You feel frustrated after a dog bites and injures you. Following the incident, remember that you have access to legal help. Depending on the situation, a dog bite lawyer in Herriman can help you file a claim or lawsuit against the liable pet owner.
Siegfried & Jensen has decades of combined experience. Our personal injury lawyer in Herriman can review your dog bite injury case. If warranted, we can represent you in a claim or lawsuit. To find out more, schedule a free case evaluation.
When to File a Dog Bite Claim in Herriman, Utah
File an insurance claim as soon as you can after a dog bite. A dog bite attorney in Herriman can determine your eligibility for submitting a claim. With a claim, you can get compensation that serves you well as you go through the recovery process.
An insurance claim can help you secure compensation for your medical bills and other injury-related losses. At the same time, the claim can prompt a dog owner to take meaningful steps to keep their pet from harming anyone else in the future.
Siegfried & Jensen has earned many positive client reviews. Our personal injury attorneys will take your dog bite injury case seriously. We can assist you with your dog bite claim. Along with this, we can help you obtain fair compensation from a liable party’s insurance company. For more information, request a free case evaluation.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Herriman, call (801) 266-0999
Reasons to Seek Compensation Through a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit
The average compensation for a dog bite depends on the victim’s losses. Your Herriman dog bite lawyer can negotiate an insurance settlement that includes economic and non-economic damages. Regardless, insurance settlement negotiations offer no guarantees.
Your attorney can keep you informed about the status of insurance settlement negotiations. Ideally, a liable party’s insurer offers a reasonable settlement. Yet, if this doesn’t happen, your lawyer will assess how bad a dog bite has to be to sue.
Based on Utah Code § 78B-2-307, if you want to sue a pet owner after their dog bites you, the statute of limitations in which you’re generally allowed to do so is four years, with certain exceptions. After this window closes, you are responsible for your losses relating to your dog bite injuries.
Herriman Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
What Will Happen to the Dog That Bit You If You Sue for Compensatory Damages
In most instances, a dog will not be put down if the animal attacks and injures you and you sue the pet’s owner. Animal control and public safety laws are separate from your civil case for compensatory damages. Due to this, your lawsuit will have no effect on the animal that caused your injuries.
By filing a dog bite injury lawsuit, you can receive damages for your pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and other quantifiable and subjective losses. Your case may be settled before trial or resolved in court.
Throughout your case, your lawyer wants you to continue to treat your injuries from a dog bite. Meanwhile, they can prepare your case as if it will go in front of a judge or jury. If your case requires a trial, your attorney can argue why the defendant was negligent and should compensate you for your losses.
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How to Prove Liability in a Dog Bite Injury Case
Just because you say that a pet owner was negligent doesn’t mean that a judge or jury will award damages. Your personal injury attorney wants to illustrate liability to the court. Based on the facts of your case, your lawyer can rely on Utah’s dog bite laws, negligence principles, or other applicable legal theories to establish liability.
In some cases, your lawyer can detail to the court how a pet owner had an obligation to avoid any acts that had the potential to lead their dog to bite you and others and violated their duty by ignoring leash laws, failing to fix a broken backyard fence, or doing other things that put you and others in danger. They want the court to see that the owner’s actions correlate to your injuries.
Under Utah Code 78B-5-818, modified comparative negligence can influence your case outcome. If you sue a pet owner after their dog bites you and are found to be 1-49% liable, your damages will be reduced by your degree of fault. On the other hand, if you’re deemed to be 50% or more at fault, you cannot receive damages.
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Evidence That Can Strengthen Your Dog Bite Case
Your attorney will interview witnesses who saw a dog bite you and take other measures to analyze your case. This can help your lawyer gather evidence to use in their argument.
Below are types of evidence that attorneys sometimes use to support plaintiffs in dog bite cases:
- Photos of bites, scratches, and bruising caused by a dog
- Photos of open gates, warning signs, and other aspects of the scene where a dog attack occurred
- Doctors’ notes, emergency room summaries, and other medical records that highlight the severity of dog bite injuries
- Medical bills detailing the immediate and long-term costs of care for dog bite injuries
- Incident reports from animal control or the police that describe a dog attack
- Records that show aggressive behavior or complaints about the dog responsible for an attack
- Witness statements
- Pay stubs that show the time lost at work while recovering from dog bite injuries
If you have extensive proof, a liable party or their insurance company can struggle to contest your case. Thus, either party can propose a settlement in the hopes of resolving your case without a trial. Of course, if no settlement is reached, your lawyer is ready to argue your case and explain to the court why your damages request is valid.
Get Our Herriman Dog Bite Injury Lawyers on Your Side
Trust a Herriman dog bite attorney from Siegfried & Jensen to guide you through the process of filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
As your case progresses, we want to tackle any legal challenges that you face. Contact us today.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form