Dog bites in Missouri can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial harm. The amount of money you can recover depends on factors specific to your situation, including the severity of your injuries and your medical expenses. These factors vary significantly among Missouri dog bite victims. What matters is that you work with an experienced Missouri dog bite lawyer who can maximize your compensation.
Under Mo. Rev. Statute § 322.145, dog owners are strictly liable for damages that result from a dog bite. “Strictly liable” means you don’t have to prove the dog’s owner acted negligently or that the dog had a prior history of aggressive behavior. A separate statute, § 273.036 also provides strict liability for owners or possessors of dogs that bite, without provocation, any person while on public property or lawfully on private property.
Compensation for a dog bite can include money for:
This can add up to thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on your injuries and their severity. A Missouri dog bite attorney can evaluate your case and give you a more accurate estimate of what your claim might be worth.
Missouri law generally allows an injured person five years from the date of the dog bite to file a dog bite lawsuit against the dog’s owner. However, we urge you to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. If you wait too long to talk to an attorney, critical evidence may disappear or deteriorate, making it harder to prove your case and recover fair compensation.
Filing and winning a dog bite injury claim in Missouri can present challenges. Attorney Ryan R. Cox and his team can make this process simpler by handling all the legal procedures for you. We can investigate the incident and collect evidence of your injuries and other losses. It may be possible to file an insurance claim against the dog’s owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. If the dog’s owner or their insurer won’t negotiate in good faith, we can file a lawsuit and take your case to trial. We’ll guard your rights throughout the legal process and work to recover the money you need to rebuild your life.
Don’t wait to talk to an attorney about your Missouri dog bite cases. Call Ryan R. Cox & Associates now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
