Being attacked by a dog is a very traumatic incident, no matter your age. Dog bites can cause significant physical and emotional harm. They often require an extensive amount of medical care, including plastic surgery and future treatment for scar revision. Some dog attacks require the victim to undergo psychological counseling to deal with the traumatic experience of the attack.

If you suffered a serious injury after being attacked by another person’s dog in Missouri or Kansas, the attorneys at Welch & Webb can help protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Most dog bite claims are covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy, which means the money does not come out of the dog owner’s pocket. However, the insurance company will likely do whatever it can to pay you as little as possible and that is why it is so important you contact an attorney with experience in handling dog bite cases.

In both Kansas and Missouri, owners and possessors of dogs may be held liable under a common law negligence standard. This means that if the owner or possessor failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the attack or failed to warn the injured of a dog’s dangerous propensities, then they can be held responsible for the attack.

Both states also recognize the doctrine of negligence per se. According to this legal doctrine, a defendant who is in violation of a state law or local ordinance may be liable for any harm resulting from that violation.

Missouri also has a law that allows a person injured by a dog bite to hold the dog owner or possessor liable even if the dog has never bit a person before and even if the owner or possessor had no knowledge the dog would be aggressive. This is a very favorable law for dog bite victims and the attorneys at Welch & Webb know how to use the law to maximize your recovery.