their animal’s actions. If a dog attacks and injures you, the animal’s owner could be responsible for the harm you suffer.
Consult with a Salt Lake City premises liability lawyer after a dog attacks you. Next, your attorney reviews the facts of your attack. They find out how badly you were hurt and the extent of your losses. From here, they can determine if you have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against the dog’s owner.
Siegfried & Jensen is a Utah personal injury law firm with decades of experience. To date, our team has recovered over $1.2 billion in compensation for dog bite injury victims and others. Let us represent you in your dog bite case. To get started, schedule a free case consultation with us.
For a free legal consultation, call (801) 266-0999
You Can Still Sue for a Dog Bite if There Was a Beware of Dog Sign, But You Have a Limited Amount of Time to Do So
Per Utah Code § 78B-2-307, you typically have four years from the date of a dog attack to sue a liable pet owner for compensatory damages. Do not wait to get legal help if you were aware of a beware of dog sign but still want to sue for a dog bite. Otherwise, if you do nothing, you are responsible for your dog bite injury losses.
A Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer gives your case their full attention. They gather witness statements, photos of your injuries, and other evidence to support your compensation request. Your lawyer crafts an argument designed to prove to a judge or jury that you deserve economic and non-economic damages.
Your attorney files your lawsuit but remains open to settlement negotiations. They can provide insights into how much the average personal injury settlement amount is and what your case is worth. If your lawyer does not receive a fair settlement, they may advise you to proceed with taking your case in front of a judge or jury.
You Can Sue for a Dog Bite If You Saw a Beware of Dog Sign, But You Can Be Found Partly Liable for Your Injuries
Based on Utah Code § 78B-2-307, modified comparative negligence applies to personal injury cases. With this, you can still sue if a dog bites you and you were aware of a beware of dog sign.
However, what you receive in compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault. Or, if you are primarily to blame, you may not recover damages.
For example, a dog owner claims you provoked their pet, which led their animal to attack you. Regardless, you file a lawsuit. The court rules you are 20% at fault for your dog bite injuries. In this situation, you get 80% of the damages you originally requested.
Now, consider what can occur if, in the above example, the court finds you are more than 50% at fault for your dog bite injuries. In this scenario, you are more at fault than the pet owner. Thus, you may not receive compensation.
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Several Factors Can Play a Role in the Success of Your Case If You Decide to Sue for a Dog Bite, If There Was a Beware of Dog Sign
Talk with a lawyer who has relevant dog bite case experience if you are weighing the pros and cons of filing a personal injury lawsuit. Your attorney will discuss what is considered a personal injury in Utah and if they believe a lawsuit is warranted. They will account for various factors to determine if you have a strong case, and these include:
Trespassing
If a property owner has both beware of dog and no trespassing signs set up on their premises, a judge or jury may rule that this individual is not liable if their dog attacks you. This is because the court may consider it reasonable to expect someone not to trespass on the property and go near the animal.
Provocation
There is no reason to provoke a dog, and doing so can cause problems for all involved. If you sue for a dog bite in spite of the fact that there was a beware of dog sign and the court finds you did something to provoke an animal, it may rule in a pet owner’s favor.
Law Enforcement Dog Involved in Your Attack
According to Utah Code § 18-1-1, strict liability applies to dog bite injury cases. This means a pet owner can be held liable for a dog attack if their pet bites someone for the first time or has a history of such incidents. Yet, if you sue after a law enforcement dog bites you as the police are trying to apprehend you, a judge or jury may not award damages.
Your dog bite attorney works hard to prove negligence. They want a judge or jury to see that you are in no way to blame for your injuries. If your attorney shows that a pet owner violated their duty of care toward you, the court may rule that this individual should provide you with compensation for your losses.
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Partner With a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
Siegfried & Jensen has an outstanding track record in dog bite injury cases. If you are unsure of whether you can still sue for a dog bite if you saw a beware of dog sign, we are here to help. Give us the opportunity to assist you with your personal injury case.
Request a free case consultation with us.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
