Missouri Dog Bite Lawyer

Missouri’s dog bite statute, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036, imposes strict liability upon dog owners. Under this rule, the owner can be held strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog if the bite occurred while the victim was on public property or lawfully on private property, and the victim did not provoke the dog. Moreover, the owner will not be held liable if the victim was trespassing or provoking the dog at the time of the bite. The statute covers bite injuries only, so victims that suffered non-bite injuries (for example, lacerations from scratches) must rely on a different theory of liability.

Additionally, principles of comparative negligence apply to dog bite cases in Missouri. This means that a victim’s recovery will be reduced based upon the degree to which their own negligence contributed to their injuries. For example, if a victim suffered damages totaling to $10,000, and the jury determines that they were 20% at fault, then the victim will only be able to recover damages in the reduced amount of $8,000.