Were you injured because a dog bit you in Creve Coeur, MO? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. Dog owners have certain responsibilities. When they allow their animals to attack, they should be held responsible. An experienced Creve Coeur dog bite lawyer at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Our trusted lawyers have over 100 years of experience standing up for personal injury victims and their families. We’re dedicated to obtaining results for our clients when it matters most, and we’ve won over 100 million dollars in settlements and verdicts for our efforts.
Recovering fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering can be incredibly important after an injury. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today or call our law office at (314) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help If I Have Suffered Dog Bite Injuries in Creve Coeur
Dog bite victims often hesitate to take legal action. The fact is, dog owners have responsibilities. When they ignore them, they should be responsible for their dog’s aggressive conduct. Whether you love dogs or not, medical bills can pile up quickly.
Our experienced Creve Coeur personal injury attorneys at Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers can handle insurance and legal issues on your behalf. For our skilled legal representation, we’ve been rated by Super Lawyers and recognized with an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating service.
Most importantly, we know exactly how to build your injury case by:
- Locating the solid evidence you need
- Protecting against claims that you provoked the dog
- Identifying all insurance coverage sources
- Documenting your damages and establishing their value
- Hiring experts when necessary to bolster your claim
- Negotiating skillfully with the insurance company
A legal battle is probably the last thing you had in mind. Our legal team can handle your case, so you don’t have to. Contact our law office in Creve Coeur, Missouri to learn about your legal rights.
Statistics on Dog Bite Injuries
According to research compiled by the Insurance Information Institute, insurance companies in the U.S. paid out nearly $1.12 billion to settle dog bite injury claims during 2023 alone.
Roughly 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the U.S. One in every five bites will become infected. In one year, about 27,000 dog bite victims endured reconstructive surgeries due to dog bites.
Missouri Dog Bite Laws: A Brief Overview
Each state has its own set of dog bite laws. Many victims mistakenly believe that the dog’s owner is only liable for their damages if the dog has bitten someone before. In “one bite” states, the dog’s owner is only liable if they knew the dog was vicious. Missouri doesn’t have this one bite rule.
Dog owners in Missouri are subject to strict liability laws. The dog’s owner can be liable for your damages even if the owner had no prior knowledge of the dog’s vicious tendencies.
While strict liability law is more victim-friendly, it doesn’t mean your case will be a slam dunk. Proof of negligence may still be necessary.
How Much Money Can I Get By Filing a Dog Bite Injury Claim in Creve Coeur?
Every personal injury case is different. It’s critical to evaluate the losses you have suffered–and may continue to suffer–when calculating the value of your personal injury claim.
In assessing your case value, the following factors will play an important role:
- The types of injuries involved
- The cost and duration of your medical treatment
- How the injury impacts your work and earning capacity
- How the injury impacts your home life and quality of life
- Anticipated future impacts associated with a long-term impairment
Like any injury victim, you have the right to be made “whole” again. Your compensation award should compensate for any loss you suffer due to the dog bite.
What Types of Damages Should I Expect to Receive if My Creve Coeur Dog Bite Claim is Successful?
Nearly every dog bite victim will be entitled to compensation to cover past and future medical expenses. Medical costs are typically a key part of your economic damages award.
Additional examples of economic damages include:
- Any medical costs, including reconstructive surgeries and specialized therapies
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- In-home assistance
- Mental health counseling
- Rehabilitation
Being attacked by a dog can also have a significant impact on your life as a whole. Aside from financial losses, you may experience a great deal of pain and trauma.
Examples of the non-economic damages that you may have experienced include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD and fear
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium in fatal injury cases
In rare cases, victims can receive punitive damages to compensate them for the at-fault party’s malicious or egregious conduct. The purpose of these damages is to deter future harm. Expect the insurance company to downplay the extent of your losses. Non-economic damages can be really difficult to prove. Our Creve Coeur dog bite attorneys have handled cases like yours before–and we know how to negotiate for a full settlement.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to Handle a Dog Bite Case in Missouri?
Our law firm works entirely on a contingency fee basis. When we recover compensation in your case, we take a percentage to cover our attorneys’ fees. You’ll never pay attorneys’ fees if we, for some reason, can’t recover compensation for you.
What Will Happen to My Damages Award If I’m Being Blamed for Provoking a Dog to Bite in Missouri?
Provocation is a key defense in dog bite injury claims. Missouri’s strict liability law only applies if you did nothing to provoke the animal. Provocation is typically judged based on a “reasonable person” standard. If a reasonable person should have known that your actions could provoke a dog to bite, the strict liability law may not protect you.
You don’t automatically lose your right to compensation. If the dog’s owner was also negligent, liability will be divided under Missouri’s pure comparative negligence law. You’ll be responsible for the amount of blame allocated to you.
What Types of Injuries Do Dog Bite Victims Suffer?
Dog bite injuries can be much more serious than the puncture wound itself. When a dog attacks, it can push the victim to the ground. The impact has the potential to cause significant injuries above and beyond the actual dog bite wound.
Some examples of the types of injuries a dog attack can cause include:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Soft tissue damage to the muscles, nerves, and tendons
- Nerve damage
- Back injuries and herniated discs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Infections, which can lead to sepsis, shock, and even amputations
- Avulsion injuries
If the victim was a child, the mental trauma may be just as severe as the physical injuries the dog has inflicted.
What Do I Prove to Win a Dog Bite Injury Case in Missouri?
Despite Missouri’s strict liability dog bite law, you’ll still need to prove a few different things to recover compensation.
Dog bite victims must prove the following:
- They were on public property or lawfully on private property (including the dog owner’s property).
- The dog bit them.
- They did nothing to provoke the dog bite.
- They suffered injuries.
A dog owner’s defenses to this law are actually laid out in the statute itself. They can claim you did something to provoke the dog or accuse you of trespassing when the bite occurred. It’s also possible that their animal injured you without actually biting.
Even if one of these defenses is successful, you can still hold the dog’s owner liable if they were negligent.
How Do I Prove a Negligence-Based Dog Bite Injury Case in Creve Coeur?
Anyone can be held financially responsible for their own negligence.
The basic elements of a negligence claim are:
- A defendant had a duty of care.
- They breached their duty.
- That breach caused some type of injury or harm.
- The victim suffered specified damages.
When dog owners are negligent, they can be liable for resulting harm. For example, if the dog’s owner allowed the dog to roam freely in violation of Creve Coeur leash laws or failed to take reasonable steps to secure an aggressive dog, they may be responsible.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Missouri?
A five-year statute of limitations typically applies in Missouri personal injury cases. If you fail to file a lawsuit within five years of the dog bite, you may not be able to sue for damages. Without the threat of trial, insurance companies will likely refuse to negotiate in good faith. If you were bitten by a dog, consulting a lawyer quickly is always a good idea.
Contact an Experienced Creve Coeur Dog Bite Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
If you were bitten by someone else’s dog, call Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers today for legal assistance. Dog bite injury claims can be difficult to handle. An experienced Creve Coeur dog bite lawyer can fight for every dollar you deserve. We offer a free consultation.
