If you or your loved one has been recently injured due to a dog bite, you can file a lawsuit against the dog owner. However, before you proceed with a legal case, you need to consider the nature of your injury.
You can ignore a dog bite if it’s painless. But if it causes pain, you must consult Orem’s personal injury lawyers for help. Sometimes, a dog bite might seem harmless, but it can cause serious illness a few days later.
You have to treat all dog bites seriously. Even if a dog bites you gently, not causing any pain or skin irritation, you still need to consult a doctor.
When your wound has got healed, contact an Orem-based personal injury lawyer.
The dog bite liability comes under Section 18-1-1 of the Utah Code, 1953. This law covers all dog bites, which have arisen because of the dog’s actions. You can seek suitable compensation from the dog owner for your injury.
The Statute of Limitations of Dog Bite
If a dog bite injures you, you need to get a personal injury lawsuit filed against the dog owner in time. A dog bite victim has four years to file a lawsuit in such a case.
It’s always beneficial to act promptly following an injury. Without waiting any further, you should immediately get the case filed against the dog owner at the earliest.
Dog-bite Settlement Amount
On average, a dog bite settlement claim revolves around $45,000. If you win the case or opt for an out-of-the-court settlement, you can get compensation of around $27,000 to $51,000.
However, it depends upon your lawyer how they fight your case. If your personal injury attorney is more experienced and knowledgeable, he can help you get more compensation.
Why Do Dog Bite Victims Claim Compensation?
A dog bite victim needs to claim compensation because they undergo several costly medical tests and diagnoses, and bear physical pains.
They have to incur a lot of money towards medical bills and hospitalization charges. Some of them also suffer from income losses as they can’t go to the office or work from home.
That’s why a dog bite victim has the legal right to claim an appropriate compensation amount from the dog owner.
How Can A Dog Owner Hold the Victim Responsible?
- Argues that the victim provoked the dog first.
- The dog attacked the plaintiff in its self-defense.
- The dog owner wasn’t aware that the dog would bite the victim.
- All precautions were taken to prevent the attack.
A lawyer needs to know all these clauses. If they don’t know the defendant’s strategy, how can they help the plaintiff win the case?
Final Thought
A dog bite is a relatively serious case. Dog owners have the tendency to evade responsibility and put the blame on the victim for the personal injuries. Only a reputed lawyer with full knowledge of relevant laws and statutes can help in such a complex case involving man-animal conflicts.