Dog Bite Law in Utah – I Was on Someone’s Property

Utah Attorney For Dog Bite: The State of Utah imposes strict liability on dog owners for injuries caused by their dogs. The only exception to this rule in the State of Utah is if the dog that bit you was a government dog acting in the course and scope of his training. In other words, if you are on the run from the police, and they release their canines to track you down, and the dog successfully catches and bites you, you will not have a claim for damages against the police force. Because Utah is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites, it would not matter that you were on the property of the dog owner when the attack occurred.

Utah Attorney For Dog Bite

In fact, landowners are typically liable for any harm resulting to others while on their property, even in states that do not have dog bite laws that are as favorable as Utah’s dog bite laws. The idea behind this legal concept is that if you are going to invite someone to your house, you should know of the dangers associated with your house and you should make sure to not expose your guests to those dangers. In Utah, recovery would be no more difficult for a dog bite victim who gets attacked while in the dog’s house as it would be if the dog walked into the victim’s house and attacked him there. In fact, in some ways, recovery would be even easier. I say that recovery could possibly be easier because homeowners insurance is the real end game in a dog bite case. In most cases, those that were bitten by angry dogs are not seeking to have their neighbor pay out of pocket; the victims are typically settling these claims with the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance provider. Homeowners insurance will indemnify a homeowner from lawsuits arising from injuries that are caused on the insured’s property. These policies will usually extend to covering the family dog as well and will even follow that dog off of the homeowner’s property because the family dog is considered covered property under the policy.

Dog Bite Attorney In Utah

More than 50% of the dog bits happen on the property where the dog lives, so it is not an unusual situation. Just because you were a guest in a home where the dog resides does not mean that you should be subjected to being attacked by the dog. In many states, an exception to this rule would be when you are on someone’s property as a trespasser. The justification for that rule is that if someone is on your land uninvited, you should not be responsible for harm to them caused by your dog. Some people have dogs just for that reason, protection. In Utah, a trespasser could still recover for injuries caused by a dog while trespassing into the dog’s property. Because Utah is a strict liability state, the law will come down in favor of the injured victim, not the aggressive dog. This may seem funny at first glance, but think of it this way. If some children were playing baseball in the street, and the ball, and the child got mauled by a pit-bull, should we let the child go untreated because his parents cannot afford the expensive medical bills? Of course not. Dog owners make sure that their dogs are covered by their homeowner’s insurance policy for instances like this. If you desire to house a vicious dog, you have the responsibility to ensure that your dog does not cause harm. Putting up a fence that is difficult to climb and placing “Beware of Dog” signs are just a few of many ways to decrease the odds of a horrible accident occurring. If a dog on someone else’s property has bitten you, consult with a Utah dog bite lawyer immediately.

This article is offered only for general information and educational purposes. It is not offered as and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this article without first seeking the advice of an attorney.