Missouri Man Attacked by Pit Bulls Awarded $7.25 Million
$7.25 million was awarded to a Jackson County Missouri man who was mauled by pit bulls in 2006.
In May 2006, three pit bull terriers escaped through an open window of a nearby home and attacked Alan Hill as he mowed his lawn.
Hill needed multiple operations and skin grafts as a result of the attack. He is permanently disabled and his attorney argued that his life expectancy was shortened 22.5 years. The medical bills associated totaled more than $523,000.
Though the dogs were owned by Paul Piper and Tammy Young, the suit focused on the property owners who rented the house to the dog owners. The property owners were Brittnee Ann Wisdom, James K. Knowles, and Nancy Wisdom.
Evidence was presented showing the property owners knew of the pit bulls and had asked for them to be removed. Shortly before the day of the attack, Brittnee Wisdom had called animal control officers to remove the dogs. The day of the attack, the homeowners sent Bryan Smith, a friend, to let the animal control officers into the home. Smith opened an unlocked window to gain entry to the home and neglected to close the window, allowing the dogs to escape.
The Jackson County Judge found the property owners were negligent in failing to safely remove the pit bulls from the property.
Missouri law holds owners of dangerous dogs responsible for the injuries that can be caused by those animals. The most common type of animal attack in Missouri is a dog bite. Many municipalities have proposed legislation to outlaw certain breeds, such as pit bulls, to reduce the number of dog attacks.
An estimated 800,000 people in the United States are treated for dog bites and an average of 20 die each year. The most common victims are children, who account for more than 60 percent of all dog bite cases.
In Missouri, owners of dangerous animals can be held strictly liable for injuries caused by known dangerous animals. This means an owner does not have to be negligent in order to be held legally responsible for injuries caused by their animal. The mere fact the dog or other animal caused an injury is enough to impose liability.
If you have any more questions about personal injury law as it relates to dog bites, visit The Bradley Law Firm’s dog bite information page.
We have over 30 years of experience handling cases just like this one. Contact us today for a free consultation.
