Premises Liability Lawyer in Utah: Understanding Dog Bites and Attacks

Even though they are said to be “man's best friend,” dog bites and dog attacks in Utah are fairly common. The experience alone can be traumatizing even when the injury itself may not be significant. Victims who have been hurt deserve to be fully compensated for their injuries, including any pain and suffering.

At Wilcox & Mastrorocco, our dog bite injury attorneys in Utah will make sure you get full and fair compensation. We know the law. We know the community. We know how to deal with insurance companies and other potentially liable parties. Contact us at 801.960.4046 to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we will help you during this traumatic time.

Dog Bite Statistics

According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 4.5 million dog bites occur every single year. Those bites, however, come in a wide variety of severities, with only about one in five – 885,000 of them – requiring medical attention. Fatalities from dog bites are rare, but do occur occasionally.

What to Do If Attacked by a Dog in Utah

When a dog bites or attacks a person, the injury could be serious. There are a few things you will want to do to protect yourself. 

1. It's always important to get medical attention immediately. 
2. Be sure to obtain the dog owner's contact information, homeowner's or renter's insurance information, and proof of rabies vaccination. 
3. If there were any witnesses to the attack, make sure to collect their names and contact information, too. 
4. Take photos of the scene and the injury.
5. Contact the police or your local animal control agency.

The most important thing if attacked or bitten by a dog is your personal safety. Take all precautions to get help as soon as possible.

Common Injuries from Dog Attacks in Utah

The injuries that victims can suffer in a dog attack can be severe and life-changing. Some of the most severe include:

• Severe lacerations, often requiring numerous stitches or sutures
• Serious infections
• Nerve damage
• Dismembered fingers
• Partial paralysis
• Chronic pain
• Scarring

These are just the physical symptoms that a dog bite victim has to live with. Victims frequently experience emotional distress and mental anguish from the attack as well. In some severe cases, it can even amount to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Children are the Most Vulnerable

Children are the most likely to be hurt in a dog attack, especially young children under the age of 4. These children do not understand how dangerous a dog can be. Many of them think that all dogs are friendly and may approach a strange dog to pet it without their parents or the dog's owner noticing until it is too late.

Unfortunately, these are the very victims that are most likely to suffer the worst consequences of a serious dog bite. Not only is the mental anguish of a dog attack likely to haunt them more intensely than it would an adult, but the physical injuries that a child suffers are more likely to have serious long-term repercussions on their growth and development.

Contact a Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in Utah

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from another person's dog, the owner may be held accountable for the injury and, thus, liable for compensation. At Wilcox & Mastrorocco, our dog bite injury attorneys in Utah wants to make sure members of our community who have been injured or who have had, in rare circumstances, a loved one die from a dog attack are fully compensated. Contact our office at 801.960.4046 to schedule a free consultation and get a better understanding of your specific dog bite injury case.