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Dog bites can result in painful puncture wounds, lacerations, bruising, and infections. When children are victims, the injuries can be even more devastating. They can require lengthy hospital stays, painful treatments such as rabies vaccinations and surgery, and thousands of dollars in medical bills – not to mention the serious emotional and psychological trauma that can come with vicious animal attacks. If you or a loved one was attacked by a dog in St. Louis, contact Goldblatt + Singer. Our dog bite injury lawyers can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Every state has unique dog bite laws and statutes. In Missouri, the legal doctrines of negligence, negligence per se, intentional tort, or scienter can affect dog attack claims. The most common doctrine involved in dog bite injury claims is Missouri’s strict liability statute. Missouri Revised Statutes Section 273.036 states that the owner of a dog that bites a person will be strictly liable for damages the victim suffers as a result – regardless of the owner’s knowledge of any prior viciousness.
In simpler terms, a dog’s owner will have to pay for a bite victim’s damages, even if the owner wasn’t negligent in keeping or controlling the pet. A dog attack victim does not have to prove that the owner knew or reasonably should have known of the dog’s propensity for viciousness. It is enough to show that the dog bit the victim was on public property or lawfully on private property, and the victim did not provoke the dog.
In certain situations, negligence may come into play as well. Negligence can take the form of breaching a duty of care or breaking one of the state or local dog laws. For example, the city of St. Louis has specific pet limits, prohibited pets, leash laws, vaccination requirements, and other dog-related laws that all owners in the city must follow. Talk to a dog bite attorney to find out the grounds on which you might be able to base your dog bite claim.
Anyone who has been attacked by a dog should contact our St. Louis dog bite attorneys. Even if you think you may have contributed to the bite (e.g., you reached your hand through a fence to pet the dog), Missouri’s laws may still make you eligible for compensation.
Winning a dog bite claim can result in payment for your damages as well as a fine of up to $1,000 against the pet owner. It’s important to protect yourself with an experienced dog bite injury lawyer in St. Louis for your best chances of success. Dog bite claims can be very complex and involve large insurance companies and corporations.
A lawyer can help you prove the dog or property owner’s liability through a thorough investigation of the incident, gathering any available evidence, and speaking to eyewitnesses. The legal team at Goldblatt + Singer has all the resources and experience required to handle even the most complex dog bite claim. No matter the circumstances of your recent attack and injuries, contact us for a free case review. We can help you explore your rights and potentially seek recovery from the dog’s owner in St. Louis. Call us at (314) 231-4100 today.