Kansas City Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
Put 50+ Years of Experience in Your Corner
Although dogs have been humankind’s best friend for millennia, that
friendship hasn’t come without risk to the latter’s safety.
Every year,
more than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs – nearly 20% of which require medical attention.
The cost of dog bites is also significant. According to the Insurance
Information Institute, nearly 17,000 homeowners insurance liability claims
totaled almost $855 million in 2020 alone.
If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a dog bite, look no further than
Bertram & Graf, L.L.C. Our Kansas City dog bite lawyers want to fight for your rights following
such a traumatic experience. Injuries caused at the hands of a dog bite
include, but are not limited to:
- Fractures
- Amputations
- Head and face injuries
- Emotional distress
- Contusions
- Heavy scarring
Nearly half of dog bite victims are minors under the age of 18, making
the situation even more urgent, and the injuries even more serious. This
is why our legal team will work tirelessly to hold the dog’s owner
responsible for his or her negligence. We will investigate your case in
a meticulous manner, to ensure you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Laws On Dog Bites
According to the Missouri Revised Statutes section 273.036.1 a dog owner
can be held liable for a dog bite if:
- The injury was a direct result of the dog bite
- The injury victim was either on public property or lawfully on private property
- The injury victim did not provoke the dog
Additionally, Missouri is one of the states that follow “strict liability”
law when it comes to dog bites. This means that a dog owner can still
be held liable for a dog bit even if they took reasonable care to prevent
the attack.
Important Steps to Take When a Dog Bites
No matter how calm or composed a breed or individual dog is believed to
be, it’s important to remember that all dogs have the capacity to
bite and inflict considerable injury upon a human being. That said, there
are several important steps you should take should you become injured
by a dog bite.
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Once you have been separated from the attacking dog, immediately seek medical
treatment. Dog bites can be extremely serious and even fatal injuries,
especially if you are losing a lot of blood. It’s also important
to identify the dog – if possible – to find out whether or
not it was vaccinated against rabies and if you will require treatment
for this disease risk.
Chances are you will require stitches to close any lacerations the dog
caused. You might also require surgery if the attack resulted in broken
bones, nerve damage, or other more serious injuries.
2. Identify the Dog’s Owner
It’s vital to identify the dog’s owner as soon as possible.
This is the individual who was responsible for the dog at the time of
the attack. They may have been with their dog out in public or unaware
of their dog’s location if the animal escaped from their home. In
any case, the owner must be identified.
3. Document Injuries & the Scene
As soon as possible, take pictures of your injuries. If you can, take some
while awaiting medical treatment and some after you have been treated.
Thorough visual documentation of your injuries can provide the evidence
you’ll need to demonstrate the viciousness of the attack.
You should also document the scene to demonstrate that you were on your
own or public property if an unlocked gate or short fence allowed the
animal to escape, and any other conditions that may demonstrate that the
owner’s negligence caused the attack.
4. Talk to Witnesses
If anyone else witnesses the attack, collect their contact information.
If you pursue a personal injury lawsuit, witnesses may be asked to provide
the court with their account of the event.
5. Collect Insurance Information
The dog’s owner should have homeowners’ insurance or a similar
policy that addresses dog bites. Make sure that you collect this information
and get a claim number if one is available.
6. Don’t Discuss the Incident with Anyone
Avoid discussing the dog attack with anyone else, especially the dog owner.
Assume that anything you say will be used against you to limit your recovery
of damages or defeat your claim entirely. Never admit fault for provoking
a dog or any other activity that may have caused the attack. At the end
of the day, dogs shouldn’t bite people and their owners are responsible
for ensuring they don’t.
Contact Our Kansas City Dog Bite Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog,
our legal team at Bertram & Graf, L.L.C. understands just how harrowing of a situation
it may be. We know you are now likely facing a number of painful injuries,
costly medical bills, loss of work or wages, as well as pain and suffering
due to the trauma of the event. This is why we don’t want you to
face this difficult time alone--allow us to be your trusted legal advocates
until your case is resolved.
Schedule a free initial consultation with a trusted Kansas City dog bite
lawyer today by
calling (888) 398-2277.
