St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyer

If you were attacked by a dog or your child suffered from a serious dog bite, contact a St. Louis dog bite lawyer right away.

Dogs are often considered man’s best friend. However, without proper training, they can also be overly protective and prone to aggression. A beloved family pet can mistake a stranger’s intent, which can result in an attack causing severe injuries. If you’ve suffered a dog bite, the best solution is to call an experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney who can explain your rights under Missouri law.

At The Cagle Law Firm, we are here to ensure you receive justice and compensation after an animal attack. Contact us at (314) 276-1681 or use our online form to schedule a free consultation.

Common Dog Bite Situations

Dog attacks can occur anywhere there is an animal with a careless owner. Also, the more stressful the situation for the dog, the more likely they are to lash out. Some of the most common dog bite situations include:

• Encountering dogs on sidewalks, on or off-leash
• Meeting loose dogs in your neighborhood
• Visiting a friend, family member, or neighbor’s home
• Parks, mainly when owners let their dogs off-leash

While dog attacks may seemingly happen at random, such as encountering an off-leash dog roaming your neighborhood, most dog attacks occur with familiar animals during everyday activities. You or your child are far more likely to be bitten by a friend or family member’s pet than an animal you’ve never encountered. However, after a dog attack, this is probably not your first concern. You should focus on obtaining medical attention. Once you’ve been treated, it’s important to speak with a personal injury lawyer regarding how to gain compensation for you or your loved one’s physical, psychological, and financial damages.

Common Dog Bite Injuries in St. Louis

In some situations, dog bites are minor. A quick snap of a dog’s teeth may only leave a few puncture wounds that can heal without stitches after a thorough cleaning. Although, you should always visit a physician after dog bites to reduce the chance of infection. Unfortunately, not all dog bite victims can walk away so lucky. Dogs can be vicious, and some breeds have tremendous jaw strength. They can bite someone multiple times, tear skin, muscle, and tendons, and even fracture bones.

Some of the most common injuries caused by dog bites include:

• Severe lacerations
• Bruising
• Soft tissue damage
• Nerve damage
• Broken bones
• Infections
• Reduced physical function
• Permanent scarring
• Disfigurement
• Psychological trauma
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Depending on where you or your loved one was bitten, you may have permanent physical limitations or permanent scarring and disfigurement. This is particularly distressing if the scarring is on your or your loved one’s face. Also, the stronger and more aggressive the dog, the more significant an attack may be, sometimes leading to catastrophic or deadly injuries. If you lost a loved one in a fatal dog attack, it is imperative to speak with a St. Louis dog bite lawyer as soon as you can.

Contact a Dog Bite Attorney in St. Louis, MO

If you or a family member has been injured in an animal attack, you need to speak with a St. Louis personal injury lawyer about Missouri dog laws. Speaking with an expert is essential as the county in which you were hurt may also have local ordinances regarding animals, such as leash laws. Contact our team of attorneys to get started on obtaining the compensation you deserve.

Missouri Dog Laws

Under Missouri Revised Statute §273.036, the owner or possessor of any dog that bites, without provocation, anyone who is on public land or private property with permission, is strictly liable for damages caused by the animal. This is a similar standard to Illinois. If you were bitten in Missouri while lawfully on public or private property, meaning you were not trespassing, and you did not provoke the animal, then you may file a claim for compensation.

Missouri does not have a comparable dangerous and vicious dog statute.

Dog Bite Compensation

If you or your child were injured in a dog attack, then you should speak with The Cagle Law Firm about filing a claim or lawsuit for compensation. In some situations, you may be able to file an insurance claim against the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. If a business owner’s dog bit you or a loved one while you were a customer, then you may be able to file a claim against the business’s bodily injury policy. Our legal team will thoroughly investigate what happened and who may be liable, such as the dog’s owner or the person taking care of the dog at the time, such as a friend, dog walker, or kennel service.

Once we know who is liable, we will demand compensation covering your:

• Medical Costs
• Lost Wages
• Pain and Suffering
• Emotional Distress
• Physical Limitations
• Disfigurement
• Loss of Future Earning Capacity
• Loss of Consortium and Companionship
• Punitive Damages, if applicable

If there is no relevant insurance policy, the insurer denies your claim, or the insurer refuses to negotiate a fair settlement, then we can represent you in filing a legal claim against the dog owner or keeper. Our St. Louis dog bite lawyers are not afraid to fight for our clients’ rights in court.

Fatal Dog Attacks

If a dog attack resulted in the death of your loved one, we will discuss your right to file a wrongful death claim. Through this type of claim in Illinois or Missouri, you may be able to recover:

• Funeral and Burial Expenses
• Loss of Financial Contributions
• Loss of Care and Support
• Loss of Love and Companionship
• Loss of Inheritance

Contact Our St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyers for Help

Like many families, you may think you have to deal with dog attacks on your own. You may hope your health insurance will cover the medical expenses, and then maybe a homeowner’s insurance policy will help. At The Cagle Law Firm, we want you to know that you do not have to fight for your rights yourself. We are here to help, so you can concentrate on physically and emotionally healing from this experience. We will handle the insurance claim or legal process and will strive to obtain the maximum compensation possible.

Contact us through our online form or call us at (314) 276-1681 as soon as possible so that we can meet all deadlines in your claim, including the statute of limitations. We offer free consultations for you to learn more about your options without risk.