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Dog Bite Law
Utah

The law of Utah is favorable to dog bite victims. Owners and keepers of dogs are liable for all injuries caused by their dogs, excepting only dogs in law enforcement.

Overview

Utah has a law that is favorable to dog bite victims because it makes owners and keepers of dogs strictly liable for all injuries, whether resulting from bites or any other conduct of the dogs:

Utah Code Section 18-1-1.   Liability of owners -- Scienter -- Dogs used in law enforcement. Every person owning or keeping a dog shall be liable in damages for injury committed by such dog, and it shall not be necessary in any action brought therefor to allege or prove that such dog was of a vicious or mischievous disposition or that the owner or keeper thereof knew that it was vicious or mischievous; but neither the state nor any county, city, or town in the state nor any peace officer employed by any of them shall be liable in damages for injury committed by a dog when: (1) The dog has been trained to assist in law enforcement, and (2) the injury occurs while the dog is reasonably and carefully being used in the apprehension, arrest, or location of a suspected offender or in maintaining or controlling the public order. 

To learn more about the significance of strict liability laws, see Legal Rights of a Dog Bite Victim.

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Litigation forms and other materials for attorneys

Just about all the documents a plaintiff's attorney will need, for less than the cost of typing them. Complaint, interrogatories, document production requests, admissions, witness list, petition for approval of minor's compromise (structured settlement), order approving minor's compromise, and Kenneth Phillips' 50-page deposition outline that covers every issue that can arise in a dog bite case. Save hours of work with the Dog Bite Litigation Forms for Plaintiffs' Lawyers. Good throughout the USA. Available just one minute after you purchase them at the Dog Bite Law Bookstore. Download and use today.

Photo of DVD, "Anatomy of a Dog Bite Case."

Anatomy of a Dog Bite Case is Mr. Phillips' 2-1/2 hour video seminar for plaintiffs' lawyers, containing tips and tricks, practice pointers and winning strategies that cannot be found anywhere else. A highly rated legal best-seller. Covers case selection, establishing liability, dealing with defenses, settlement and litigation throughout the USA. Arrives by mail in less than a week.

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www.dogbitelaw.com and each of its sections and products, including Dog Bite Law, The Dog Bite Law Adviser, Dog Bite Litigation Forms, What To Do If Your Dog Is Injured Or Killed, Avoiding Liability When You Train, Shelter or Adopt-Out, Anatomy of a Dog Bite Case, and the foregoing text, are (c) 1999-2009 Kenneth M. Phillips. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part prohibited except where advance permission is granted in writing. Please read the disclaimer and our rules for linking and quoting. Reporters seeking interviews are welcome to contact us by clicking here.
This page last changed on 7/29/08