Dog Bites
Personal Injury
Commercial Vehicle vs. Private Car. $15 Million
Head-on accident with life-threatening injuries. Multiple fractures and surgeries.
Single Car Accident $2 Million
Loss of control resulting in significant paralyzation.
Private Car vs. Private Car $1.8 Million
Head-on collision with multiple occupants. Facial scaring, multiple fractures and brain injury.
Car vs Wrongful Death $1.8 Million
An agreement is made during mediation involving a traumatic accident where the driver and passenger of a vehicle crossed over the median of a large freeway into oncoming traffic and collided with a family of 8.
Motorcycle vs. Commercial Truck $1.3 Million
Failure to yield by commercial truck resulting in T-bone accident. Multiple fractures with brain injury.
Motorcycle vs. Commercial Truck $1.25 Million
Motorcycle vs. commercial truck accident where victim sustained serious injuries.
Private Car vs. Commercial Vehicle $970,000
Head-on collision with facial fractures, scaring and cognitive impairment.
Single Car Accident $925,000
Recreational vehicle rollover. Multiple fractures requiring surgery with scarring
Private Car vs. Private Car $900,000
T-Bone accident with multiple leg fractures requiring surgery.
Private Car vs. Commercial Vehicle $750,000
A Commercial vehicle ran a red light striking the rear of the client vehicle. Chiropractic with likely future surgery.
Utah Dog Bite Attorney
Hands-On Approach to Injury Cases in Northern Utah
Among the personal injury cases our team has seen, dog bites are one of the most common – according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States every year. Though you might associate dog bites with scratches or minor puncture wounds that can heal in a few days, the reality is that many injuries are serious enough to require medical care. Among the 4.5 million bites that occur, 800,000 of those bites require hospitalization or some kind of medical attention. Jeff Metler and his team have experience helping victims of dog attacks get the compensation they need to get better and can meet with you personally to learn more about your accident. We take a hands-on approach to our cases to give you the personalized treatment you deserve after a traumatizing experience.
Call after you or a loved one has been attacked and injured by a dog to discuss your options with an Utah dog bite lawyer who cares. You can also fill out our online form.
Dog Bite Laws in Utah
States have their own laws that apply to dog bite cases in the legal system. In Utah, all individuals who have been injured in dog attacks have four years from the date of injury to bring their case to court – any case filed after the deadline will most likely result in the court denying your case and you won’t be able to secure compensation.
When it comes to establishing liability after an attack, Utah specifies that “every person owning or keeping a dog is liable in damages for injury committed to the dog.” This is known as “strict liability” and also means that all dog owners have a responsibility to pay for damages when their dog causes injuries – not just dog bites. For example, the owner would be held liable for damages if their dog knocked a person onto their back and caused their back or head injuries.
Individuals can also file a claim based on negligence and allege that the dog’s owner failed to use reasonable care when restraining their dog, and the negligence is what directly led to their injuries.
Injuries Resulting from Dog Bites
Depending on the nature of the accident, dog bites can lead to a range of injuries that extend beyond abrasions. Abrasions include any superficial injuries that don’t go past the outer layer of your skin, such as scrapes, grazing, and minor bleeding that may result in some scarring.
- Punctures: When a dog’s teeth pierce your skin, they can sink deep and cause heavy bleeding. These injuries will likely result in scars and can potentially lead to infection if left untreated.
- Infections: Dog bite injuries can worsen when they get infected by bacteria or germs, and around 10 to 15 percent of all dog bites will result in infection. Some signs include swelling, redness, pus, and pain, and require the use of antibiotics. The worst infection a person can get from a dog bite is rabies, and though the risk is minimal in the U.S., there are irresponsible dog owners out there who don’t vaccinate their pets.
- Loss of body parts: Some of the most serious dog bite injuries occur when a dog rips skin or tissue completely off the body, including entire body parts like ears. Known as avulsion, these dog bite injuries usually require reconstructive surgery and will result in scarring.
- Nerve damage: When a dog bite sinks deep enough into the skin and penetrates tissue, it could extend to the nerves and cause nerve damage. Serious nerve damage can result in you losing the ability to use that part of your body completely or lose feeling or sensation.
Why Are Children More Likely to Suffer from Dog Bite Injuries?
Statistics show that children are more likely to be the victims of serious dog bite injuries and related fatalities because of their inability to pick up on behavioral cues such as growling, bared teeth, and other signs of aggression. Children are also more likely to want to pet or play with dogs and may reach out, triggering a dog to bite them. However, dog owners are still liable for any injuries that their pet inflicts upon another person.
If you or your child has been injured by a dog bite, you deserve to be compensated for your pain and damages and hold the negligent pet owner responsible. Jeff Metler and his team care for each client and can handle the details of your case while you focus on getting better.
Our Utah dog bite attorney understands what you may be going through and can meet with you personally.
Contact us online or by phone at (801) 377-1900 for a free case evaluation.
Hear From Clients Like You
“He helped me understand that the insurance company pays out on claims and not the at-fault drivers. Thanks, Jeff.”
“Our doctor recommended we call Mr. Metler. He came to the hospital to personally meet us that day.”
“I was relieved after speaking with Jeff Metler. He explained that I wasn't suing any one person, and he took care of everything.”
“I loved that I was given updates throughout my case, and they answered any questions I had. I never felt pressured when I needed to make a decision and my options were clearly communicated.”
“Without the help you provided to us it would have wiped us out financially. Thank you isn't enough, but you turned things around for us.”