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Personal Injury · Utah & Arizona
Dog bite lawyer. Straight answers.
Dog bites can cause deep wounds, infections, nerve damage and scarring. In both Utah and Arizona, the law generally holds the dog’s owner responsible.
- Free consultation — you owe nothing unless we win
- Se habla español
- Utah & Arizona
Now Injury Law represents people in Utah and Arizona after dog bites. We answer, get you to treatment, and handle the insurance companies. Free consultation — you owe nothing unless we win. Most injury claims must be filed within four years in Utah and two years in Arizona. Se habla español.
Key facts
| Filing deadline (most injury claims) | 4 years | Utah Code § 78B-2-307 |
|---|---|---|
| Filing deadline (most injury claims) | 2 years | A.R.S. § 12-542 |
| Shared fault | Modified comparative fault: no recovery at 50% or more | Utah Code § 78B-5-818 |
| Shared fault | Pure comparative fault: your share reduces, but does not bar, recovery | A.R.S. § 12-2505 |
| Dog owner liability | Owner or keeper liable regardless of prior viciousness in Utah; strict liability in Arizona | Utah Code § 18-1-1, A.R.S. § 11-1025 |
| Offices | Draper, Utah · Phoenix, Arizona | |
| Fee | Free consultation — you owe nothing unless we win | |
| Language | Se habla español (bilingual case managers) |
Here’s what happens next
Most dog bite claims are paid through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Many bites involve children, and many happen at a neighbor’s or relative’s home, so it’s natural to feel uneasy about making a claim. In most cases, the claim is against an insurance policy, not your neighbor’s savings.
We handle these cases with discretion and tell you honestly whether a claim makes sense.
Injuries we see
Dog bites can cause puncture wounds, torn skin, infections, nerve and tendon damage, fractures from being knocked down, and permanent scarring, often on the face and hands of children. Emotional effects, like fear of dogs and anxiety, are real damages too.
Owner liability in Utah and Arizona
Utah: an individual who owns or keeps a dog is liable for an injury caused by the dog, whether or not the dog was known to be vicious (Utah Code § 18-1-1). Damages are determined under Utah’s comparative fault statute, and there are exceptions, including some police dogs and certain trespassers on secured private property.
Arizona: the owner of a dog that bites a person in a public place, or lawfully in a private place (including the owner’s property), is liable regardless of the dog’s former viciousness or the owner’s knowledge (A.R.S. § 11-1025). Because this is a liability created by statute, an Arizona statutory dog-bite claim may be subject to a one-year limitation (A.R.S. § 12-541), so call promptly.
Utah law
Most Utah injury claims must be filed within four years (Utah Code § 78B-2-307). Utah uses modified comparative fault: you recover only if the other side’s combined fault exceeds yours, and your recovery is reduced by your share. At 50% or more you recover nothing (§ 78B-5-818). Claims against a government entity require a written notice of claim within one year (§ 63G-7-402).
Arizona law
Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years (A.R.S. § 12-542). Claims against a public entity require a notice of claim within 180 days and a lawsuit within one year (A.R.S. §§ 12-821.01, 12-821). Arizona uses pure comparative fault: your share of fault reduces your recovery but does not bar it (A.R.S. § 12-2505).
How Now Injury Law handles your case
You get a named case manager and a standing response window. When you call, someone picks up. When there’s news, good or bad, you hear it from us first. We get you in front of the right providers quickly, because delayed treatment hurts both your recovery and your claim, and we’ll tell you when treatment is enough.
We handle the letters to the insurance companies, the records requests and the negotiation. If an insurer won’t be reasonable, we’re prepared to file and try the case. Se habla español: our bilingual case managers Jacqueline, Janely and Noelidia work with Spanish-speaking clients in both states.
What to do after
- Wash the wound and get medical care. Bites infect easily.
- Get the owner’s name, address and insurance information.
- Report the bite to animal control.
- Photograph the wounds as they heal.
- Get witness contacts.
- Call us before talking to the owner’s insurer.
Damages, and the math on your settlement
That’s a fair question: what can be recovered? Economic damages include medical bills (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, rehabilitation, and property damage. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Every case is different, and we will never promise you a number.
We tell you when treatment is enough. Running up medical bills does not make a claim stronger, and we will never grow your medical bills to grow our fee. Before you decide on any offer, we show you the math in writing: the gross amount, fees, costs, liens, and what you keep.
Questions
Frequently asked
The dog had never bitten anyone before. Is the owner still responsible?
Generally yes, in both Utah and Arizona. Neither state requires proof that the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Will I be suing my neighbor?
Most claims are paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, and many resolve without a lawsuit.
How long do I have to file?
It depends on the state and the type of claim, and some Arizona claims may have only one year. Call us early.
My child was bitten. What should we do?
Get medical care, report the bite, and photograph the injuries. Claims for minors follow special rules.
Other cases we handle
- Car Accidents
- Truck & Commercial Vehicles
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Rideshare Accidents
- Slip & Fall Injuries
- Brain Injury
- Serious Injury Claims
- Wrongful Death
Find your local page: Utah (Draper office) · Arizona (Phoenix office)
Contact
Time matters in injury cases
Evidence disappears, deadlines run, and adjusters move fast. Call and someone picks up. Send the form and you hear back the same business day. Free consultation — you owe nothing unless we win.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and laws change. Contacting us does not create an attorney–client relationship.