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Dog Bites UtahFind out if we are the right attorneys for helping resolve your case.
Dog Bite Attorneys in Utah
There are over 4.7 million dog bite victims each year, totaling over $1 billion in claims. While it’s estimated that only ¼ of dog bites require medical attention, that doesn’t mean that the other ¾ of dog bites aren’t eligible for compensation. If you have been injured by a dog bite, it is important to contact our Layton law firm as soon as possible as you may be entitled to financial compensation for your damages.
Utah’s Dog Bite Law
Utah has a specific law that addresses dog bite liability. U.C.A. § 18-1-1 specifies that “every person owning or keeping a dog is liable in damages for injury committed by the dog,” even if the owner did not know or have reason to know the dog might cause injuries. The lack of a need for knowledge on the part of the owner is what makes Utah’s dog injury statute a “strict liability” law.
Utah’s dog bite law applies not only to injuries involving dog bites but also to injuries caused by other dog actions. For instance, if a dog knocks a person to the ground, injuring him, the injured person may seek damages from the dog’s owner under Utah’s dog bite law. Alternatively, the injured person can file a claim based on negligence theory. A negligence claim argues, in essence, that a dog’s owner failed to use reasonable care and that this failure resulted in the injury.
Why You Need an Attorney for a Dog Bite Claim
While cases can be won without representation, studies show that fighting the legal battle with a lawyer will reward you with a much higher settlement. It is proven that plaintiffs without legal representation often misstep in their case by giving a recorded statement, demanding too much or too little, assuming the system makes sense, taking the insurance company’s “final” offer and settle the case without knowing the full extent of their injuries. In addition, many cases where the injuries from a dog bite are the worst involve children. If a minor child has been seriously injured by a dog bite, in addition to the work that must be done to settle the case, if the settlement amount exceeds $10,000.00, a Minor Child Settlement Action must be filed to conserve those funds for the child’s medical care before they turn eighteen (18), and to allow the child to be able to use those funds for their own benefit after they turn eighteen (18). This is designed to protect the funds from unscrupulous adults who may try to spend the child’s settlement funds rather than preserving them for the child’s benefit. LeBaron & Jensen will file the Minor Child Settlement Action at no additional cost to you. It is included with our contingency fee. We then ensure that the settlement money is deposited in a Minor Child Settlement Account with a court order to the financial institution letting them know that they can only release funds if they receive a court order prior to the child’s eighteenth (18th) birthday.
In addition, less than 1% of reported dog bite victims are compensated each year. Insurance companies have tough rules and regulations surrounding dog bites and try not to pay much for each claim. Many dog bites go unreported, making it difficult for victims to obtain compensation once they retain legal representation. Most insurance adjusters make lowball offer settlements to dog bite victims early. Many who don’t obtain counsel will accept these lowball offers, without realizing that they could have obtained more, only to realize that their damages later in life. With proper reporting and legal representation from the beginning, a personal injury attorney can obtain compensation for a far larger number of claimants. Our attorneys know how to work with insurance companies and will be able to negotiate a fair settlement offer.
Handling a Dog Bite Claim
It is important to report the incident and seek medical attention immediately following a dog bite. With an official police report and an examination from a medical professional, our personal injury attorneys will have almost everything they need to successfully settle your case. Dog bite cases can normally be settled out of court, without needing to go to trial unless there is a serious matter that cannot be solved through negotiation.
It pays to have an experienced personal injury attorney in your corner from the beginning, so don’t wait. If you need a dog bite lawyer in Davis County, contact our team of experts at LeBaron & Jensen in Layton, UT today!
We’re a talented group of attorneys interested in helping our clients get a fair settlement for their Personal Injury Cases.
Our clients are grateful for support and compensations we have helped them receive!
The attorney's at LeBaron & Jensen share a will to win, but not at your expense. They're caring, transparent and competent attorney's with a strong work ethic. I've enjoyed working with Chase Adams who helped settle a dispute. He proved to be resourceful, diligent, thoughtful and responsive. Personality is as important as the attorney's skill set and experience. Chase Adams will take his time to make sure your expectations are in line with your needs. A settlement is always better than negotiating or fighting with difficult to read Pleadings. What is Chase's strategy? To get great results and stay out of court. But if your case warrants court, Chase Adams is comfortable in front of a judge and at the settlement table. You'll enjoy the effort that the attorney's with LeBaron & Jensen will make to minimize your expense and maximize value.
Darrell C.
- Lebaron & Jensen gets the job done! A fabulous firm that effectively gets to the heart of the matter and represents you the way it should be done - as an experienced and successful advocate! They are communicators and always keep you "in the know"!Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
John C.
- LeBaron & Jensen are awesome to work with, they answered all our questions and helped steer us in the direction to best extinguish our situation quick and cost effective I would highly recommend them.Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
Kory D.
I had a great experience with LeBaron & Jensen P.C. They kept in contact with me throughout the entire process, and were extremely informative and explained anything I didn’t understand about the proceedings of the case. I would highly recommend LeBaron & Jensen to anyone seeking Legal representation. I was driving westbound on Highway 193 in Clearfield Utah, when I came to the intersection of 1000 East and Highway 193. I noticed that a firetruck was travelling east towards the intersection with its emergency lights on, all traffic around me, including myself, slowed to a stop to allow the firetruck an unimpeded path to travel. However, I noticed the Jeep behind me wasn’t slowing down. There wasn’t anything I could do to avoid the collision, so I just braced for impact. Although I was wearing my seatbelt, I still suffered many injuries to my neck, shoulders, back, and arms. About a month after the accident I finally sought medical help for my injuries. I underwent many years of treatment for my accident-related injuries, including a carpel tunnel surgery and 2 rhyzotomy procedures, x-rays, MRIs causing me to incur over $60,000 in medical expenses. I decided I should seek legal help with my case, as I knew there was no way I could pay my medical expenses on my own. The legal team at LeBaron & Jensen were exceptional. They were able to negotiate with my health insurance and medical providers, lowering costs where they could. When all my legal and medical fees were paid, I was left with over $79,000. This money will help me pay for the future treatment that I will have to receive to try and help alleviate my future pain and suffering. I’m grateful for LeBaron & Jensen P.C. and everyone there who helped with my case! I thank them every day for the patience and persistence it took to see this through to a beneficial end.
Lora B.
- LeBaron & Jensen did a great job for me, kept me informed throughout the process, and helped make sure that my case went smoothly. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who needs responsive, compassionate, and helpful lawyers who care about their clients”.Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
Paul B.
LeBaron & Jensen did a great job for me, kept me informed throughout the process, and helped make sure that I got the compensation I needed. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who is suffering after an accident like mine. I was driving eastbound on Highway 193, a four-lane highway in Layton, Utah. I came to a stop at the two-way intersection of Highway 193 and North Hills Drive. The other driver failed to yield to my right-of-way and proceeded southbound through the intersection, I wasn’t able to stop fast enough, and I T-boned the other vehicle at a high speed. The impact of the crash was so severe that it triggered my vehicle’s airbags. The severity of the crash caused many serious and extensive injuries to my neck, back, shoulders, and head. Thankfully, I was restrained by my seatbelt, which prevented any worse injuries. I had to receive treatment for over a year and a half following the accident, including surgery on one of my shoulders. I was faced with $76,000 in medical bills. I knew I needed help, so I contacted LeBaron & Jensen P.C. Their attorneys worked diligently and negotiated with my insurance providers. After paying all my medical and legal fees, I was still able to pocket $51,000 to compensate for the pain, and suffering I endured because of the accident.
Ted D.
In January of 2014, my husband was involved in a terrible accident. He was driving on highway 89 in Wellsville, UT, when another driver ran a stop sign and pulled out in front of him. He tried to swerve out of the way, but he wasn’t able to avoid hitting the other vehicle. The resulting impact was so severe that even though he was wearing a seatbelt, he was violently thrown around in the cab of his truck and, as a result, hit his head on the windshield. This caused many injuries to his shoulders, back, and neck. My husband also suffered massive bruising and internal damage, and that’s not even the full extent of the injuries he suffered. He had to receive extensive treatments, including several shoulder surgeries, to try and help alleviate the pain he suffered because of the accident. Even after he underwent all those treatments he was still left in immense pain, and to top it all off, he was diagnosed with cancer in July of 2016. He decided to put off treatment for his shoulders to try and focus on his cancer treatments. He passed away in October of 2017. LeBaron & Jensen were there fighting for us through it all. They were able to get a settlement that covered all of Robert’s accident-related medical bills and all the required legal fees and additional money for his pain and suffering as a result of the accident. I’m so grateful for LeBaron & Jensen and all their support for myself and my husband through the years.
Ruth B.
- Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness
Abriam B.
- When I tried to get coverage from the other driver’s insurance, they denied it. They told me that they had canceled the policy only a few days before the accident. The attorneys at LeBaron & Jensen P.C. were able to force the other driver’s insurance to pay out her policy limits of $25k plus replacing my car. I even ended up with a little money to set aside, that was important because this accident left me permanently disabled. The LeBaron & Jensen team negotiated with my health insurance provider and my other health care providers to reduce the costs of my medical expenses. I am very thankful for their professional service, and hard work. I couldn’t have negotiated on my own, I needed every ounce of energy to recover.Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness
JoNell R.
- Positive: Professionalism
Wallace H.
Contact LeBaron & Jensen Attorneys Today.
LeBaron & Jensen has decades of combined experience handling a variety of personal injury cases throughout the mountain states. We provide free, no-obligation consultations for a variety of personal injury claims.
LeBaron & Jensen, P.C.
1241 N Main St, Layton, UT 84041
Email: miles@lebaronjensen.com
Phone: 801.773.9488
