Dog attacks leave more than physical wounds — deep lacerations, nerve damage, scarring, and lasting fear, especially in children, who are the most frequent victims. If you or your child was bitten in Southwest Missouri or Southeast Kansas, the law is more on your side than most people realize.

Missouri Is a Strict Liability State

Under Missouri law, a dog owner is liable when their dog bites someone without provocation while the victim is on public property or lawfully on private property — regardless of whether the dog ever bit anyone before. There is no “one free bite.” You don’t have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous; you have to prove the bite happened and you were lawfully there. Kansas follows a different, negligence-based standard, which makes where the attack happened an important legal fact — and handling both states is exactly what my practice is built for.

What Your Claim Can Include

Medical care including reconstructive or plastic surgery, rabies protocols, therapy for post-traumatic anxiety (particularly for child victims), lost wages, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and pain and suffering. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance typically pays these claims — which means pursuing compensation usually does not take money out of a neighbor’s or family friend’s pocket. That fact alone helps many hesitant families move forward.

What to Do After a Dog Bite

Get medical treatment immediately and document the wounds with photos as they heal. Identify the dog and owner, report the bite to animal control (this creates the official record), and get names of witnesses. Don’t give the owner’s insurance company a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer.

The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win. When you’re hurt, call Kurt. (417) 553-4898 — or request a free case review.