Dog Bite LawyerJonesboro, IL

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

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 are no joke, even from little dogs. 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 Jonesboro 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 Jonesboro. 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 Jonesboro - 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 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'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 didn't provoke the dog, weren't trespassing, and the dog attacked you without cause, you will not be held liable for the attack. 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. When you've been bitten by a dog, what steps should you take to make sure an infection doesn't grow?

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 can't perform first aid on your wounds, go to the hospital immediately. 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. The wound needs to be cleared before you can clean it further.
• Second - Soap and water can be used to get the wound to a treatable stage. Clean the area around the wound as well.
• Third - Use a clean, unused cloth to stop 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 - With the antibiotic applied, wrap the wound with a sterile bandage and with gauze if needed. Now that the wound is under control, go see your doctor.
• Sixth - Your doctor will know what to do next regarding the dog bite. If you need to take further medical action with the wound, your doctor will be able to tell you.
• 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?

Certain dog breeds have a higher chance to bite than others. Statistically, which dogs are more likely to bite people? 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 Jonesboro, IL - We can Help

When dogs attack someone it's because of negligence. If the dog owner was a responsible owner you wouldn't have been attacked by the dog. 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 Jonesboro have taken on dog bite lawsuits before and can ensure that you're given the quality care and legal advice that 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.