Being bitten by a dog in Edwardsville can leave you dealing with physical wounds, stress, costly medical bills, lost work, and uncertainty about what comes next. Navigating Illinois’ legal and insurance systems while trying to heal is often confusing and overwhelming.
An Edwardsville personal injury lawyer can provide the practical advice and support you need and deserve during this time. They can hold homeowners and pet owners accountable. If a dog attack has disrupted your life, our Edwardsville dog bite lawyers are here to help you understand your next steps and protect your rights.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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Why You Should Contact Drafahl Law Firm After a Dog Bite in Edwardsville
Finding the right attorney after a dog bite can be the turning point in your recovery. Here’s why so many clients choose Drafahl Law Firm after an attack:
- Our firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of dog bites and other injuries, standing up to insurance adjusters who try to minimize your pain and losses.
- We approach every dog bite case as unique, customizing our legal strategy to your specific injuries, medical situation, and long-term needs.
- By limiting the number of dog bite and injury cases we accept at once, our team ensures your concerns are heard and your case never gets lost in the shuffle.
You deserve individual care and focused advocacy during your claim. Connect with Drafahl Law Firm and learn how our Edwardsville dog bite lawyers can help.
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How an Edwardsville Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help You
After a dog bite in Edwardsville, the path to healing – both physical and financial – can be complicated. Fortunately, you don’t have to handle it alone. A dog bite attorney can help you in the following ways:
- Collect animal control reports, witness statements, vet records for previous bite history, and your medical documentation to build a clear, detailed claim
- Work with doctors who understand how infection, nerve damage, or scarring from dog bites can affect your life in the long-term, providing convincing expert testimony if your case goes to court
- Fight back against unreasonably low settlement offers from defendants and their insurance company to make sure your costs are completely covered
Handling the aftermath of a dog attack is a heavy burden, but working with an experienced Edwardsville dog bite lawyer means you have knowledge and compassion on your side.
Missouri Dog Bite Laws – Strict Liability
In Missouri, dog bites are governed by strict liability. This means that if a dog bites someone, the owner is automatically responsible for the injuries, even if the dog has never been aggressive before or the owner had no reason to think the dog was dangerous.
273.036. Owner liable, when — fine, amount. — 1. The owner or possessor of any dog that bites, without provocation, any person while such person is on public property, or lawfully on private property, including the property of the owner or possessor of the dog, is strictly liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s or possessor’s knowledge of such viciousness. Owners and possessors of dogs shall also be strictly liable for any damage to property or livestock proximately caused by their dogs. If it is determined that the damaged party had fault in the incident, any damages owed by the owner or possessor of the biting dog shall be reduced by the same percentage that the damaged party’s fault contributed to the incident.
If you were in a place you had a legal right to be and you didn’t provoke the dog, the owner is liable for your medical bills and resulting damages.
Proving Your Damages After a Dog Bite
While strict liability makes it easier to file a claim – you don’t have to prove negligence – you still have to show your damages and understand how to build your case. Here’s how this typically works:
After a dog bite in Missouri, you need to clearly show the extent of your damages to receive fair compensation. This means putting together solid evidence for each kind of loss related to your injury.
Medical Bills and Treatment Records
Gather copies of all doctor visits, hospital stays, x-rays, prescriptions, vaccinations, therapy, and anticipated future care.
Lost Wages and Impact on Work
If your injury forced you to miss work, document your lost hours, missed overtime, and any long-term changes to your career or ability to keep your job. Proof might include pay stubs, letters from your employer, or statements from your physician about limitations caused by the bite.
Pain and Suffering
It’s important to show how the dog bite has affected your daily life in ways that can’t be measured in dollars. Keeping a daily journal of pain levels, mobility issues, sleep problems, and emotional struggles (like anxiety around dogs) can add to your claim.
Permanent Scarring or Disfigurement
Photographic evidence of the injury over time, as well as diagnosis and testimony from surgeons or other specialists, demonstrate whether your wound resulted in scars, mobility problems, or permanent disfigurement.
The best way to make sure you have a solid claim that will give you the most compensation for your losses is to work with a dog bite attorney as soon as possible after the incident.
If a loved one was involved in a dog attack that was fatal, contact our wrongful death attorneys in Edwardsville today to get the justice they deserve.
Drafahl Law Firm Can Help – Contact Us To Speak With an Edwardsville Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog attacks can change your life in an instant, but getting strong, supportive legal advice can help you rebuild and get the justice you deserve. If you want clear answers and a legal team that puts your health and needs first, our Edwardsville dog bite lawyers can help. You’ve been through enough—speak up and let someone experienced get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact Drafahl Law Firm today to schedule your free case evaluation.