Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Lake St. Louis, MO

Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Lake St. Louis, MO. We love our pet dogs and may even go so far as to call them family members or honorary coworkers. Many of us have dogs at home in Lake St. Louis, MO and we get a lot of joy from spending time with them. However, dogs are still animals and do not have the ability to verbally communicate to us how they feel or what they are thinking. When a dog bites for whatever reason — they felt unsafe, were sick or in pain or were otherwise spurred to act on their instinct to attack — and you are hurt, you should be given a recovery. Though we have a number of laws in Lake St. Louis and Missouri and recommendations responsible pet owners can follow to prevent dogs from attacking humans, but dog bites and dog bite injuries still take place in Lake St. Louis, MO. When you or someone you know becomes the victim of a dog bite, we hare here to ensure that you get a fair recovery.

If your or someone you love has been harmed by a dog that bit, contact Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP. Our Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyers handle each case fervently and with great care and dedication. You did not deserve to be injured and it would be unjust to leave you to deal with the consequences on your own. Missouri law provides a path for you to recover full compensation for the damages and losses you have suffered as a result of your injuries, but for a chance to collect a fair settlement, you will likely need a skilled Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer standing by you. Our distinguished team of attorneys have the experience and resources to make sure you are made whole again and allowed to move forward from this experience. Review your Lake St. Louis, MO case with Combs Waterkotte today in a complementary consultation today. Start your recovery by contacting us now.

What compensation can my Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer help me receive?

Each Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury claim is unique and you are likely to experience anxiety and uncertainly about your case after a dog hurts you. The value of a dog bite claim in Lake St. Louis, MO could be anywhere from $10,000 for minor but demonstrable injuries to easily over $100,000 for bites that result in more serious, lasting damage and expensive medical bills. Remember, though, that to truly understand the possible settlement amount you can expect to receive for your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite claim, speak to a Combs Waterkotte dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO about your case. Your compensation depends, in addition to other factors, on how extensive and debilitating your injuries and other damages are.

Damages you can recover in a dog bite injury case in Lake St. Louis, MO include:

The final dollar amount you recover is determined by a combination of many factors, including whether you hire an experienced Lake St. Louis, MO lawyer. It is important to note that a Combs Waterkotte dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO will not take on your case unless we can add value, meaning we will not agree to work for you unless we believe we can help you recover more money than you would be able to recover by yourself. This also takes into account the contingency-fee-basis on which we operate, which means that your Combs Waterkotte Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer will not charge you anything unless we win your case. At that point, we accept payment through a percentage of your total settlement once you receive your payment. That means our experienced dog bite injury lawyers in the Lake St. Louis, MO area work on your case at no out-of-pocket costs to you. There is no reason not to speak to our Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer team to discuss your case and learn how we can help.

How much is my case worth if I hire a dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO?

The average dog bite injury settlement is about $40,000 for a “severe but typical dog bite injury”, while dog bites that cause permanent scarring and disfigurement settle for closer to $100,000 and dog bites that result in permanent disability can result in settlements of over $200,000.

While we wish we could promise an exact number, these averages do not guarantee anything for your particular case outcome. Because your recovery depends on the unique circumstances and characteristics of your individual case, you need to speak to a dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO. Trust the Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite attorneys of Combs Waterkotte and ask us to review your dog bite injury case today.

Factors That Affect Your Settlement in a Dog Bite Case

The settlement you receive in your dog bite case depends on factors like:

• You have scarring or are disfigured as a result of the dog bite.
• The dog bite has made you permanently disabled.
• You need emergency medical care due to your dog bite injuries.
• Your injuries require you to undergo surgery or receive other extensive medical care.
• You suffered psychological harm from the dog bite incident that required professional mental health treatment.

When you hire Combs Waterkotte, your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer will remain committed to investigating and proving the statements above that apply in your case. We put the full weight of our resources behind obtaining evidence, determining liability and building a strong argument to make sure you get the best possible result in your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury claim.

Beyond the situation surrounding the accident and the severity of your injuries, the total sum your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer can get you will also depend on other factors, such as:

• Who is liable for the dog bite
• The insurance coverage policy limits
• The total economic losses you have suffered as a result of the bite, including the cost of your medical bills
• How your dog bite injury lawyer assesses and calculates the value of your non-economic damages
• The ability of your dog bite injury lawyer to negotiate a settlement for your case

Average settlements in personal injury claims like dog attacks are around three times higher for victims who hire a dog bite injury lawyer for representation than for those who try to settle their case without legal representation. Find out if Combs Waterkotte can help you collect a higher, more just settlement in your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite case by calling us at (314) 900-HELP today to go over your case with a knowledgeable Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer.

Lake St. Louis, MO Dog Bite Injury Lawyer: Determining Who Is Liable

To settle your case at a sum that can help you move forward in life after being harmed in a dog bite incident, you will need to work with your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer to determine who is legally responsible for the damages you have suffered and, thus, who to hold accountable for your suffering.

Liability in a dog bite or any personal injury case describes who is responsible for your losses. With a Combs Waterkotte dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO, you have a professional who is well-acquainted with Missouri law and has seen many different situations regarding liability in personal injury cases including dog bite injuries. We will make sure we hold the right people accountable and make sure they pay for the damages you have experienced.

In Missouri, Revised Statute Section 273.036 makes our state one that practices strict liability in dog bite injury cases. Strict liabillity is a legal policy that names a party accountable — in this case, the dog owner — regardless of their intention or whether there was fault. That means that your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury attorney does not need to demonstrate that the dog owner was negligent or had the dog attack you on purpose. To win your Missouri dog bite injury case, all you need to prove is that you were injured and it was the owner’s dog that injured you. Specifically, the Missouri statute lays out that the Lake St. Louis or Missouri dog bite owner is legally responsible for your injuries if:

• you were injured as a result of a dog bite;
• you were on public property or were on a private property legally (in other words, you were not trespassing); and
• you did nothing to provoke the dog to attack.

If you were not trespassing and a dog bit you unprovoked, your Combs Waterkotte dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO can get you a fair recovery in your strict liability claim against the dog’s owner, and typically it is the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance that will cover the cost of your damages. However, you may have claims against other parties under other types of liability standards, too.

• Negligence: You may have a negligence claim if a person was negligent, either through an action or omission, in upholding their duty of care to you. Someone who allows a dog to run free through the neighborhood unsupervised or fails to crate their anxious dog when they are expecting visitors to their home could be seen as negligent and your Combs Waterkotte dog bite injury lawyer can fight to hold them accountable in a negligence claim. If a property owner or landlord was aware of but neglected to fix a broken fence and a tenant’s dog got out of the property and bit someone, the landlord may be negligent.
• Negligence per se: Negligence per se refers to liability that is assigned automatically through the act of breaking a law. Rather than proving that the defendant did not act with care as a reasonable person would, your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite lawyer can show that the person is liable for your injuries because of the simple fact that they broke a law that was meant to protect you. For example, certain cities and municipalities have laws that require owners to keep their dogs on leashes or prohibit dogs from being on others’ properties without permission from the property owner. If the person in possession of the dog broke one of these rules and that dog bit you, ask your attorney about a possible case of negligence per se.

Who is responsible for my dog bite injury?

Due to the possibility of additional claims of negligence outside of the strict liability statute in Missouri, it is possible that you have other cases against other defendants other than the owner of the dog. Depending on considerations such as the parties that were present, where the bite occurred, and what the parties in question did or did not do, your dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO may build a case against other defendants in your Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite case, like:

• Landlords
• Stores
• Employers
• Government organizations
• Dog walkers
• Places of business where dogs are present, such as pet stores, dog daycare facilities, etc.

If you or a loved one were bitten by a dog and you suspect that additional parties share the blame or that the owner has more blame than strict liability covers, take the first step toward your recovery and speak to a dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO about your case as soon as possible. Combs Waterkotte has a dedicated team of talented Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury attorneys ready to fight for your recovery and make the right parties pay. You did not deserve to be attacked or harmed, and you should be allowed to recover through all legal remedies available to you under Missouri law. The legal team at Combs Waterkotte will get you a just recovery. Call us now at (314) 900-HELP.

Our Lake St. Louis, MO attorneys can help you seek justice in any type of personal injury or criminal case. Some of our practice area specialties include:

• Gun Crime Lawyer
• Child Abuse & Neglect Lawyer
• Homicide Lawyer
• Assault Lawyer
• Rape Defense Lawyer
• Sex Offense Lawyers
• DWI Attorney
• Crime Defense Lawyers
• Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
• Child Pornography Defense Lawyer

Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Lake St. Louis, Missouri: Talk to a Lawyer Now

After facing the unexpected tragedy of a dog bite injury, a dog bite injury lawyer in Lake St. Louis, MO with Combs Waterkotte can help you seek justice. A dog bite is usually a traumatic experience, and the physical and psychological injuries it leaves can have a significant impact on your life. Give yourself a chance to be made whole again by consulting with an accomplished Lake St. Louis, MO dog bite injury lawyer today.

As your dog bite injury lawyer, we are here to demand that you are justly compensated after suffering the harm of something like a dog bite attack. After being bitten and injured by a dog, call Combs Waterkotte right away at (314) 900-HELP or send us a message to discover how we can help you with your case.