What are common types of injuries from dog bites in Joplin, MO?

Dog bites can result in a wide range of serious injuries. Among the most common are: Superficial wounds, skin punctures, infection and most serious is rabies.

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Dog Bite Attorneys in Joplin, Jasper County

Dogs can be great companions. Most are loyal, lifelong friends who are considered to be part of the family. However, not all dogs are friendly or well-behaved. Some may be uncomfortable with people they don’t know. They could quickly become quite aggressive and even lash out and attack or bite others with or without reason.

If you were bitten by a dog in the Joplin, Missouri area, Holland Injury Law can help you seek compensation for what happened. Our trained staff have years of experience in these types of cases and know what to anticipate and expect. Contact us today for a free consultation with a dog bite injury lawyer serving Joplin, and let’s discuss your case together.

How Holland Injury Law Helps Dog Bite Victims in Joplin

Why turn to Holland Injury Law for help after a dog bite in Joplin? Because we’ll take the burden of your legal case off your shoulders and give you the time and space you need to heal. While you focus on getting better, we’ll focus on:

Investigating what happened to determine liable parties and identify relevant insurance policies and other sources of compensation
Working with medical professionals and other experts to determine the financial and personal harm you’ve suffered because of your injuries
Calculating the fair value of your case so we know how much to demand on your behalf
Sending demand letters and negotiating aggressively for a settlement that fully compensates you for your losses
Preparing for trial and proceeding to court if the liable parties won’t make you a fair settlement offer

We know that life is hard after a dog bite. That’s why we won’t add to your concerns by charging you upfront fees. You’ll only pay us if we successfully resolve your case in your favor, and our fee comes from the settlement or award we recover on your behalf. That means you’re never paying out of pocket for our experienced, tenacious representation.

Kinds of Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites can result in a wide range of serious injuries. Among the most common are as follows:

Superficial wounds – Lacerations, scratches, or abrasions are superficial wounds. While relatively minor, they can worsen without prompt and sufficient medical intervention.
Skin punctures – Some dog bites puncture the skin, with more severe consequences. It can take victims more time to recover from this type of dog bite injury, based on the depth of the puncture and the area of the body where the person was bitten. These injuries are more likely to result in scarring.
Infection – Some dog bites can cause an infection in the victim. The American Association of Family Physicians recommends that people who have weakened immune systems, diabetes, chronic edema, a recent mastectomy or other similar conditions be treated right away.
Rabies – Rabies is a particularly dangerous form of viral infection. Even though the chances of humans contracting rabies from a dog bite are low, it’s still a good idea to find out if the dog that bit you has been vaccinated for rabies. Victims may need to be immunized against rabies if they were bitten by a dog whose rabies vaccination status is unknown.

If you have been injured by a dog bite and are concerned for your health, seek medical attention right away. That way, your injury can be diagnosed quickly, and your recovery time may be reduced.

Understanding Missouri’s Dog Bite Laws

Since 2009, Missouri has had a law on the books that imposes strict liability on the owner of a dog who bites another person. Strict liability means that a victim does not have to prove that a dog’s owner was negligent in the handling of their dog or knew of their dog’s violent tendencies. They only need to show that:

The owner’s dog bit the victim.
The victim did not provoke or harass the animal prior to its attack.
The attack happened on public property or while the victim was lawfully on private property, including the dog owner’s property.

Missouri also allows dog bite victims to pursue claims under the theory of negligence—that the owner or possessor of the dog did not take sufficient care of their animal to prevent it from biting someone. A subset of negligence claims rest on negligence per se, meaning the owner or possessor of the dog violated a safety law meant to prevent their dog from biting others (such as a local leash requirement), which led to the attack.

Missouri’s current civil procedure and limitations state that dog bite victims have five years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit. Victims who wait more than five years to file suit will most likely have a Missouri court dismiss their case. If you’ve been injured by a dog bite, we suggest talking to one of our experienced professionals today.

Securing Compensation for Dog Bite Injuries

If you were bit by a dog in Joplin, there’s a good chance that the animal’s owner is liable for your injuries. This means they owe you money for your:

Past and future medical expenses
Lost wages and impacted earning potential
Pain and suffering
Diminished quality of life, including scarring/disfigurement
Personal property damage

If you’re like many people, though, you worry about filing a claim against the dog’s owner—especially if they’re a friend or family member. Fortunately, it’s unlikely that the owner will have to pay you themselves. Rather, the compensation comes from their homeowners or renters insurance policy. While they might see their premiums go up slightly, they won’t be out of pocket for your expenses.

However, it’s also important to understand that the insurance company doesn’t want to pay you, either. These companies make their profits by collecting more in premiums than they pay out in claims, and they’re not excited to see those profits go down. As such, the insurance company will look for any way it can to suggest you provoked the animal, argue that you weren’t legally on the owner’s property, or otherwise deny your claim or limit your payout. Don’t let the company do this. Instead, level the playing field by getting help from an experienced dog bite injury lawyer serving Joplin.

Contact an Experienced Joplin Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Today

Holland Injury Law has recovered over $300 Million for our 7,000+ clients. We will take the time to sit with you to listen to your concerns and advise you on your options. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let a dog bite injury lawyer serving Joplin handle your case on your behalf.

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