What you need to know about a Missouri dog bite claim
Missouri dog bite claims are on the rise. Statistically, the United States sees the majority of its dog bite injury claims take place in the Midwest. Missouri is one of the leading states in the union as far as reported dog attacks that end up in injury claims for compensation. What do you need to know about a Missouri dog bite claim? Investigation of a dog bite claim is something that should be handled by a personal injury lawyer. Dog bite cases are easily lost without the proper investigative materials, which include: witness statements, animal control history reports, photographs of the subject dog and location where the dog should have been secured, quarantine reports, statements from police, etc. Witness statements should be recorded in accordance with the laws that private investigators are required to follow in Missouri.
Gathering evidence in a dog bite claim is just the beginning. Application of Missouri dog bite laws to the facts of YOUR case is the next step. This is a two part process. The first part is determining liability against the owner of the dog that caused the injury. The date of the dog bite is of critical importance in determining liability. If the dog bite occurred before August 29, 2009, the case is much more difficult to prove because of the old Missouri law that applied to dog owners. As of August 29, 2009, Missouri adopted a strict liability approach to dog bites and liability of the owners when these dogs caused injury to persons or property.
The second step is proving your injuries, otherwise known as "damages." Proving damages requires affidavits from medical providers, along with medical records and itemized billing, and an accounting of any other special damages that flowed as a result of the dog bite. Since many dog attack claims for compensation contain a component of emotional damages, it becomes tricky when claiming emotional distress, especially if there is no psychologist or other expert that has been retained to discuss these damages. A St. Louis dog bite lawyer can be skilled at proving emotional damages in a dog bite injury case.
Contact a St. Louis personal injury lawyer to discuss your dog bite claim, and what you need to know to win your case. These claims can involve topics of compensation that are hard to prove and will often times be minimized by the insurance claims adjuster who is working on the case. An aggressive dog bite injury lawyer may be just what you need to win your case and obtain the maximum compensation permitted under Missouri law.
Gathering evidence in a dog bite claim is just the beginning. Application of Missouri dog bite laws to the facts of YOUR case is the next step. This is a two part process. The first part is determining liability against the owner of the dog that caused the injury. The date of the dog bite is of critical importance in determining liability. If the dog bite occurred before August 29, 2009, the case is much more difficult to prove because of the old Missouri law that applied to dog owners. As of August 29, 2009, Missouri adopted a strict liability approach to dog bites and liability of the owners when these dogs caused injury to persons or property.
The second step is proving your injuries, otherwise known as "damages." Proving damages requires affidavits from medical providers, along with medical records and itemized billing, and an accounting of any other special damages that flowed as a result of the dog bite. Since many dog attack claims for compensation contain a component of emotional damages, it becomes tricky when claiming emotional distress, especially if there is no psychologist or other expert that has been retained to discuss these damages. A St. Louis dog bite lawyer can be skilled at proving emotional damages in a dog bite injury case.
Contact a St. Louis personal injury lawyer to discuss your dog bite claim, and what you need to know to win your case. These claims can involve topics of compensation that are hard to prove and will often times be minimized by the insurance claims adjuster who is working on the case. An aggressive dog bite injury lawyer may be just what you need to win your case and obtain the maximum compensation permitted under Missouri law.
