KANSAS CITY DOG BITE LAWYER
The Midwest's Most Effective Injury Law Firm
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- June 19, 2024
Dog bites and attacks can lead to painful, disabling injuries and emotional trauma that last a lifetime. Dog owners in Kansas City have a legal duty to prevent their dogs from roaming “at large” and to protect legal visitors to their property from dog bites.
Dog owners and insurers are often quick to accuse dog bite victims of provoking animal attacks to avoid paying compensation. Whether your dog attack occurred in Missouri or Kansas, our Kansas City dog bite lawyers can overcome their underhanded tactics to recover the compensation you deserve.
Call (816) 670-4701 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. Ofrecemos consultas gratuitas en español.
- How Our Kansas City Dog Bite Attorneys Can Help You
- Legal Considerations in Kansas City Dog Bite Claims
- Determining How Much a Dog Bite Case Is Worth
- How Long Will My Claim Take To Settle?
- What If My Child Has Been Attacked?
- What Is the Deadline for Filing a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
- Request a Free Case Evaluation from Our Kansas City Dog Bite Attorneys
- Related Reading
How Our Kansas City Dog Bite Attorneys Can Help You
Going up against owners of dangerous dogs and their insurance companies without a dog bite attorney can place you at a significant disadvantage. Insurance companies leverage their extensive resources and upper hand to intimidate injured dog bite victims and minimize their compensation. Our law firm works to level the playing field by providing top-tier legal representation.
When you choose our leading Kansas City personal injury law firm, you can count on our award-winning legal team to take the insurance companies to task and protect your rights. We will gather evidence, navigate the law, and build a strong dog bite case while you focus on recovery. Among other things, our attorneys will:
- Interview eyewitnesses
- Find video footage of the incident
- Investigate the dog owner and the dog’s history of attacks
- Consult with expert witnesses, including dog handlers and medical experts
- Review your medical records to assess the severity of your injuries
- File your insurance claim and handle settlement negotiations for you
- Calculate your damages and refuse to accept less than you deserve
What Makes Brown & Crouppen Different?
Our firm has more than 40 years of experience recovering life-changing compensation for dog bite victims in Missouri, Kansas, and beyond. Our attorneys have been recognized in the legal community as Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Rising Stars, and as members of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. These prestigious awards and accolades are only given to a select few attorneys in each state.
Our focus is not on big cases or little cases but on people. For us, the greatest reward is making a positive difference in the lives of others. Our commitment to serving our community and helping injury victims drives us to pursue life-changing case results for our clients, ensuring each one receives the high-quality, personalized service they deserve.
"We learned a long time ago that it's just as important to the client how they were treated as how much money they got. People want to be treated as if their case is the most important one we have. So, that's what we do."
Use our dog bites & attacks guide to make a full recovery and understand key legal considerations.
Legal Considerations in Kansas City Dog Bite Claims
Residents of Kansas City on both sides of the border have a right to be free from the threat of a dog attack. However, the governing law varies across state lines.
The Missouri Dog Bite Statute
Under § 273.036 of the Missouri Agriculture and Animals law, a dog owner, handler, or anyone in control or possession of a dog is strictly liable for dog bites. Strict liability simply means that the at-fault party will be held responsible regardless of their state of mind or good intentions. Specifically, the statute provides as follows:
“The owner or possessor of any dog that bites, without provocation, any person while such person is on public property, or lawfully on private property, including the property of the owner or possessor of the dog, is strictly liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s or possessor’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
Kansas Dog Bite Laws
Unlike Missouri, Kansas has no dog bite statute. Instead, Kansas follows what’s known as the “one-bite rule”. Instead, dog owners must have had reason to believe that their dog was prone to aggressive behavior or biting in order to be held strictly liable.
However, even if they did not know that their dog had a “vicious propensity,” dog owners can still be held liable for simple negligence. This requires proving that the dog attack occurred because the owner failed to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others.
What Do I Have to Prove in a Dog Bite Case?
Under Missouri’s strict liability law, you can recover compensation for a dog bite by proving that:
- The dog attacked you.
- You were injured in the attack.
- You did not provoke the dog.
- You were legally on the property where the attack occurred.
By contrast, there are two legal paths toward compensation under Kansas law. On the one hand, you can prove that the dog has a history of attacks and, therefore, that the owner was on notice. In these cases, strict liability applies.
However, if the one-bite rule does not apply, you can still recover compensation by proving negligence. Again, this requires showing that you suffered compensable damages caused by the owner’s failure to take reasonable care to prevent their dog from injuring you.
There are many ways to satisfy these legal burdens. Each case is unique, and the path your attorney takes will ultimately depend on the evidence available in your case. One option would be to prove that the dog owner failed to comply with animal control laws.
For example, Wyandotte County prohibits “vicious dogs” within the city limits, and dogs deemed “dangerous” are only allowed on a restrictive basis. Dangerous dogs must be kept in a locked pen, and the owner or handler must leash and muzzle them when they are out. Failure to comply with these laws can go a long way toward establishing liability for dog bites.
What Evidence Supports a Dog Bite Claim?
You will need evidence to prove the details of the attack and the extent of your injuries. Important evidence in a dog bite case may include:
- Testimony from eyewitnesses who saw the attack
- Testimony from people who were aware of the dog’s violent history
- Testimony that the dog was at large or inadequately restrained
- Photo or video evidence that a dog was at large
- Medical records that show the severity of your injuries
- Expert witnesses who can verify the long-term effects of your injuries
- Photos of your injuries
- Video footage of the attack
- Municipal records showing the dog was deemed vicious or dangerous
Can Dog Breed Impact My Claim?
You have a right to file a dog bite lawsuit regardless of the attacking dog’s breed or size. In Kansas City, Missouri, 195 of the 373 dog bites in 2020 involved pit bulls—more than half. Labrador Retrievers were the second most common, with 34 bites that year, closely followed by German Shepherds.
Notwithstanding, pit bulls are legal in both Missouri and Kansas. They were previously banned in Kansas City, Kansas, but this law was repealed in 2019. Wyandotte County law also specifies that a dog cannot be deemed dangerous based solely on its size or breed.
Our Kansas City dog bite attorneys have handled cases involving a wide variety of dog breeds and sizes. Contact us immediately if you or your loved one is injured because of a dog bite in Kansas City. We can investigate your case and ensure you know your full legal rights and options.
Determining How Much a Dog Bite Case Is Worth
The amount you recover for your dog bite claim will vary based on the severity of your injuries, the available insurance coverage, and the conduct of the dog owner or keeper. In Kansas City, Kansas, local law requires keepers of dangerous dogs to maintain a liability insurance policy of at least $500,000. In Kansas City, Missouri, owners of dangerous dogs must maintain a $250,000 liability insurance policy.
Our dog bite injury lawyers are dedicated to recovering the maximum compensation available to you under the law. You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive damages may also be available if the dog owner or keeper’s conduct was deliberate, malicious, or showed a blatant disregard for the safety of others. For example, a judge may award punitive damages if a dog owner encouraged the attack or knowingly allowed a dog with a history of attacks to roam freely.
In most cases, punitive damages in Kansas are limited to $5 million or the defendant’s highest annual income in the past five years, whichever is less. Punitive damages in Missouri are normally capped at $500,000 or five times your net compensatory damages, whichever is greater.
How Long Will My Claim Take To Settle?
Most dog bite claims settle within a year and a half. However, each case is unique, and there are many factors that can affect the timeline of a dog bite case. Our attorneys can give you a better idea of how long your case will take after evaluating it in your free consultation.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
What If My Child Has Been Attacked?
More than half of all dog bites in the United States involve children. Children are more likely to be killed in a dog attack or suffer serious injuries that could physically and emotionally scar them for life.
Children cannot reasonably be expected to understand what behaviors may set off a dog, especially when they are young, and they should never be put in that position. If your child has been injured in a dog attack, our dog bite injury lawyers are ready to fight for accountability and compensation for their injuries, trauma, and long-term medical costs.
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
The Kansas personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of injury or death. By contrast, the Missouri personal injury statute of limitations is normally five years from the date of injury or three years from the date of death. However, if the victim is a child, the law gives them more time to file a claim.
Remember, the statute of limitations is not an indication of how long you should wait to contact a reputable dog bite law firm. The evidence you need to prove your case may only be available for a short time. In addition, if you wait too long and miss the governing deadline, your claim will be dismissed, and you will lose your right to pursue compensation forever. Do not wait to take legal action.
Request a Free Case Evaluation from Our Kansas City Dog Bite Attorneys
If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a dog bite in Kansas City, the skilled legal team at Brown & Crouppen can help. Our dog bite lawyers will work hard to hold the at-fault dog owner accountable and help you recover compensation for your dog bite injuries.
Getting started with your dog bite case is easy. Call (816) 670-4701 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. Because we operate on a contingency basis, we only get paid if you win. Ofrecemos servicios en español.
Related Reading
For more information about dog bite lawsuits in Missouri, explore the following resources prepared by our knowledgeable attorneys:
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- Last Modified:
- June 19, 2024
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