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Injuries from dog bites can be extremely serious, and cost the victim large sums of money due to medical bills. In addition, dog bites may cause strong emotional trauma to young children. Children who have been bitten by a dog may experience loss of sleep, fear of dogs, and general trepidation. It is important for anyone whose child has suffered from a serious dog bite injury to seek an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney is invaluable in sorting through state laws regarding dogs, gathering and evaluating medical information, and negotiating with dog owners or insurance companies.

In earlier times, the legal rule applying to dog bites was simply this: If a dog bit someone once, the owner was on notice that the dog was vicious, and the owner was then responsible for paying for any damage caused by later attacks by the dog.

Utah law places responsibility upon the dog owner for any injuries caused by the pet. That is, a dog owner in Utah need not be aware of the dog's vicious tendencies before the owner is responsible for the damages caused by the pet (see U.C.A. §18-1-1).

A dog owner may not be held responsible for the acts of his dog if the victim is to blame. For example, of the dog was provoked by kicking or striking, teasing or tormenting the dog. Petting or playing with a dog is not usually considered provocation, unless the victim was warned not to do so. However, a child may not be expected to know not to provoke a dog, depending on his or her age. If a dog owner is held responsible for a child's injuries from a dog bite, the owner will be required to pay for treatment of all of the injuries caused by the animal. The owner may also have to pay extra money for physical pain, mental anguish, and apprehension of rabies. In addition, the owner may have to pay punitive damages, which is money required to punish the owner, if he knew about the vicious nature of the dog. If a dog is found to be extremely vicious, a court may require that the dog be put to death.

Dog attacks can be extremely stressful for a young child. A child may obtain a lifelong fear of animals after an attack. It is important to have a skilled attorney to insure that your family is fully compensated for all consequences of the attack. It is also important to keep good medical records, and keep track of all the psychological changes in your child.

Robert J. DeBry & Associates has successfully handled a large number of cases involving dog bites. Unfortunately, dogs can cause severe physical injury, especially to children. Robert J. DeBry & Associates takes these cases very seriously. Robert J. DeBry & Associates knows how to handle injuries caused by dog attacks.