Dog Bite LawyerTown & Country, 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. 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 are no joke, even from little dogs. They have sharp teeth by design. If you've been attacked by a dog, what can you do?

Burger Law is a Personal Injury Law Firm in Town & Country with extensive experience fighting for dog bite victims and making sure they get the full care and recovery they need. Your dog bite claim could be complex, and without the assistance of an experienced dog bite lawyer in Town & Country you could get less of a recovery than you deserve. 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 Town & Country - 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. 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. 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. However, if the dog escaped the yard or leash, and the person bit took no actions to provoke the dog, then the pet owner will hold liability. 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 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. 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 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 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 determine whether you can tend to your injuries, or whether you are facing a medical emergency. If you can't perform first aid on your wounds, go to the hospital immediately. 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 - 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 - 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 - You should now wrap the wound to make sure it is sealed. It's now time to go see a 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 - 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?

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 Town & Country, 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 fact absolutely matters. 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 Town & Country 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.