The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food states that “auto-livestock collisions can and do occur on our roads and highways,” often resulting in serious injuries. The average cow, no matter the breed, weighs about 1,400 pounds. There is a far more significant weight disparity among horses, as different breeds range between 900 and 2,200 pounds. Many of these collisions happen at night when it is nearly impossible to see the animals before it is too late.
A Salt Lake City car accident lawyer at Valiente Mott can help determine whether the livestock owner was negligent at the time of the crash, as per Utah statutes. Trust that our team is knowledgeable about the laws that apply to livestock owners and that we are prepared to leverage our experience and resources to fight for your right to fair and reasonable compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Open Range State
Like much of the West, Utah is an open range state. This refers to all land not privately owned, including all roads other than private enclosures, and used by the public. This holds whether or not the land has been formally dedicated to the public. If a private landowner wants to keep livestock off their property, they must erect fencing to keep them out.
Under Utah law, livestock on the open range require branding. The statute does not apply to swine, goats, nursing calves, or foals. Remember that if the location does not fall within the statutory definition of closed range, it is, by default, considered open range.
Utah Livestock Collision Laws
Utah code 41-6a-407 states that:
A person who owns or is in possession or control of any livestock may not willfully or negligently permit any of the livestock to stray or remain unaccompanied on a highway, if both sides of the highway are separated from adjoining property by a fence, wall, hedge, sidewalk, curb, lawn, or building.
However, this does not apply to range stock drifting onto any highway moving to or from their accustomed ranges, according to the code.
In addition, no person may drive livestock across the highway within 30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset. There is an exception if the drover has a sufficient number of herders and with warning lights on continual duty during these periods to open the road to permit vehicles to pass.
How a Salt Lake City Livestock Collision Lawyer Can Help
Whether you can successfully pursue a livestock collision claim depends on the circumstances of your accident. A Salt Lake City Livestock Collision lawyer will investigate whether the location is in a closed-range area. Other factors include the time the accident occurred and the number of animals on the roadway. One animal on the loose rather than a herd driven by one or more people can make a difference in your claim.
Contact a Salt Lake City Car Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you know was seriously hurt in a livestock collision, you need the services of experienced car accident attorneys in Salt Lake City at Valiente Mott. We are a law firm dedicated to helping victims injured due to another party’s negligence. We handle all personal injury matters, including collisions with livestock. We are compassionate yet aggressive when protecting personal injury victims and families. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today to discuss your claim.