Dog Bite LawyerSte. Genevieve, MO

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

Dogs may be man's best friend, but that doesn't always mean they are friendly. Dogs can be dangerous if they feel threatened or if they aren't trained right, and often, under these circumstances they will bite. 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 Ste. Genevieve 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 Ste. Genevieve to fight for you. Our personal injury lawyers will make sure that you're fully taken care of. 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 Ste. Genevieve - 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. The dog owner will be liable for the damages caused, minus the percentage that the person bit was liable for the attack. To clarify, this means that if someone was teasing or provoking the dog, they will be partially liable for the damages caused to them. 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's law is similar to that of Missouri's wherein an owner is liable for the damage caused by a dog according to how much the person bit was responsible for the damages. 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. The reverse of this situation also places more blame on the person bit if they were trespassing and provoking the animal.

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 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. 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 should you immediately do following the attack?

You first have to determine whether you can tend to your injuries, or whether you are facing a medical emergency. 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 tend to your wounds, what steps should you 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.

• 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. You need to get any foreign material out of the wound before you treat it further.
• Second - Soap and water are a good tool to get the wound clean. Clean the area around the wound as well.
• Third - Use a clean cloth to stop the bleeding or slow it down as much as possible.
• 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 - With the antibiotic applied, wrap the wound with a sterile bandage and with gauze if needed. With the bleeding under control and the wound sterilized, now is the time to see your doctor to determine how severe the bite is.
• Sixth - Your doctor will know what to do next regarding the dog bite. They will let you know if further medical treatment is needed.
• 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?

Just like other types of animals, some dog breeds are more likely to bite than other dog breeds. 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 Ste. Genevieve, MO - We can Help

When dogs attack someone it's 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 Ste. Genevieve 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 314-542-2222 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.