Dog Bite Lawyers Guide Victims To Compensation In St Louis

High Ridge Township, Missouri -

The Missouri Injury Law Firm, based in High Ridge, MO, is helping St. Louis dog bite victims and their families seek recompense for their suffering and other losses. Dog bite attacks frequently have life-changing consequences throughout the country, and the firm seeks to ensure Missouri victims have the legal means to take back their lives and dignity.

Dog bites can be dangerous for multiple reasons. As is readily apparent, bites can cause physical injuries, ranging from mild to severe. Dogs have strong jaws, which combined with sharp teeth can cause deep puncture wounds, lacerations and abrasions. These injuries can result in severe pain, bleeding and potential damage to the victim’s muscles, tendons and nerves. In some cases, they may require surgical intervention to repair the damage.

A dog’s mouth can harbor many pathogens that could prove dangerous to people. One common concern is tetanus (also known as lockjaw), which can be transmitted through a bite, along with a host of other bacterial and viral infections. This is why it is strongly recommended that victims see a doctor immediately following a bite to receive necessary care.

However, as the Missouri Injury Law Firm points out, many fail to consider the fact that dog bites can result in psychological trauma. Being bitten by a dog can be a terrifying and distressing experience, and this is especially true for young children. A single event can cause long-lasting emotional effects, including fearfulness, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Victims may develop a fear of dogs or become apprehensive in similar situations, affecting their quality of life and interactions with animals.

According to the firm, the most common victims of dog bites are children, which is particularly concerning given that as many as 1 in 5 dog bites will need medical attention. Further, parents should be aware that most dog bite incidents that involve young children will take place during otherwise typical activity — and with a dog they are familiar with, such as their own or a neighbor’s.

However a dog bite incident occurs, the Missouri Injury Law Firm says there are certain steps that victims should follow in the aftermath to preserve their health as well as their right to compensation. The first order of business is to seek medical attention from a suitable healthcare professional. This is vital to do immediately, even if a bite does not look severe, given the potential for infection. Some diseases, such as rabies, have a small window in which the individual can be treated, without which there may be fatal consequences.

To help build their case, a victim should also make an effort to record information about the incident. This should include the dog’s breed, its owner’s name and local address (the firm also wishes to note that victims may still be able to seek compensation if they were bitten by a stray dog). Should there be witnesses to the bite, their contact details should be recorded as well since their recollection of the event could be useful. Learn more here: https://www.injurylawyers-stlouis.com/

At this point, the victim (or a family representative, if they need to continue their medical care), should seek out a dog bite lawyer who can assess their case and determine how strong their claim may be. Several firms, including the Missouri Injury Law Firm, offer free dog bite consultations as they recognize how serious this issue is for the victim.

A dog bite lawyer from St. Louis, MO may advise the victim to file a report with the local Animal Control office. Should the case proceed, this report may prove beneficial. Since consultations for this type of case tend to be free, it is always in a victim’s best interest to seek a legal professional’s opinion.

Dog bite victims and their families are welcome to seek this opinion at any time from the team at the Missouri Injury Law Firm. A free case review and consultation may be scheduled via the firm’s official website, but St. Louis residents may also get in touch over the phone or via Facebook.