Dog Bite LawyerSwiss, MO

We often forget how dangerous dogs can be. A dog will bite if it feels threatened, or if it’s poorly trained and confined. Dog bites should always be taken seriously, even from smaller dogs. They have large canines for a reason. 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 Swiss with a proven track record of fighting for the rights and recoveries of those who have been bitten by poorly trained dogs. Your dog bite claim could be complex, and without the assistance of an experienced dog bite lawyer in Swiss you could get less of a recovery than you deserve. 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 314-648-8348 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.

Dog Bite Lawyer Swiss – Know Your Rights

Here are Missouri’s and Illinois’s laws detailing dog bites and dog bite lawsuits.

For Missouri, Statute 273.036 details liability in Dog Bite Lawsuits. In Missouri, the pet owner is liable for the damage the dog causes, however, the person bit, if they were partially liable for the bite, they will only be able to recover the amount they weren’t liable for. 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 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 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 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 have hands, they pick up everything with their mouths. 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 steps should you take to make sure an infection doesn’t grow?

You first have to decide how serious the bite is, and whether you need emergency services. 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.

• First – Press around the wound to make it bleed. This is important to force any dirt out of the wound. You need to get any foreign material out of the wound before you treat it further.
• Second – Soap and water can be used to get the wound to a treatable stage. If there is any dirt or saliva or other things around the wound, clean those off as well.
• 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 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. Now that the wound is under control, go see your doctor.
• Sixth – Your doctor is going to see to your bite and may give you medicine to make sure it is fully treated. If further medical attention is necessary, they will be able to tell you that.
• 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:

• Chihuahua
• Bulldog
• Pit Bull
• German Shepherd
• Australian Shepherd
• Lhasa Apso
• Jack Russell Terrier
• Cocker Spaniel
• Bull Terrier
• Pekingese
• Papillion

Dog Bite Lawyer Swiss, MO – We can Help

When a dog bites someone, or viciously attacks 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 a point that can be legally argued. Negligent actions can cause damages, and when they do, the individual who caused those damages can be held liable for the act. Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Swiss 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 314-648-8348 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.