Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Serving Kansas City, Missouri
If a dog bites you or a loved one and causes injury in Missouri, the dog’s owner may be held liable for the injuries after the initial trauma of the event has passed.
Accordingly, you may be able to claim compensation for any economic and non-economic losses incurred from the incident by submitting a personal injury claim.
However, claiming fair compensation for such injuries can be challenging—especially if the dog’s owner is a friend or neighbor. Many claimants find that the process is much simpler and the result more favorable with advocacy from an experienced dog bite injury lawyer.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a dog bite, contact the Noland Law Firm, LLC for a free case evaluation as a first step.
Serving The Greater Kansas City Area
At Noland Law Firm, LLC, we fight for the rights of dog bite victims in the greater Kansas City Area of Missouri. We serve clients throughout:
- Blue Springs,
- Gladstone,
- Independence,
- Kearney,
- Smithville,
- Excelsior Springs
- Saint Joseph
- North Kansas City, and
- The Greater Kansas City area
We combine the sophistication of a large legal practice with the personal attention of a small firm, which helps us provide each and every client with exceptional service. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a dog bite resulting from the negligence or intentional harm of the dog’s owner, you may be entitled to receive meaningful compensation.
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Who can be held liable for a dog bite injury in Kansas City?
Children between the ages of five and nine are most at risk for dog bite injuries. In Missouri, a dog owner is typically liable for any injuries their dog causes. If the owner has homeowner’s insurance, a claim can often be made against the insurer. In certain situations, others like dog caretakers, dog sitters, or property owners may also be held responsible if they failed to control the dog.
However, insurance companies often resist paying fair compensation in these cases. To ensure proper compensation and establish liability, it’s essential to consult with a Kansas City dog bite injury lawyer. In some cases, both the dog owner’s insurance and worker’s compensation may be involved.
What must be proven in a dog bite injury case?
In Missouri, dog owners may be held liable under a common law negligence standard. However, negligence must be proven by the injured party. This usually entails proof of the following elements:
- The liable party knew or should have known of the dangerous propensities of the dog
- The liable party failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the attack or failed to warn the injured party of the dog’s dangerous propensities
What is the “one bite rule”?
Many cases in Missouri hinge on the “one bite rule” whereby the dog owner knows that the dog has bitten at least one other person in the past and, therefore, has a duty to prevent any further attacks by taking reasonable steps. The failure to take these steps can be proof of negligence and liability for damages.
However, even if the dog has not bitten anybody before, the owner can still be held liable for attack injuries in some cases—particularly if the dog is allowed by the owner to be unleashed in a public place.
What compensation is available for dog bite injuries in Missouri?
Generally speaking, dog bite injury claims (like most personal injury claims) are settled without the need for a trial.
Settlement negotiations may take time, but they often result in a more acceptable solution than letting a judge decide the outcome.
Retaining the services of a dog bite injury lawyer can help maximize the compensation available to you from the dog owner and their insurance carrier. This can include both economic and non-economic losses, such as:
Economic damages
Lost wages, medical bills, loss of future earnings capacity, future medical bills, property damage, etc.
Non-economic damages
Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, loss of a family member’s services or consortium, etc.
There are no caps to the losses recoverable from dog bite injury claims in Missouri. Most times, you will receive an accurate estimate from an experienced dog bite injury lawyer based on previous casework.
What is the statute of limitations on dog bite injury claims in Missouri?
The statute of limitations places on personal injury victims a time limit from the date of the incident that caused their injuries. Anyone who wishes to file a lawsuit for a dog bite injury must generally do so within five years of the date of the incident.
Exceptions do exist—for instance, if a minor child is bitten, additional time may be allowed to file a claim. The general rule, however, is to move ahead as quickly as possible with legal action so that these time limits do not affect the case.
How can a dog bite injury lawyer help you?
A dog bite injury lawyer will first discuss the basics of what happened during a case evaluation.
Then, to begin the process of representing you, he/she will conduct a thorough investigation and start to gather evidence in support of your version of what happened. This will include checking the animal’s history from public records and reports from animal control and the police, as well as talking to witnesses.
It is best to start this process as soon as possible after the incident so that evidence is not destroyed, damaged or considered less reliable.
Your lawyer will usually start building a case to prove the liability of the dog owner. Whether your injuries involve the head and neck, face, eyes, disfigurement, nerve damage, a fracture or even amputation, your lawyer will push for the maximum recoverable compensation.
The dog bite injury attorneys will not rest until you get a fair settlement from the liable party. We are well accustomed to standing up to the tricks used by insurance companies to minimize claims.
For clients who are concerned about funding the services of a personal injury lawyer, our fee is usually taken on a contingency fee basis from the final settlement.
Contact Noland Law Firm Today
If you need to file a personal injury claim in Kansas City, Missouri and require legal assistance, please contact the seasoned personal injury lawyers at Noland Law Firm, LLC for a free case evaluation. Call us at 816-781-5055 or contact us directly online.
