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(314) 500-HURTNot 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. If you’ve been attacked by a dog, what can you do?
Burger Law is a Personal Injury Law Firm in Missouri that is dedicated to aggressively fighting for the rights of dog bite victims. Your dog bite claim could be complex, and without the assistance of an experienced dog bite lawyer in Missouri you could get less of a recovery than you deserve. 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 314-648-8348 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.
With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to know that your giving your case to the best possible lawyer, and the they’re going to fight hard to make sure you get 100% of the recovery and compensation you deserve. A dog bite lawyer saying they’re the best is one thing, a lawyer with client testimonials and results that can prove it is another. Here are several of our most recent victories as well as client testimonials:
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 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 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 law is quite similar to Missouri’s. If the person wasn’t trespassing, and they were legally allowed to be in the area they were in when the bite occurred, the pet owner will hold liability. 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 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.
Dogs use their mouths as their hands. Dogs will eat anything they can reach, and this means their mouths can be incredibly dirty. When you’ve been bitten by a dog, what should you immediately do following the attack?
You need to quickly decide whether you can perform first aid on your injuries, or whether you injuries are too severe and need to be immediately seen to by a medical professional. 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 are able to take care of yourself, what steps should you immediately 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.
Here are a few of the most common bacterial infections that occur with dog bites:
Certain dog breeds have a higher chance to bite than others. 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:
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 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 Missouri 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 314-648-8348 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.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Gary Burger who has more than 30 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney. Gary’s robust legal knowledge is recognized by his peers as demonstrated by his industry awards and frequent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) lectures.
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