Dog Bite LawyerFestus, MO

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

We often forget how dangerous dogs can be. When they are poorly trained or feel threatened, they can and often will bite the person that they feel is threatening them. When a dog bites, even a little dog, it's going to hurt. They have large canines for a reason. When a dog bites you, you have legal recourse to make the situation right. But what are your rights?

Burger Law is a Personal Injury Law Firm in Festus that is dedicated to aggressively fighting for the rights of dog bite victims. Your dog bite claim could be complex, and without the assistance of an experienced dog bite lawyer in Festus you could get less of a recovery than you deserve. Our team can guide you through your dog bite lawsuit and make sure that you get the full recovery you are owed, both physically and financially. 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 Festus - Know Your Rights

Missouri and Illinois both have laws governing how dog bite claims work.

For Missouri, Statute 273.036 details liability in Dog Bite Lawsuits. In Missouri, the pet owner is liable for the damage the dog causes, however, the person bit, if they were partially liable for the bite, they will only be able to recover the amount they weren't liable for. 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. 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 clarifies that a person will be liable in a lawsuit for the percentage they are responsible 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 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 person bit did provoke the dog, and they were also trespassing, they will hold more of the liability for the accident.

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 animal and you were somewhere you didn't have the legal right to be, you're going to be partially liable for the damages caused to you. 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 really don't care about what they eat until it's too late, and this often means they eat nasty things that are full of dangerous bacteria. When you've been bitten by a dog, what should you immediately do following the attack?

It's important to decide whether you can perform first aid on the bite, or whether you need to go to the emergency room. 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 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 - Apply pressure to the wound to cause bleeding in an attempt to flush out any bacteria/dirt or debris that may be in the wound. You need to get any foreign material out of the wound before you treat it further.
• Second - Soap and water are a good tool to get the wound clean. Make sure to clean any dirt or other things 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. Touching the wound may sting, but it's important for you to take this step.
• Fifth - The wound should now be wrapped to make sure it stays as clean as possible. It's now time to go see a doctor.
• Sixth - Your doctor will know what to do next regarding the dog bite. If further medical attention is necessary, they will be able to tell you that.
• Seventh - After the visits with your doctor, make sure to pay attention to the wound. 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. The question is, which dog breeds are most likely to bite ? 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 Festus, MO - We can Help

When dogs attack someone it's because of negligence. If the pet owner took the time to properly care for the dog, chances are that you would not have been bitten or attacked by the animal. This is the deciding factor. 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 Festus have fought dog bite lawsuits before, and we know how to make sure you get the FULL care and recovery 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.