A dog bite can mean more than a painful wound. Punctures, torn tissue, infection, scarring, missed work, and fear around animals can all affect a person’s recovery. Children may be especially vulnerable because bites often affect the face, head, or hands.
If you or your child was bitten in Utah County, focus first on health and safety. Then preserve the details of what happened. This guide explains practical next steps, how Utah law generally treats dog-injury claims, and when it may help to speak with a lawyer.
What to do after a dog bite
- Get to a safe place and seek medical advice. For a severe wound, uncontrolled bleeding, or an injury to the face, hand, or joint, get urgent medical care. A clinician can assess infection risk, wound treatment, and whether follow-up is needed. Don’t rely on a website to decide whether a wound needs care.
- Get the owner or keeper’s contact information. If it is safe, ask for their name, phone number, and address, along with the dog’s name and vaccination information. Don’t approach or handle a distressed animal.
- Report the incident. Contact local animal control or law enforcement and ask what reporting process applies where the bite happened. A report may help document the event and address public-health concerns.
- Record what you can. Photograph the wound as it changes, the location, torn clothing, and visible conditions such as a broken gate or missing leash. Write down the date, time, what happened, and the names of witnesses while it is fresh.
- Keep your records. Save medical instructions, bills, receipts, work absence records, messages with the owner or insurer, and any report number. Follow your care team’s instructions and keep follow-up appointments.
For a more detailed checklist, see what to do after a dog bite. You can also watch this short overview:
How Utah dog-bite law generally works
Utah Code § 18-1-1 generally makes a person who owns or keeps a dog liable for an injury caused by that dog, even if the dog was not previously known to be vicious or mischievous. The statute includes specific exceptions, including limited situations involving law-enforcement dogs and certain trespassers. The facts matter, and other legal rules may also apply.
That generally means a person does not have to prove that the dog bit someone before to explore a claim. But it does not mean every case is automatic. Disputes may involve who owned or kept the dog, what caused the injury, whether an exception applies, and whether anyone’s actions contributed to the event. Utah’s comparative-fault law may affect the amount recoverable when fault is disputed.
Read more about Utah dog-bite laws and how a “Beware of Dog” sign may affect a claim. A sign alone does not answer every question about responsibility.
Who may be responsible?
The dog’s owner may be responsible, and in some situations another person who kept or controlled the dog may be relevant. For example, a dog may have been under the care of a household member, tenant, property manager, or someone temporarily watching it. Responsibility depends on the facts and the applicable law.
If multiple dogs were involved, Utah law may allow claims against multiple owners or keepers, with responsibility allocated among those found liable. A lawyer can help identify the relevant people and insurance policies without asking you to guess who is legally at fault.
What compensation may be available?
Depending on the evidence and the impact of the injury, a claim may include losses such as:
- Reasonable medical expenses, including follow-up treatment
- Income lost while recovering, and documented effects on the ability to work
- Physical pain and the effect of the injury on daily activities
- Scarring or disfigurement and related treatment
- Emotional effects, especially when the incident has lasting consequences
There is no standard payout for a dog bite. The injury, treatment, recovery, insurance coverage, and evidence all matter. Keep receipts and records, and avoid estimating a final claim value before the medical picture is clearer.
Watch a short explanation of the types of damages that may be available:
Does homeowners or renters insurance cover a dog bite?
Sometimes. A homeowners or renters policy may provide liability coverage, but policies differ. Exclusions, limits, who qualifies as an insured, and the details of the incident can affect whether coverage applies. The dog owner may not know the answer without checking the policy.
Learn more about dog-breed exclusions in Utah insurance policies. You can ask about insurance without making assumptions about the dog or its owner.
What if the bite happened at work?
If you were bitten while doing your job, there may be more than one issue to consider, including workplace injury benefits and a potential claim involving the dog’s owner or keeper. Report the incident to your employer, seek medical care, and preserve the details. The right process depends on how and where the bite happened.
See our guide to dog bites while at work.
When should I talk with a dog-bite lawyer?
Consider getting legal guidance if the injury required significant treatment, caused lasting scarring or symptoms, kept you from work, involved a child, or if the owner or insurer disputes what happened. A lawyer can review the facts, explain possible deadlines and insurance questions, and help you understand your options. Speaking with a lawyer does not require you to file a lawsuit.
Gunter Injury Law represents people injured in dog attacks in Utah County and throughout Utah. To discuss what happened, call or text (801) 373-6345 or request a free consultation.
Call (801) 373-6345