A dog bite can happen in an instant and the injuries that follow can be serious, costly, and emotionally difficult to process. If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog in Utah, understanding your legal rights is one of the most important steps you can take. Utah’s dog bite laws are written with victims in mind and they offer meaningful protections that many people do not know they have.
At Jardine Law Offices, our Salt Lake City personal injury attorneys have been representing personal injury victims since 2000. If you were bitten by a dog and are not sure where to turn, call us today at (801) 451-9555 for a free consultation.
In Utah, dog owners are held strictly liable for bites, meaning you do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous, had a history of aggression, or did anything wrong. If their dog bit you, they are responsible. Full stop.
Some states follow what is known as the “one-bite rule,” which essentially gives a dog a free pass on its first attack. Under that framework, an owner is only held liable if they knew or had reason to know their dog was dangerous, typically because it had bitten someone before. Utah does not follow this approach.
Utah’s dog bite statute is straightforward and victim-friendly. Under Utah Code § 18-1-1, a dog owner is liable for any injury caused by their dog biting another person, provided the victim was in a public place or lawfully on private property at the time of the bite.
The law applies regardless of the dog’s prior behavior and regardless of whether the owner took any precautions. The key elements a victim needs to establish are simply that the bite occurred, that the defendant owned the dog, and that the victim was lawfully present where the bite happened.
Utah’s strict liability statute makes dog owners and keepers directly responsible for bite injuries, regardless of the dog’s history. Jardine Law Offices helps victims understand who qualifies as liable from owners to those harboring dangerous dogs.
If a dog bit you in Utah, strict liability typically targets the owner first, but keepers, landlords, and handlers can share responsibility too. Jardine Law Offices clarifies these rules to strengthen your claim from day one.
The most direct source of liability in a Utah dog bite case is the dog’s owner. However, liability can extend beyond legal ownership in some situations. A person who regularly cares for, controls, or harbors a dog may also face liability depending on the circumstances. This can include landlords who allow dangerous dogs on their property with knowledge of the risk, as well as individuals who are watching or handling the dog at the time of the attack.
Utah’s strict liability rule is broad, but it does have limits. A dog owner may avoid or reduce liability in the following circumstances:
Utah follows a comparative fault system, meaning that if the victim shares some responsibility, their compensation is reduced proportionally rather than eliminated entirely unless they are found to be more than 50% at fault.
Dog bites range from minor to life-altering, and the severity depends on factors like the size and breed of the dog, the location of the bite, the size of the victim, and how quickly the victim received medical treatment. Common injuries seen in dog bite cases include:
Children are disproportionately affected by serious dog bite injuries because of their smaller size and tendency to sustain bites to the face, head, and neck. If a child was injured in a dog attack, it is especially important to consult an animal attack attorney about the full scope of damages available.
The steps you take in the immediate aftermath of a dog bite can protect both your health and your legal claim:
Utah dog bite victims can file strict liability claims without proving negligence or prior aggression. Jardine Law Offices guides you through the requirements to secure full compensation for your injuries.
A valid dog bite claim in Utah requires that you were bitten by a dog, that the defendant owned or controlled the dog, and that you were lawfully present in the location where the bite occurred. Under Utah’s strict liability statute, you do not need to prove that the owner was negligent or that the dog had a known history of aggression. These requirements are intentionally minimal to make it easier for victims to recover.
A successful dog bite claim in Utah can recover compensation across several categories, including:
Utah’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including dog bites, is generally four years from the date of the incident. While that may seem like a long window, waiting diminishes the quality of evidence and the strength of your case. Contacting an attorney promptly is always the better approach.
As noted above, provocation and trespassing are the most commonly raised defenses in Utah dog bite cases. Utah’s comparative fault system means that even if a defense argument has some merit, it does not necessarily eliminate your recovery. It simply requires a proportional reduction. An experienced attorney can push back against inflated fault attributions and make sure the facts of your case are presented clearly and completely.
Dog bite cases can appear straightforward, but insurance companies rarely treat them that way. Owners’ insurers will look for any reason to minimize your injuries, attribute fault to you, or pressure you into settling before you understand the full value of your claim. A dog bite attorney levels that playing field.
At Jardine Law Offices, our attorneys can handle every aspect of your case from investigation through resolution. We gather medical records, animal control reports, and witness statements, document the full scope of your injuries, calculate damages that reflect long-term costs you might not anticipate, and negotiate aggressively with the insurance company on your behalf. If a fair settlement is not offered, we are prepared to take your case to court.
We offer free consultations with no obligation. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
If you were bitten by a dog in Utah, do not navigate the legal process alone. Contact Jardine Law Offices today at (801) 451-9555 and let us get to work for you.
