Even the best intentions of a dog owner may not be enough to protect you when one strikes you, causing tissue damage, infection risk, and emotional trauma.
At Siegfried & Jensen, our Ogden personal injury lawyer brings decades of experience fighting for victims. When you are hurt, you need our Ogden dog bite lawyer on your side.
How Our Dog Bite Attorney in Ogden, UT, Will Guide You
The complexity of dog bite laws in Utah can make it challenging for victims to seek compensation, and insurance companies do not want to pay fairly. Our legal team will guide and support you in building your case and seeking full and fair compensation for your losses.
Some of the ways we do this include:
- Demonstrating who is at fault. We will determine and show, based on evidence, who is at fault for your injuries. This is often the owner, but if someone else was responsible for the dog, such as a groomer or vet, that party could be held responsible.
- Calculate all of your losses. This is often far more than your medical bills, and you must take into account all potential losses you have related to the accident and your recovery.
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a fast but fair settlement. Our attorneys have recovered over $1.2 billion for our clients. We know how to make them pay.
With the guidance of our dog bite attorney in Ogden, UT, you gain the confidence you need to get medical care, get mental health support, and get back to your life. Do not let the insurance company limit your ability to do these things. It is your right to do so, and our client reviews tell that story.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Ogden, call (801) 266-0999
Understanding the Dog Bite Laws in Utah
Dog bite laws in Utah make it the owner’s responsibility to pay for the damages their dogs cause in many situations. Under Utah Code Ann. § 18-1-1, the state’s strict liability requires owners to maintain their animals.
There are several key factors you should know about this law if you were the victim:
- The owner of the dog, or the person responsible for that dog, is liable for the damages the dog causes to others in most situations.
- The dog owner is only not liable for injuries to others if the dog is on its property within an enclosed fence or other enclosure, if the dog is teased, or otherwise put at risk.
- A police officer is not liable if the police dog bites a person while trying to find or arrest that suspect.
This means you have the right to bring a claim against the dog owner or the other liable party that failed to keep you safe in this situation. This typically applies to the dog’s homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance.
Yet, it is not a simple process, and working with a dog bite lawyer in Ogden, UT, becomes critical.
Ogden Dog Bite Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
Determining the Real Value of Your Ogden Dog Bite Case
You, as the victim, are responsible for providing evidence to back up your claim for compensation for dog bite injuries in Utah, and if you fail to document some of those losses, you may not be able to recover them.
Your dog bite injury is worth what we can show it is, which could range from $10,000 up to $100,000 or more. Some examples of the types of losses you may be owed include:
- Medical bills related to your emergency care
- Any complication-related injuries and the care you need
- The pain and suffering you encountered
- Disfigurement related compensation
- Lost time at work
- Loss of ability to engage in the same type of work
- Emotional trauma and anguish from the incident
- Loss of quality of life
Numerous factors impact each of these areas, including whether you need ongoing care and support, the severity of the attack, and how long that attack lasted.
We also consider factors such as if the dog bit you more than one time and if you suffered damages that will not improve. Let Siegfried & Jensen fight for you to recover fairly.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
We Defend Your Rights
It is critical to know that insurance companies in dog bite cases can be very effective at minimizing the amount of compensation they pay out. They do this specifically to reduce costs.
If you have experienced any of the following, do not settle and instead contact our dog bite lawyer in Ogden, UT, for guidance:
- Denied claims
- Shifting the blame to you, stating you encouraged the dog
- Trying to demonstrate you did not have the right to be on the property
- Claiming you were warned about the dog
- Demonstrating you had preexisting conditions and may not require compensation
- Long delays in providing you with answers or compensation for your losses
- Settlement offers far outside of what you owe and expect
With the guidance of our dog bite attorney in Ogden, UT, you will not face the insurance company on your own, and you will gain insight into what your rights are in each situation. We do not let you become a victim again, but instead, we fight for you to recover all damages owed.
Know the Statute of Limitations Applies in Your Case
In Utah, the statute of limitations is four years for you to take legal action to recover the damages owed to you. However, we strongly recommend not waiting that long to take legal action because the evidence is hard to find, and witnesses are no longer willing to talk to you. Instead, contact us now and let us make sure you do not lose your right to seek compensation for your claim.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Ogden Dog Bite Attorneys Now
Siegfried & Jensen are trusted, dedicated attorneys ready to fight for the best possible outcome for our clients.
We offer free consultations to learn more about the ways our Ogden dog bite lawyer can help you recover the damages owed to you. Do not wait to get the guidance you need to hold those who hurt you accountable.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form