Dog Bite LawyerCarrolton, IL

Well-trained dogs should never bite or attack anyone. If you've been bitten, we can help.

We love dogs and we love to have them as companions, but that doesn't mean they are always safe to be around. We have to remember that dogs are animals, and when they feel threatened or are poorly trained, they can be destructive. Dog bites are no joke, even from little dogs. Their teeth are made to puncture and tear. If you've been attacked by a dog, what can you do?

Burger Law is a Personal Injury Law Firm in Carrolton that will hold the dog owner accountable for their animals actions and make sure that you get the FULL recovery you deserve. Your dog bite claim could be complex, and without the assistance of an experienced dog bite lawyer in Carrolton you could get less of a recovery than you deserve. Our personal injury lawyers will make sure that you're fully taken care of. If you have any question about our personal injury firm, or how our dog bite lawyers will handle your dog bite case, call our team at 314-542-2222 or 618-272-2222. We don't charge any fees for our consultations, and we never ask for any attorneys fees unless we win your dog bite lawsuit.

Dog Bite Lawyer Carrolton - Know Your Rights

Here are the Missouri and Illinois laws governing dog bite lawsuits.

For Missouri, Statute 273.036 details liability in Dog Bite Lawsuits. For Missouri, the dog owner will be liable for the damages caused by the dog, minus the portion that the person bit is liable for the dog bite. This means that if someone provoked the animal and caused the dog to bite them, then they will be liable for a portion of their damages. However, if the dog escaped the yard or leash, and the person bit took no actions to provoke the dog, then the pet owner will hold liability. This type of law is known as Comparative Negligence, which dictates that a person will only be able to recover the amount which they weren't liable for the accident.

For Illinois, Statute 510 ILCS 5/16 details liability in Dog Bite Lawsuits. Illinois's law is similar to that of Missouri's wherein an owner is liable for the damage caused by a dog according to how much the person bit was responsible for the damages. If they were in an area they are legally allowed to be in, and they were bitten by the dog without provocation, the dog owner is going to be fully liable for the damages. If the dog was provoked, and the person was in an area they weren't legally entitled to be in, the person bitten will be liable for a portion of the damages.

So what should you take from these dog bite laws? If you were somewhere you have legal right to be, and you were attacked by a dog and the dog owner acted negligently in securing their animal, you may not be liable for any of the damages at all. If you provoked the dog, or if you were trespassing and were attacked by the dog, you will hold liability on the attack. Never provoke a dog, it's just not a smart nor safe thing to do.

What do I do after I've been bitten by a dog?

Dogs use their mouths as their hands. Dogs will eat anything they can reach, and this means their mouths can be incredibly dirty. If you've been bitten by a dog, what should you immediately do to take care of the wound?

You need to quickly decide whether you can perform first aid on your injuries, or whether you injuries are too severe and need to be immediately seen to by a medical professional. If your injuries are extensive and you're losing a great deal of blood, immediately call emergency services to get help. Call 911. They will be able to help you.

If you can perform first-aid on your wounds, what should you do? There are a few steps that you can immediately take to treat a dog bite wound so that doesn't get worse or get infected.

• First - Press around the wound to make it bleed. This is important to force any dirt out of the wound. The wound needs to be cleared before you can clean it further.
• Second - Soap and water are a good tool to get the wound clean. Clean the area around the wound as well.
• Third - Apply a clean cloth to stop/slow the bleeding.
• Fourth - You should now apply antibiotics to the wound to protect it. It may sting to apply the antibiotic, however, if you don't do it the chances of infection growing in the wound will be high.
• Fifth - With the antibiotic applied, wrap the wound with a sterile bandage and with gauze if needed. With the bleeding under control and the wound sterilized, now is the time to see your doctor to determine how severe the bite is.
• Sixth - Your doctor will be able to make sure the wound is ok and not getting worse. If you need to take further medical action with the wound, your doctor will be able to tell you.
• Seventh - Pay close attention to your wound following the doctor visit. If it gets worse, go back for further medical care.

Here are a few of the most common bacterial infections that occur with dog bites:

• Staph Infection - Staph infections are common in dog bites if the wound isn't properly cleaned and taken care of.
• Pasteurella multocida - This dog bite infection can lead to skin necrosis, and other serious health issues such as meningitis, otitis, pyogenic arthritis, brain abscess and more.
• Capnocytophaga - You can get a Capnocytophaga Infection from a dog bite. These infections are serious, and can cause heart attacks, organ failure, gangrene and can even lead to the amputation of limbs.

Which Dog Breeds are most likely to bite?

Not all dogs are aggressive at the same levels. Which dogs are more likely to bite someone? Here are a few answers to that question:

This article from the CDC gives a comprehensive breakdown of Dog Bite Related Fatalities, and which breeds were most responsible for those fatalities.

This link houses several different statistics regarding dog bite studies, dog bite fatalities, dog bite fatality citations, and more.

Here are the dog breeds most responsible for dog bites and dog attacks:

Dog Bite Lawyer Carrolton, IL - We can Help

When a dog bites someone, or viciously attacks someone, it's because of negligence. If the dog owner was a responsible owner you wouldn't have been attacked by the dog. This shows negligence. Whenever someone acts negligently and their actions cause harm to another individual, they are absolutely liable for the damages caused, even if they themselves didn't physically cause the damage. Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Carrolton have taken on dog bite lawsuits before and can ensure that you're given the quality care and legal advice that you deserve. Our Dog Bite Lawyers will take your claim seriously, and we're more than willing to take your dog attacks lawsuit to court to make sure you get the respect you deserve. To learn more about our Firm, our practices, or how we can help you with your claim, call our team at 314-542-2222 or 618-272-2222. We don't charge any fees for our consultations, and we never ask for any attorneys fees unless we win your dog bite lawsuit.