Dog Bite Laws in Utah

The single bite rule is the basis of the Dog Bites Act. It exists in all states. The majority of U.S. states have supplemented it with laws that hold dog owners responsible for all bites, including the first one. These so-called “dog bite laws” sometimes extend to people other than dog owners and injuries other than dog bites. In addition, the majority of states impose liability on dog owners and others under a variety of other legal doctrines, including negligence, liability for premises, harassment, and negligence per se for a violation of an animal control law such as a leash law, a law prohibiting dogs from being free, or a law prohibiting dogs from entering. An emerging reason for liability is the dog owner`s inability to stop a dog attack after it has begun. Therefore, if one bite rule or other doctrine works against one victim, another could support their claim for compensation. See general legal rights for victims of dog bites in the United States.

Here`s a list of county phone numbers you can call to report a dog bite. Is the “one” rule a real legal principle? If so, does it apply in Utah? And what recourse is available when he is the victim of the first bite of a dog? In Utah, violation of an animal control law can result in liability on the part of the offender, whether or not they own the dog. States, counties, and cities often have laws that require dogs to be kept on a leash or prohibit them from being free or trespassing. With a few exceptions, the courts have ruled that violation of these laws may be the basis of liability. In this case, the violation constitutes prima facie evidence of negligence, unless there is a compelling reason for the violation. Child vs. Gonda, 972 pp.2d 425, 432 (Utah 1998); Thompson vs. Ford Motor Co., 16 Utah 2d 30, 395 p.2d 62 (1964). But Utah is not a one-bite state. The law here follows the more rational concept of strict liability. If an animal causes damage, it is the responsibility of the owner. If several dogs attack you or your dog, you can sue each of them in the same lawsuit.

Then the jury or judge divides the amount of liability of each dog owner and judges accordingly. A dog bite victim in Utah can receive compensation under a special law and doctrines of negligence, negligence itself, scientist, and willful misconduct. The Dog Bites Act makes dog owners and owners liable for all injuries caused by their dogs, with the exception of dogs in law enforcement. Utah completes the Scienter cause of action with a dog bite law. The State is therefore classified as a statutory State without fail. Its dog bite law makes a dog owner or owner liable if their dog bites a person, even the first time. The law applies to dog owners and third parties who own the dog and covers bites and other injuries inflicted by a dog. The law is worded as follows: Your dog bite case can range from $10,000 at the bottom to $500,000 at the top (or even more), depending on the particular facts of your case. Dog owners should take out insurance for owners or tenants to cover a dog bite. Coverage limits typically range from $100,000 to $300,000 for homeowner and tenant insurance policies. However, Utah does not require dog owners to have insurance for dog bites.

You can sue any of the dog owners in a lawsuit and ask the jury to evaluate a sum of money against each dog owner. The owner of dog 1 could be found 25% guilty because that dog was on a leash when the attack occurred. The owner of dog 2 could be rated at 50% because the jury found that dog 2 had no leash, was an untrained pit bull and had caused most of the bites. While dog owners could be found guilty of 3 to 25% because it was a smaller dog and caused much less damage than dog 2. Utah`s dog bite rules state: “Anyone who owns or guards a dog is responsible for the damage caused by that dog, and there is no need to claim or prove in a lawsuit that that dog was of a malicious or malicious disposition, or that the owner or owner knew it was malicious or malicious.” (Utah Code 18-1-1.) So, while some states have a “free bite rule,” Utah law assigns responsibility for the dog`s very first bite to the dog owner, even if that bite was unexpected. And it doesn`t even have to be a mouthful. A small child or jogger who tries to escape a dog from a leash and injures himself is one of the people who is supposed to be protected according to this rule. Dog attacks are a serious matter. In a typical year, more than thirty Americans die from it. Exact numbers are hard to come by, but it`s estimated that at least 4.5 million more are bitten each year, with nearly 100,000 victims in need of emergency treatment. About half a million bites are susceptible to infection each year. Utah`s laws are unusual in that they offer an arbitration option in cases of dog attacks, which has the potential to speed up a settlement.

It`s not very well known, but most dog bite claims are resolved by the owner`s insurance (this is actually the largest category of claims made against these policies). Damage caused by dog bites can include the cost of medical treatment, injections, plastic surgery to reduce scarring, visible scars, scar tissue, muscle and ligament damage, time lost at work, future free time, emotional distress, etc. These claims are usually made against the owner`s insurance policy. However, if the dog owner is a tenant, he usually does not have this type of coverage. (Check with a lawyer for other options that may be available.) When it comes to processing dog bite injury claims, you should seek the help of a qualified Utah dog bite attorney to ensure your case is presented effectively so that you can reach a satisfactory settlement for your injuries. While many dog bite laws in Utah tend to favor the victim, this doesn`t exactly mean that the dog bite case is a safe thing. If the case is not handled appropriately, you may still need to cover unexpected medical expenses and other damages that you may not be able to afford. Injuring yourself on someone else`s property Some may wonder if their claim for dog bite injury will be unsuccessful because they were on the dog owner`s property at the time of the attack. The short answer is – absolutely not.

Indeed, as mentioned earlier, Utah is a state of strict responsibility when it comes to dog bite law. Essentially, this means that the dog owner must pay for all injuries caused by the dog, regardless of the circumstances of the accident. There is an obvious exception to this, and it concerns police dogs. When police use a dog to find a criminal, the criminal is unable to prosecute the police for injuries caused by dog bites. Dog owners should always try to make sure that dogs are well cared for and that everything is done to ensure safety or friends and neighbors, if only because Utah`s dog bite laws are extremely victim-friendly. Recovery from damage caused by a one-time attack is usually easier if the victim is bitten on the dog owner`s property rather than on their own home. There are two main reasons for this. First, landowners` liability is an established legal principle and, second, homeowners` insurance is the usual solution. Landowner liability is the concept that the owner of the property should be held responsible for injuries that occur to others while they are on their property because the owner is able to be aware of the given dangers and protect others.

The purpose of the act is to impose the burden of prudence on the party best equipped to avoid harm. It is also true that a large percentage of dog bite claims are settled amicably by insurance companies and not by the dog owner.