Dog Bite LawyerDecatur, IL

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

Not every dog is a friendly dog. A dog will bite if it feels threatened, or if it's poorly trained and confined. Dog bites are no joke, even from little dogs. They have large canines for a reason. When you've been bitten by a dog, what should you do? What are your options?

Burger Law is a Personal Injury Law Firm in Decatur that is dedicated to aggressively fighting for the rights of dog bite victims. Your dog bite lawsuit is going to need the guidance of a lawyer in Decatur. 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 Decatur - 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 the dog was taunted or felt threatened by the person's actions, then the person bit will also be partially liable for the attack. If the dog bit someone and was not provoked, as in the case of a dog escaping the yard or a leash, the dog owner will be fully liable for the damages caused by the dog. 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 law is quite similar to Missouri's. If the person wasn't trespassing, and they were legally allowed to be in the area they were in when the bite occurred, the pet owner will hold liability. The reverse of this situation also places more blame on the person bit if they were trespassing and provoking the animal.

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 were taunting the dog and it attacked you, or if you were in an area you didn't have the legal right to be in, you will be held liable as well. 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 don't have hands, they pick up everything with their mouths. Dogs will eat anything they can reach, and this means their mouths can be incredibly dirty. When you've been bitten by a dog, what steps should you take to make sure an infection doesn't grow?

You first have to decide how serious the bite is, and whether you need emergency services. If you are losing a significant amount of blood, you need to immediately go to the hospital. Call 911. They will be able to help you.

If you are able to take care of yourself, what steps should you immediately take? 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. You need to get any foreign material out of the wound before you treat it further.
• Second - Use soap and water to clean the wound thoroughly. Clean the area around the wound as well.
• Third - Take a clean cloth and place it over the wound to stop the bleeding.
• Fourth - You should now apply antibiotics to the wound to protect it. It may still be painful to touch the wound, but applying the antibiotic is very important.
• Fifth - The wound now needs to be wrapped so that it can stay clean. 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 is going to see to your bite and may give you medicine to make sure it is fully treated. If further medical attention is necessary, they will be able to tell you that.
• Seventh - Make sure to watch your wound in the follow weeks. 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?

Just like other types of animals, some dog breeds are more likely to bite than other dog breeds. Statistically, which dogs are more likely to bite people? 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 Decatur, 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. When someone allows a negligent act to happen, they can and should be held liable for that action. Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Decatur 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.