After suffering a dog bite, you head to the hospital immediately. But now your favorite shirt is torn, and the costly stitches on your hand will make doing your job impossible for the next the next couple of weeks. You might be wondering if you can receive compensation to make up for the mess that has resulted from your scary encounter with a seemingly innocent dog.
Depending on the circumstances of the attack, Missouri dog owners might have to pay for all the damages involved.
Strict liability
Under state law, dog owners face strict liability. This means that they have pay for all the hurt caused by a dog attack, both on private and public property — even if their dog has never hurt anyone before.
Specifically, dog owners may have to pay a fine up to $1,000 and pay for case-specific damages if their dog bit someone. When a dog owner is liable, they must pay for damages both economic and non-economic in nature. Meaning, as a victim, you could receive money to replace your shirt, pay medical bills, make up for lost wages and compensation for the anguish caused by this traumatic event.
Trespassing and provoking
Sometimes dog bite victims play a role in the attack by either provoking the dog or trespassing on property. In these cases, the dog bite victim might not be eligible for the same level of compensation as someone who suffered a random attack. The court will calculate a percentage of fault each party contributed to figure out if the bite victim can receive any compensation. So, if you went in your neighbor’s yard without an invitation and greeted their dog, then you might have to pay for most of the medical costs out of pocket.
Asking before petting someone’s dog is always a good policy. But if you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite, then a personal injury attorney can help you receive the compensation you need to move on from this distressing situation.