Dog Bite LawyerHarrisburg, IL

Not every dog is a friendly dog. We have to remember that dogs are animals, and when they feel threatened or are poorly trained, they can be destructive. Dog bites aren’t a laughing matter, even when a small dog bites. Their teeth are made to puncture and tear. 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 Harrisburg that is dedicated to aggressively fighting for the rights of dog bite victims. Your case is going to require expertise and a dedicated dog bite lawyer in Harrisburg 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 314-648-8348 or 618-226-4811. 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 Harrisburg – 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. The dog owner will be liable for the damages caused, minus the percentage that the person bit was liable for the attack. 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 means that a person will be liable for the portion of the damages they either caused or were harmed by because of their failure to act in a reasonable way.

For Illinois, Statute 510 ILCS 5/16 details liability in Dog Bite Lawsuits. Illinois law is quite similar to Missouri’s. If the person had a legal right to be in the area they were in when they were bit, and they did not provoke the dog, the pet owner will be held fully liable. 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 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 first have to decide how serious the bite is, and whether you need emergency services. A dog can cause serious and traumatic injuries to a person, and if you’ve been significantly mauled by a dog and are losing blood, you need to seek immediate medical 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. You need to get any foreign material out of the wound before you treat it further.
• Second – Clean the wound with soap and water. 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 – At this time, apply any antibiotics you may have. 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. Now that the wound is under control, go see your doctor.
• Sixth – Your doctor will be able to make sure the wound is ok and not getting worse. 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:

• Chihuahua
• Bulldog
• Pit Bull
• German Shepherd
• Australian Shepherd

• Lhasa Apso
• Jack Russell Terrier
• Cocker Spaniel
• Bull Terrier
• Pekingese
• Papillion

Dog Bite Lawyer Harrisburg, IL – We can Help

Dog bites and dog attacks happen 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 a point that can be legally argued. 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 Harrisburg 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 314-648-8348 or 618-226-4811. We don’t charge any fees for our consultations, and we never ask for any attorneys fees unless we win your dog bite lawsuit.