Dog Bite Attack Results in Injury to St. Louis Missouri Man
From a lawyer's perspective in St. Louis, Missouri, it seems like dog bite injury claims and lawsuits are on the rise. Many times, pit bull terrier dogs are to blame for vicious dog bites and attacks. However, today, two American bulldogs were to blame for injuring a 53 year old St. Louis, Missouri man at his home.
According to St. Louis county police officer Tracy Panus, the man was playing with the two dogs when one turned on him and began a vicious attack on him. At that dog attacked, the other dog started to bite him also.
The man suffered personal injury and bites to his arm and leg. During the dog attack, a neighbor shot one of the dogs; the other was later put to sleep by authorities.
The "Missouri Rule" recognizes that in dog bite injury cases, there is a two-tier system of liability, depending upon the dog's dangerous propensities. As to a dog that possesses abnormally dangerous or vicious propensities, the rule is that regardless of what steps are taken to warn or protect from those dangers, of which the owner has actual or constructive knowledge, the owner will be strictly liable for any injuries caused by the dog. When an owner or possessor has a dog that does not possess known vicious dangerous propensities, the rule gives the dog a break, premised upon the motto that a dog is considered "man's best friend." However, under the second rule, an owner or possessor can be held liable for those entering land for foreseeable dangers created by the dog's normally dangerous propensities.
Needless to say, in dog bite cases, the history of the particular dog in question must be extensively researched in order to determine liability. For a free evaluation of your St. Louis dog bite claim, please contact us and speak to a Missouri lawyer today.
