Dog Bite LawyerGrayville, 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. Dogs can be dangerous if they feel threatened or if they aren't trained right, and often, under these circumstances they will bite. Dog bites should always be taken seriously, even from smaller dogs. They have large canines for a reason. What are the actions you should take following a dog bite, and what are your options legally?

Burger Law is a Personal Injury Law Firm in Grayville with extensive experience fighting for dog bite victims and making sure they get the full care and recovery they need. Your case is going to require expertise and a dedicated dog bite lawyer in Grayville to fight for you. Our team can guide you through your dog bite claim and make sure that you're given the care and financial recovery you deserve. 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 Grayville - 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. If the animal was not provoked and still attacked, the dog owner will be fully liable. 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's law is very 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. 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 really mind too much what they put in their mouths. They will eat just about anything that's on the ground, and this can mean that their mouths can be dirty and filled with dangerous bacteria. If you've been bitten by a dog, what should you immediately do to take care of the wound?

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 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 can tend to your wounds, what steps should you 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 - Applying pressure to the wound will cause it to bleed, but it will also cause any dirt or any other foreign debris to be pushed out of the wound. The wound needs to be cleared before you can clean it further.
• Second - Use soap and water to clean the wound thoroughly. Make sure to clean any dirt or other things around the wound as well.
• Third - Take a clean cloth and place it over the wound to stop the bleeding.
• Fourth - If you have any antibiotics, apply them now. 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 - You should now wrap the wound to make sure it is sealed. It's now time to go see a doctor.
• Sixth - Your doctor will now look and the wound and determine it's severity. If you need to take further medical action with the wound, your doctor will be able to tell you.
• 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?

Certain dog breeds have a higher chance to bite than others. Which breeds are known to be more aggressive? 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 Grayville, IL - We can Help

When a dog bites someone, or viciously attacks someone, it's because of negligence. If the pet owner would have taken the time to train and confine the dog properly, chances are you wouldn't have been attacked. 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 Grayville 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.