St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyer

What to Do After a Dog Bite

All dogs are capable of inflicting serious injury and damage if they attack, although some dog breeds are capable of causing more painful injuries than others.

After an attack, you, or your loved one, should seek immediate medical treatment.

Being able to prove that you attempted some form of mitigation toward your injuries will help solidify a potential St. Louis dog bite lawsuit.

Document the incident through photos, reports, and witness testimony.

Make sure to record all the costs that are associated with the damages that you have suffered.

Also, you should either call 911 or go to the emergency room.

In St. Louis, there are a number of hospitals you can choose from – Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Saint Alexius Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Saint Louis University Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital are some of the most prominent.

Regardless of the medical center, you choose to get your injuries treated, medical care is a priority.

Once your injuries have been taken care of, and before talking with an insurance company, you should contact a St. Louis dog bite lawyer to help you with further steps.

St. Louis Pet Ownership Laws

Missouri law defines the liability of animal attack incidents by strict liability rules.

According to the law, if an unprovoked dog attacks a person on public property, or lawfully on private property, the dog’s owner is held liable.

If the animal attacked another person or animal and was unprovoked, the owner is liable for the injuries sustained from the attack regardless of the dog’s nature, breed, or history of non-violence.

Missouri used to have a “dangerous dog breed” law that basically held owners of certain dog breeds to a higher standard because of their “inherently more dangerous nature.” However, this law was changed and liability is the same for all dog owners, regardless of breed.

The statute of limitations in Missouri is two years from the date the incident occurred.

If you were bitten by a dog and suffered a dog bite injury, it is important to contact a lawyer right away.

Hiring a St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyer

Hiring a personal injury lawyer is an important decision, but after choosing a St. Louis injury lawyer, they will be able to assist you in further legal action.

To file a claim against a dog owner, you and your attorney must be able to prove the liability of the dog owner for the incident. The injuries that you endure must be the direct result of the dog bite.

After establishing a liable party, make a list of all current and future costs resulting from the injury. These costs may include:

• Medical Bills
• Expected Future Medical Costs
• Lost Wages
• Permanent Scarring
• Rehabilitation
• Permanent Disability

A dog bite is a traumatic event and often results in psychological scarring. Along with physical damages (injury), you may be entitled to compensation, in the form of punitive damages, for any emotional damages that you endured.

You will likely have to deal with an insurance provider at some point during the duration of the claims process. It is important to compile tangible evidence to prove that the bite did occur, otherwise the insurance provider may refuse to cover you.

Collecting evidence to present to insurance providers is very important because often, insurance companies will try to place blame on the injured individual by suggesting they provoked the attack.

While this tactic is shameful, it can work if there is not enough evidence to prove otherwise. A St. Louis dog bite lawyer will help ensure you have every box checked when filing a lawsuit and subsequently negotiating for a settlement.

Filing a St. Louis Dog Bite Lawsuit

The civil lawsuit process can be stressful and overwhelming, especially to someone who has just suffered a traumatic personal injury.

Having an experienced St. Louis dog bite lawyer at your side is beneficial in numerous different legal aspects. TorHoerman Law operates on a contingency fee basis.

This means that we will guide you through all legal proceedings and you do not owe any payment until you have been compensated for your injury.

Filing a personal injury law suit does not have to be so strenuous, let us help you.

St. Louis Dog Bite Lawyers

At TorHoerman Law, our focus is people. Our team of personal injury lawyers specializes in St. Louis dog bite injury lawsuit.

TorHoerman law has won more than $4 billion in verdicts and negotiated settlements for our clients. A St. Louis dog bite lawyer is here to help you receive the help you need, which includes getting you the compensation you deserve for the injuries and suffering you endured.

Contact a St. Louis dog bite lawyer at TorHoerman Law today for a free, no-obligation St. Louis dog bite lawsuit case consultation.