Missouri Dog Bite Lawyer

Not 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?

We are a Personal Injury Law Firm 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. 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 in Missouri – Know Your Rights

For Missouri, dog bite law is found at Statute 273.036. 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.

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.

What do I do after I’ve been bitten by a dog?

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.

  • 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 can be used to get the wound to a treatable stage. Take your time and clean around the wound to make sure no further bacteria gets into it.
  • Third – Use a clean, unused cloth to stop the bleeding.
  • 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 – You should now wrap the wound to make sure it is sealed. 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. 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. 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:

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

Call Our Dog Bite Lawyer in Missouri – We can Help

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 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. We 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. We don’t charge any fees for our consultations, and we never ask for any attorneys fees unless we win your dog bite lawsuit.