Knowing that Utah law holds a dog owner liable is only half the picture — the other half is whether there’s actually insurance behind that liability, and how the claims process plays out once an adjuster gets involved. This page focuses on that second half: coverage, claims handling, and what tends to trip people up when dealing with an insurer after a bite.
I’m Dustin Gibb, serving clients in Kaysville, Clearfield, and Davis County. For the underlying liability question — who’s responsible and why — see our page on Utah dog bite liability. This page picks up from there.
This page references Utah Code § 18-1-1 and general Utah insurance practice. General information only.
Two separate questions: liability and coverage
Utah Code § 18-1-1 makes a dog’s owner or keeper strictly liable for injuries the dog causes, regardless of prior history. That answers who’s legally responsible. It doesn’t answer whether that person actually has insurance willing to pay — homeowners and renters policies sometimes exclude dog bites entirely, cap the payout, or exclude specific breeds. Liability and coverage are genuinely separate conversations, and conflating them is one of the most common reasons people feel blindsided partway through a claim.
Whose insurance actually applies
The dog owner’s homeowners or renters policy
Most common source of coverage — but check for breed exclusions, per-incident caps, and whether the policy was even active when the bite happened.
Your own policy, in limited situations
Rarely relevant for a dog bite specifically, but worth checking if the incident happened somewhere unusual, like a rental property.
What happens if there’s no coverage
Strict liability under § 18-1-1 doesn’t disappear just because insurance won’t pay. The owner remains personally responsible either way — insurance is just the practical mechanism most people rely on to actually collect. If a policy excludes the incident or doesn’t exist, that changes the practical path toward recovery, not the underlying legal responsibility. This is exactly the kind of situation where understanding your actual options — including whether pursuing the owner directly makes sense — needs a real conversation.
When an adjuster contacts you
Before giving a recorded statement, find out who’s actually calling and which policy they represent — the owner’s insurer, and occasionally another party’s. You’re not obligated to guess about fault or provide a broad statement on the spot; you can ask for the request in writing and take time to review your medical records first. Early settlement offers, in particular, are worth reviewing carefully before accepting, since they sometimes come before the full extent of an injury is even clear.
Identify the owner or keeper
Not just who technically owns the dog, but who had control of it at the time.
Ask about their homeowners or renters coverage
Whether it exists, and whether it covers dog bites specifically.
Get medical treatment and keep every record
This is the foundation of any claim regardless of who’s paying.
Know who you’re talking to before you say much
Ask which insurer is calling and what part of the claim they’re handling.
Records worth keeping for a claim
Medical records and bills, photos of the injury as it develops, the name of the owner or keeper, any animal control or police report, and a written log of insurance communications — claim numbers, adjuster names, dates of calls, and copies of any letters or settlement offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the owner’s insurance always cover a dog bite?
Not always — some policies exclude dog bites entirely or exclude specific breeds. Coverage needs to be checked, not assumed.
What if the owner has no insurance at all?
They remain personally liable under Utah’s strict liability statute regardless — the absence of insurance affects how you’d realistically collect, not whether they’re responsible.
Do I have to give a recorded statement to an adjuster?
Not immediately. You can ask who’s calling, what they need, and request it in writing before making a recorded statement.
Should I accept an early settlement offer?
Not until you understand what it covers and releases, and whether your medical situation is clear enough to know the injury’s full extent.
How is this different from your other dog bite page?
The other page covers the underlying liability question — who’s responsible and why, under Utah’s strict liability statute. This page covers what happens next: insurance, coverage, and dealing with an adjuster.
This page does not create an attorney-client relationship and cannot determine coverage, liability, or outcome for a specific claim. Speak with a qualified attorney about your facts.
Dealing with an insurance claim after a dog bite?
Bring your medical records and whatever the insurer has sent you so far. I’ll help you sort out coverage, liability, and whether an offer is fair.
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