Dog Bite LawyerHouse Springs, 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. A dog will bite if it feels threatened, or if it's poorly trained and confined. When a dog bites, even a little dog, it's going to hurt. Their teeth are designed to do damage. 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 House Springs that will hold the dog owner accountable for their animals actions and make sure that you get the FULL recovery you deserve. Your dog bite lawsuit is going to need the guidance of a lawyer in House Springs. 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 House Springs - 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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.

What if the bite was serious but not life-threatening? 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. The wound has to be cleaned out before you can safely proceed.
• Second - Use soap and water to clean the wound thoroughly. Take your time and clean around the wound to make sure no further bacteria gets into it.
• Third - Use a clean cloth to stop the bleeding or slow it down as much as possible.
• 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 - With the antibiotic applied, wrap the wound with a sterile bandage and with gauze if needed. You should now go see your 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?

Just like other types of animals, some dog breeds are more likely to bite than other dog breeds. Which dogs are more likely to bite someone? 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 House Springs, MO - We can Help

When dogs attack 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. When someone allows a negligent act to happen, they can and should be held liable for that action. Our Personal Injury Lawyers in House Springs 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.