Dog Bite LawyerHerculaneum, MO

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

Not every dog is a friendly dog. When they are poorly trained or feel threatened, they can and often will bite the person that they feel is threatening them. Dog bites aren't a laughing matter, even when a small dog bites. 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 Herculaneum with extensive experience fighting for dog bite victims and making sure they get the full care and recovery they need. Your dog bite lawsuit is going to need the guidance of a lawyer in Herculaneum. 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 Herculaneum - 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 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. 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 weren't trespassing, weren't taunting the dog, and had no reason for the dog to attack you, you won't be held to any liability for the attack. 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 first have to decide how serious the bite is, and whether you need emergency services. 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 - 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. The wound has to be cleaned out before you can safely proceed.
• Second - Soap and water can be used to get the wound to a treatable stage. 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 - Antibiotics should now be applied to the wound to make sure all foreign bacteria is destroyed. Touching the wound may sting, but it's important for you to take this step.
• Fifth - The wound now needs to be wrapped so that it can stay clean. You should now go see your doctor.
• Sixth - Your doctor will now look and the wound and determine it's severity. If further medical attention is necessary, they will be able to tell you that.
• 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 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 Herculaneum, MO - We can Help

Dog bites and dog attacks happen 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 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 Herculaneum have successfully litigated dog bite cases before and can guide you through your dog bite lawsuit. 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.