St. Charles County Dog Bite Lawyers
Home > St. Charles County Personal Injury Resource Center > Dog Bites
Dog Bites
Dog attacks can be both physically and emotionally traumatic. Tragically, the victims of these devastating incidents are typically young children who were not prepared to defend themselves from a vicious animal. Dog owners in St. Charles County may be held liable for a dog bite accident regardless of their pet's past viciousness.
Missouri Statutory Strict Liability
Dog Bite Law
Missouri Revised Statute 273.036 states: "The owner or possessor of any dog that bites, without provocation, any person while such person is on public property, or lawfully on private property, including the property of the owner or possessor of the dog, is strictly liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's or possessor's knowledge of such viciousness." In short, dog bite victims in St. Charles County may hold the dog owner liable for the damages suffered.
Dog Owner Negligence
Missouri law also allows victims of St. Charles County dog bites to recover damages with a negligence claim. In such cases, the injured victim will have to prove that the dog owner had the responsibility to protect the victim from the dog and that responsibility was breached. An owner who lets a potentially dangerous dog in Missouri off its leash, for example, may be held liable for negligence.
Common Injuries Suffered
St. Charles County dog bite victims often suffer from skin puncture wounds and lacerations. When the dog is particularly strong, the dog bite may even cause bone fractures or nerve damage. Some skin damage is permanent and many of the injuries suffered may require expensive surgery to repair. In many cases, a plastic surgeon may be needed to help limit permanent scarring related to a devastating dog attack. Children often suffer severe facial injuries because of their height relative to the height of the dog. No child should be forced to suffer permanent scarring because the dog's owner refused to offer compensation or take responsibility for an attack.
Damages That May Be Covered by a
Civil Lawsuit
It is only possible to get fair compensation if the victim knows what damages may be covered by the claim. Perhaps the most obvious damages suffered are the immediate medical costs of the emergency room visit. Future medical costs could include costs of corrective surgery, loss of wages, cost of physical and psychological therapy. There are many questions that must be asked and facts, considered, before officially filing a claim.
The St. Charles County dog bite attorneys at Page Law provide free consultations to anyone who has suffered a dog bite injury. Let us help you get fair compensation for the damages you have suffered. You should not be left holding the bills following a dangerous dog attack. We are here to help. Call us today for a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation.
St. Charles County Personal Injury Resource Center
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
