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Regardless of its size, an aggressive dog may cause immense pain. In many cases, the reason behind the bite is the owner’s or caretaker’s own negligent behavior. If you were bit by a dog because the owner acted negligently, you could be eligible for compensation in a personal injury claim, which may cover all expenses related to the incident and the impact of these injuries on your quality of life. A skilled St. Louis dog bite lawyer will help you navigate your case and fight for the justice and the money you deserve.
Even a minor dog bite in St. Louis can lead to serious consequences. For example, dog bites can spread dangerous infections through the dog’s saliva, such as rabies and tetanus. Other common physical injuries a person may sustain from a dog bite in St. Louis include:
Besides physical injuries, a dog bite victim may have to deal with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other types of emotional distress after the dog attack. A lawyer will use these injuries, and their effect on the victim, when identifying the forms of compensation someone could fight for after being bitten.
In most cases, the dog owner is liable for the dog bite. They are responsible for covering damages unless the dog was provoked or the victim was trespassing. Additionally, under Missouri law, the dog’s owner is liable regardless of the dog’s previous bite history, but the courts may hold other parties responsible, too.
If the bite occurred on a rental property, and the landlord knew of the dog’s aggressive tendencies but failed to address the danger, they may share liability after a dog bite in St. Louis.
If someone other than the owner, such as a dog walker or sitter, had control of the dog at the time of the incident, they might be partially liable. An experienced dog bite lawyer can help a plaintiff in St. Louis identify all liable parties and file relevant claims.
Even if the owner proves that the victim provoked the dog, it is still possible to recover damages with the right legal guidance. Missouri’s comparative negligence law allows the injured person who was partially responsible for the accident to recover damages reduced by the percentage of their fault.
Under the state’s statute of limitations, victims have five years to pursue a legal case after a dog attack. The clock starts running on the day of the accident or at the time injuries were discovered. While five years seems like a long time, delaying legal action usually makes it harder to claim compensation because evidence can be lost, eyewitnesses forget incident details, and dog owners may move out of state. Consulting an attorney and initiating legal action as soon as possible improves the chances of a desired outcome.
If you or your loved one were bitten by a dog, the consequences can upend your life. To cover economic and non-economic damages, you have the right to seek compensation so you can focus on healing. A skilled St. Louis dog bite lawyer can help identify who was responsible, prove the at-fault party’s negligence, and recover fair damages.
At McCready Law, we are passionate about helping injured people receive compensation. Our extensive knowledge of local laws helps us build a strong case and speed up the payout. Call us for a free case evaluation today.