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Dogs are beloved members of countless Missouri families. We encounter them in private homes, around our neighborhoods, at parks, at dog-friendly local businesses, and in public spaces across the state. Many of us treasure our interactions with dogs, and rarely, if ever, have occasion to worry about whether a dog might be a threat. Unfortunately, most dogs can and will bite under certain circumstances, and when they do, they can cause severe physical injuries and emotional stress.
If you suffered injuries due to a dog attack, a Columbia, Missouri, dog bite attorney with Holland Injury Law, LLC, can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. We’ll put our 30-plus years of experience to work in fighting for justice in your case, so you can prioritize your health and recovery instead of handling your own claim. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options in a free initial consultation.
Dog bite injuries can range in severity depending on the type of injury, the size of the dog, and the duration of the attack. While some injuries are more frightening than physically severe, others can be extremely dangerous and require prompt medical attention to prevent long-term side effects from developing.
A dog bite lawyer near Columbia, Missouri, can help you seek compensation for these and other injuries resulting from a dog attack. To protect yourself and strengthen your legal position if a dog bites you, it’s essential that you take immediate steps to address your injury. After cleaning the injury site and administering first aid, seek professional medical attention.
Your doctor or emergency medical professional will evaluate your injury and take the necessary measures to protect you from any immediate danger. For example, they may administer tetanus or rabies shots as needed to prevent infection. They may also perform imaging tests to better assess the severity of your injuries and determine the next steps for treatment.
Depending on the nature of your injuries, you may require the setting and immobilization of broken bones, physical therapy, reconstructive surgery, treatment for emotional trauma, or some combination of these and other treatments.
Your doctor will likely send you home with a treatment plan to maximize your physical recovery. Follow this treatment plan precisely – demonstrating commitment to your treatment will be an important component of your eventual legal case, should you choose to take action. You should also save all medical records and documentation arising from the incident.
After seeking medical treatment for your injuries, contact a dog bite attorney near Columbia, Missouri, to discuss your legal rights and options. If you have grounds to file a personal injury suit against the dog’s owner, an experienced and knowledgeable attorney can help you effectively and efficiently pursue the full range of compensation you deserve.
However, there are additional actions you can take to protect yourself. Chief among these is documenting your injury to the fullest extent possible. Take photos of your injuries and the scene where the incident occurred. If possible, get a picture of the dog. Get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses. Write down everything you can about the incident.
There will also be a considerable amount of documentation associated with a dog bite incident. Contact the police or report the attack to Columbia or Boone County Animal Control, depending on where the incident occurred. This will create official documentation of the incident. In addition to this documentation and your medical records, save all insurance documents and communication, as well as any other receipts or documents associated with the attack.
It’s also important to protect yourself by keeping the details of the incident and the legal process private. Avoid posting about the attack on social media, and stick to the basic facts if you need to speak with the dog’s owner or any insurance companies.
Dog owners are subject to strict liability under Missouri law. This means they’re responsible for any damage their dog causes by biting people, livestock, or property, regardless of whether the dog previously showed signs of vicious behavior.
The dog owner doesn’t have to exhibit evidence of negligence or ill intent. If their dog bites someone else, even if they tried to restrain their pet or stop the attack, they are considered liable and may be held financially responsible.
While dog owners are strictly liable when their pet bites another person without provocation, injury victims can also seek compensation under a number of other legal theories, including in cases where the dog injured them in some way other than by biting. A Columbia, Missouri, dog bite lawyer can explain your options for pursuing maximum compensation, given the circumstances.
Missouri has a five-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. This means you have five years from the injury date to file a suit and pursue compensation in your dog bite case. Failure to file within five years can prevent you from recovering the compensation you deserve.
This is why it’s critical that you contact a dog bite lawyer in Columbia, Missouri, right away. Building a strong case takes time, and some evidence may not be as easily accessible if you wait to initiate the legal process.
The amount of compensation you may receive depends on a variety of factors, particularly the severity of your injuries, the extent to which you may or may not recover, and whether the injury will prevent you from working. Your attorney will seek compensation based on their evaluation of the total impact of the dog bite incident on your life.
Trusting an experienced attorney to handle your case improves your likelihood of recovering compensation for your dog bite injuries. You’ll benefit from your lawyer’s understanding of the law and their experience advocating for clients in similar situations.
As your Columbia, Missouri, dog bite attorney, Holland Injury Law, LLC, will put our skills and resources to work gathering evidence, developing your case, negotiating with insurance companies, and, if necessary, arguing your case at trial. We’re prepared to fight aggressively for your rights and hold the dog’s owner accountable.
Contact Holland Injury Law, LLC, today to get started with a free consultation. We look forward to learning about your situation and discussing how we can help you move on following a dog bite injury.
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