Missouri Dog Bite Laws
July 16, 2019 | Dog Bites
If you have been bitten by a dog in Missouri and are thinking about pursuing legal action for your injuries and financial damages caused in the attack, it’s unwise to do so without representation from a Dog Bite Lawyer in St. Louis. Liability in dog bite attacks is unclear in some situations, and with dog bite laws varying in each state, it can be challenging to determine the value of your injuries. Hiring a Missouri Dog Bite Lawyer to represent your case quickly determines liability in the attack and ensures that you receive the compensation due for your harm and losses.
When Can I Sue for a Dog Bite Attack?
In most dog bite attacks in Missouri, the dog’s owner is liable for the animal’s dangerous actions, unless the attack was caused by the victim’s provocation of the animal or involved trespassing on the owner’s private property. But if a dog bite attack occurs on public property without aggressive or harmful behavior from the injured party, or while the victim was a guest on the owner’s property, the person injured in the accident can sue a dog’s owner for injuries and financial damages caused in the attack.
It’s vital to the success of a dog bite claim to take the following steps after a dog bite attack to preserve the details of the attack, and ensure that your case has the best odds of recovering compensation:
- Document bite marks, broken skin, and other injuries from the attack by seeking immediate medical treatment and obtaining a copy of the medical report
- Gather witness accounts of the attack and information on the dog and its owner
- Report the attack to St. Louis Animal Control and the police
- Learn about Missouri’s dog bite laws by consulting a lawyer about the attack
Dog Bite Laws in Missouri
Under Missouri’s dog bite statute, dog bite victims can sue a dog’s owner for negligence for up to five years after the accident. Missouri’s statute of limitations (§273.036) states that if a dog bites or otherwise injures someone, without provocation or trespassing by the victim, the dog’s owner is liable to compensate the injured party for financial losses and emotional/mental injuries that stemmed from the attack.
The compensation that a dog bite victim can recover for their injuries is based on each person’s percentage of fault in causing the attack, the severity of the victim’s injuries, whether the owner knew or reasonably should have known that the dog was dangerous, and if the animal has bitten someone in the past.
In addition to compensating victims for damages, if a dog’s owner is liable in the attack, the animal could be impounded or put down, especially if the city that the attack occurred in has a dangerous dog ordinance in place.
Talk to a St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyer Now
Depending on the circumstances of your dog bite case, you could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and loss of affection damages under Missouri’s dog bite laws. However, without prior knowledge of Missouri’s legal system and how to prove another person’s liability in a dog bite attack, it can be overwhelming for victims to bring a claim against the negligent dog’s owner without the help of an experienced Missouri Dog Bite Lawyer.
The Dixon Injury Firm’s Dog Bite Lawyers in St. Louis know that after a dog bite attack, victims need support and guidance for their case. Christopher Dixon is dedicated to making sure that dog bite victims and their family members are safe and secure after dog bite attacks and confident in the Dixon Injury Firm’s abilities to recover a high settlement for their case. Chris Dixon’s commitment to fighting for the rights of dog bite victims in St. Louis, and ensuring that they receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries, is why Chris Dixon has been recognized repeatedly by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star,” and named a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a dog bite attack in St. Louis, and you need help understanding Missouri’s dog bite laws and how they affect your case, call (314) 208-2808, or contact the Dixon Injury Firm today for a free consultation with our Dog Bite Lawyers in Missouri.