Chow Chow Attacks

January 6, 2022 | Dog Bites

Chow chows are, by nature, naturally aggressive and independent animals that experts primarily categorize as “hunting dogs.” However, over the years, there has been a surge in the number of people keeping chow chows as domestic pets. While chow chows are loyal to their owners, they can quickly turn on others due to an aggressive temperament and hunting dog status.

The Dixon Injury Firm has created the following guide on chow chow attacks to let the dog bite victims know that our dog bite lawyers in St. Louis understand what they are going through during this difficult time, and if they need help with their dog bite claim, the Dixon Injury Firm is always available to help.

Chow Chow Dog Bite Statistics

Thousands of children under the age of 9 and adults over the age of 30 are injured every year in severe dog bite attacks in the U.S. Chow Chow’s, while not as likely as Pit Bulls or Rottweiler to attack someone, are one of the most commonly “restricted” or “banned” dogs in certain cities in Missouri.

According to a study of 43 dogs involved in 40 dog bite attacks involving children, Chow Chow’s were one of the most common dog breeds involved in these situations. Chow Chow attacks are such a concern in St. Louis, that some cities have dangerous dog laws that ban residents from owning this specific “vicious” breed.

Dog Bite Laws in St. Louis, Missouri

When it comes to St. Louis dog bite laws, Missouri follows strict liability. This means that a dog’s owner can be responsible for bite and attack injuries regardless of whether the dog has attacked or bitten someone in the past-and even if the dog owner acted reasonably under the circumstances when restraining the dog and/or attempting to prevent the dog bite or attack from happening.

When a dangerous dog, such as a chow chow, bites and injures a person, the bite victim may pursue and recover monetary compensation if the injury or injuries directly stemmed from the dog bite and if the attack victim was either lawfully on private property or in a public place. In addition, the bite victim must not have done anything to provoke the dog attack/bite or been trespassing on someone else’s land when the incident occurred. Otherwise, the bite victim can face accusations of contributing to the incident.

Under the prevailing dog bite statute in Missouri, a dog owner who is found responsible for a dog bite or attack must pay a $1,000 fine. In addition, the dog owner should be responsible for paying additional damages arising from the bite victim’s injuries and the medical treatment that they needed following the dog attack incident.

Many homeowner insurance policies cover dog bites and attacks. Therefore, if you suffer injuries in a dog attack, you will most likely be dealing with a dog owner’s insurance company when it comes to negotiating a favorable settlement offer and pursuing the compensation that you need for your dog attack injuries.

The experienced St. Louis, Missouri dog bite lawyers at Dixon Injury Firm can review the circumstances of your incident and determine if you are eligible to file a dog bite claim with the dog owner’s insurance company. If you are, we can assist you with proving all of the necessary legal elements of your claim and work to get you the compensation that you need and deserve for the injuries you suffered in your St. Louis dog attack.

Common Injuries That Victims May Suffer in St. Louis Chow Chow Attacks

Attacks and bites by chow chow dogs can result in extremely serious injuries to attack victims. This is especially true for elderly individuals and children whom a vicious dog bites. When a dog bites a person, the bite victim might sustain one or more puncture wounds or teeth marks. In addition, dog bite victims can suffer scratches, deep cuts, wounds, and lacerations in the dog attack incident, all of which require a significant time to heal.

If the puncture wound is deep, the bite victim might need to go to the hospital and get stitches for the wound to heal properly and quickly. Deep cuts and lacerations can also leave unsightly scars after they have healed. Prominent scars can shame, humiliate, or embarrass a victim.

In addition, when a dangerous dog, such as a chow chow, attacks a person, the person might be knocked to the ground and suffer serious injuries as a result. For example, if the accident victim strikes their head directly on the ground, then the bite victim might suffer a traumatic head or brain injury during the incident. In addition, if the bite victim falls to the ground and lands on their neck or back, the bite victim can suffer a spinal cord injury or one or more broken bones.

Any of these injuries that a dog attack victim suffers will require immediate medical treatment. First of all, the dog attack victim should follow up at a local urgent care center or hospital emergency room as soon as possible after the incident. At that time, the doctor or nurse who is on duty can render emergency medical treatment and assistance, including cleaning the wound, and if necessary, stitching it up.

In addition, if the dog attack victim fell to the ground during the incident, the on-duty doctor or nurse can take the necessary imaging studies, including CAT scans, MRIs, and X-rays, to determine the person’s medical condition and if he or she needs further medical treatment.

Finally, the doctor or nurse on duty can refer the dog attack victim for follow-up medical treatment, if necessary. If the dog attack victim has to have stitches, they will need to return to the hospital or urgent care center to have those stitches removed. At other times, the bite victim might need to undergo surgery, such as if they broke a bone during the incident.

Finally, the bite victim may need to attend physical therapy sessions or other medical treatment, such as following up with a family doctor or primary care physician following the incident.

If you have suffered any of these injuries in a chow chow attack, seek and obtain all of the medical treatment that you require for your injuries. You should also make sure that you treat as soon as possible following the dog attack incident. Moreover, once you have started treating at a particular facility, you should not discharge yourself. Rather, you should let your healthcare provider discharge you once you have completed all necessary treatment.

Failing to seek urgent medical care following a dog bite incident and failing to treat continuously for your injuries are red flags for insurance company adjusters who later may review your case.

For example, the insurance company adjuster might believe that you were not injured all that seriously in the dog attack or that you were not taking your medical treatment seriously. By treating continuously for your injuries and avoiding long gaps in your medical treatment, you demonstrate that you suffered serious injuries in the dog attack.

The knowledgeable and experienced St. Louis dog bite attorneys at Dixon Injury Firm understand the significant amount of pain and suffering that is often associated with medical treatment following a dog bite.

Our legal team can handle all of the legal aspects of your claim or lawsuit while you focus the bulk of your attention on getting better and fully recovering from your dog bite injuries. You can rest assured that our team will move your case forward and begin gathering all of the necessary documentation to prove your dog bite claim.

Negotiating a Favorable Settlement Offer in a Chow Chow Attack Case or Taking Your Case to Trial or Binding Arbitration

Victims of chow chow dog bites and attacks can suffer extremely serious injuries, all of which might require medical treatment over time. In addition to this medical treatment, the dog attack victim may need to miss time from work and lose income. The costs and expenses of a dog bite or attack can mount up over time. Consequently, victims of these dog attacks may be eligible to pursue monetary compensation by way of a personal injury settlement.

The monetary compensation that a chow chow attack victim is eligible to recover will depend upon the nature, extent, and seriousness of the injuries suffered in the incident.

Generally speaking, the more serious the injuries and the more extensive and costly the resulting medical treatment, the higher the value of the case from a monetary perspective. In other words, a dog bite victim who has to undergo surgery and physical therapy will likely recover more compensation in a personal injury case than one who suffers minor scratches and lacerations in the attack.

Potential monetary compensation in a dog attack case includes compensation for all related medical expenses, as well as provable lost wages. In addition, if the dog attack victim had to switch jobs or careers from injuries suffered in the attack, then they can assert a damage claim for loss of earning capacity. Dog attack and bite victims can also recover other out-of-pocket expenses incurred while they received treatment for their injuries.

In addition to these economic damages, chow chow bite victims are sometimes eligible to pursue noneconomic damages. These damages include compensation for inconvenience, emotional distress, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the incident, pain and suffering, and loss of life quality that resulted from the dog attack. In addition, if the dog attack injured a body part and the victim can no longer use that body part following the incident, then they can pursue a loss of use claim.

Moreover, if the dog bite victim suffered a permanent injury or disability, such as a permanent scar or laceration, they may seek permanency damages. Finally, if the dog attack victim received a scar in the incident, they can file a claim for all related shame, humiliation, or embarrassment that resulted.

Pursuing monetary compensation in a dog attack case can be complicated since insurance companies will do everything that they possibly can to undermine a person’s claim and award them less than they deserve. This is because insurance companies, as big businesses, will try to save themselves as much money as possible. That is where a knowledgeable and experienced St. Louis dog bite lawyer comes into play.

The knowledgeable and experienced legal team at Dixon Injury Firm can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and work to pursue favorable compensation for your injuries and other damages. If the insurance company continues to undermine your claim and refuses to pay you the compensation that you need and deserve, our legal team can threaten litigation. If litigation becomes necessary, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf, and if necessary, take it to trial.

Alternatively, the parties can agree on some alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation or arbitration, to bring about a prompt and favorable resolution to your St. Louis dog bite claim. Finally, your lawyer will discuss the likely settlement or verdict value of your claim with you beforehand so that you have a good idea of what to expect.

Chow Chow Attack Lawsuits

The average chow chow weighs between 45 and 70 pounds and has muscular legs and a broad, heavy upper body. A chow chow attack can cause severe damage, especially if it involves a child, and can result in serious or permanent face, back, neck, and emotional injuries in victims.

After a chow chow attack, victims must document bite marks, bruises, and other injuries caused by the dangerous dog by seeking immediate medical treatment and reporting the attack to Animal Control. Reporting an attack to authorities can prevent others from becoming victims themselves and is compelling evidence of what happened in the attack. Once you file a report with Animal Control, it’s essential to consult a lawyer about the chow chow attack and have them assess your case.

The Burden of Proof for Damages in St. Louis Dog Bite Lawsuits

When insurance companies fail to provide dog attack victims with the monetary compensation and damages that they deserve for their injuries, a knowledgeable St. Louis dog bite lawyer may file a lawsuit in the court system on your behalf. Many dog bite cases settle with insurance companies out of court. However, if your case goes to trial in Missouri, the dog attack victim has the burden of proof as to damages.

Since Missouri is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites, the bite victim will not need to prove fault on the part of the dog owner. The dog owner is responsible for the actions and inactions of their dog – unless the dog attack victim was provoking the dog in some way or trespassing. However, in a dog attack case, the bite victim will still need to prove that they suffered one or more injuries in the attack. Moreover, the bite victim must demonstrate that these injuries were a direct and proximate result of the dog bite or attack.

The skilled legal team of St. Louis dog bite attorneys at Dixon Injury Firm will assist you at trial and zealously advocate for your legal interests in the courtroom.

Talk to a Dog Bite Lawyer in St. Louis Now

If a chow chow attack injures you have in Missouri but don’t know if you can recover compensation for your injuries and financial damages, immediately hire a St. Louis dog bite lawyer to fight for your dog bite claim. An experienced lawyer has your best interests at heart, understands the impact that a chow chow attack can have physically and emotionally, and will do everything in their power to recover the compensation that you are due for your dog bite injuries.

The Dixon Injury Firm is the leading choice of Missouri residents when it comes to dog bite attacks. The National Trial Lawyers Association has recognized Christopher Dixon as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and Super Lawyers has repeatedly given him the status of Rising Star.

When you choose Christopher Dixon and the St. Louis dog bite lawyers at the Dixon Injury Firm to represent your case, you can feel confident that your case is in good hands and that our attorneys will push back against a negligent dog owner’s insurance company to obtain the highest settlement for your dog bite case.

If you are ready to begin your chow chow attack claim with our aggressive Injury Accident Lawyers in St. Louis, call (314) 208-2808 or contact the Dixon Injury Firm today for your free case review or consultation now.