Most people never think a friendly looking dog could send them to the ER. But when it happens, everything changes, from your plans and your health to the way you feel in your own neighborhood.
At Foster Wallace Personal Injury Lawyers, our dog bite lawyers in Kansas City work with people who never thought they’d need legal guidance. We know how quickly these injuries can escalate, bringing physical pain, emotional distress, and mounting medical bills.
Our Kansas City personal injury lawyers have recovered over $1 billion for clients throughout Missouri and Kansas. We don’t let insurance companies minimize what you’ve been through.
Understanding Missouri Dog Bite Laws
Missouri applies a strict liability standard in dog bite cases under Missouri Revised Statutes § 273.036. That means dog owners are responsible for injuries caused by their dogs, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before.
To file a personal injury claim under this law, you must show that:
- The dog bit you.
- You were in a public place or legally on private property.
- You didn’t provoke the dog.
Unlike the “One-Bite Rule” used in Kansas, Missouri doesn’t give the dog or owner a second chance. This law protects victims and helps them recover damages without proving negligence.
Kansas City Dog Bite Statistics and Risks
Dog attacks happen more often than most people think. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report on dogs showing that approximately 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and nearly one in five—about 900,000—require medical attention. That’s a serious public health issue, not a rare accident.
Around Kansas City, many bites stem from common situations with private dogs, including:
- Off‑leash pets in yards or parks
- Animals breaking through broken fences
- Delivery workers or postal carriers encountering aggressive animals
Even a familiar dog in a friendly space can suddenly bite when startled or stressed. These incidents can cause deep puncture wounds, nerve damage, broken bones, surgical scarring, or emotional trauma, especially in children and older adults. Some victims face years of recovery, with lasting physical or psychological effects.
Contact our Kansas city personal injury lawyers now.
Common Injuries from Dog Bites
Our dog bite attorneys in Kansas City have helped people recover after all types of dog bite injuries, including:
- Deep cuts and puncture wounds
- Soft tissue injuries and torn ligaments
- Facial trauma requiring plastic surgery
- Broken bones from being knocked down
- Infections like cellulitis or MRSA
- Nerve damage and long-term numbness
- Psychological distress, including PTSD
Victims often need multiple types of medical care, such as emergency treatment, follow-up visits, physical therapy, counseling, or surgery. These injuries affect not just your body but also your ability to work, sleep, or feel safe around dogs.
The Emotional Impact of a Dog Attack
The suffering of dog bite victims can extend far beyond the initial injury. Afterward, they may live with anxiety, nightmares, or panic when they hear a dog bark or see one on the street. Children may refuse to go outside. Adults may avoid walking their own pets.
This emotional anguish matters. Missouri personal injury law allows victims to recover non–economic damages like emotional distress, pain, and suffering. We document these effects carefully and include them in your claim.
If you’re experiencing psychological effects after a bite, talk with an attorney. You don’t have to pretend you’re fine when the injury has changed your life.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Kansas City
Here are a few simple steps that can protect your health and your legal rights:
- Get medical attention immediately, even for small wounds.
- Report the bite to Kansas City Animal Health and Public Safety or your local police department.
- Photograph your injuries and the scene of the attack.
- Collect witness contact info if anyone saw the attack.
- Write down everything you remember while it’s fresh.
- Avoid speaking with the dog owner‘s insurance company without legal advice.
The earlier you contact a dog bite lawyer in Kansas City, the better we can protect your claim.
Who Pays After a Dog Bite?
Most dog bite injury claims go through the dog owner’s liability insurance policy. This could include:
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Landlord insurance
Sometimes, third parties may also share fault. For example, a landlord may be liable if they knew the tenant kept a dangerous dog and did nothing about it. A dog walker or caretaker could be responsible if the dog was under their control at the time.
Our Kansas City dog bite attorneys review all possible sources of recovery, especially when the dog owner has limited insurance coverage.
What Happens if the Dog Owner Has No Insurance?
In some cases, the dog owner doesn’t have insurance that covers the bite. When that happens, we explore other options to help you recover what you’ve lost. That might include pursuing a personal injury lawsuit directly against the owner.
We also investigate whether others played a role. For example, if the attack happened on a rental property, a landlord or property manager may share responsibility, especially if they knew the dog posed a danger and failed to act. In some situations, an umbrella policy or other secondary coverage may apply.
If the dog had a known history of aggression or the owner violated leash laws or ignored prior complaints, we may pursue punitive damages. This kind of reckless behavior puts others at risk, and the law allows for additional consequences when someone refuses to take basic precautions.
Dog Owner Responsibilities Under Missouri Law
Missouri law requires dog owners to:
- Keep dogs under control in public spaces
- Follow leash laws in city ordinances
- Prevent dogs from escaping property
- Comply with dangerous dog restrictions if the dog has a history of aggression
When owners violate these duties, the results can be devastating. A Kansas City dog bite attorney can use these violations as evidence to strengthen your case. We often work with local animal control and police departments to obtain bite reports, citations, and witness statements.
How Dog Bite Cases Interact With Local Leash Laws and City Ordinances
Kansas City has local leash laws that vary by neighborhood and county. In most areas, dogs must remain leashed in public spaces, including sidewalks, parks, and trails. Violating these rules can increase liability if the dog attacks someone.
Animal Control may also designate a dog as “potentially dangerous” or “vicious” if it has shown aggression before. These labels require owners to follow stricter rules, such as muzzling the dog or installing secure fencing. When owners ignore those rules, they may face additional penalties and make it easier for a personal injury claim to succeed.
Our Kansas City dog bite attorneys regularly consult city ordinances to determine whether local law supports your case.
What Damages Can I Recover?
Every dog bite case is different, but you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses (ER visits, surgery, medication)
- Future medical treatment (including plastic surgery)
- Mental health care for emotional trauma
- Lost income if you missed work
- Loss of earning capacity for long-term injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Punitive damages (in cases of reckless disregard)
We work closely with your doctors and therapists to document the full scope of your injuries. We also bring in experts, when needed, to project long-term costs and losses.
Understanding the Role of Medical Records in Dog Bite Claims
Medical documentation plays a major role in proving the extent of your injury. We often see cases where the full damage—nerve injuries, scarring, or trauma—is not immediately obvious. A complete record helps show how serious the bite really was.
We work with treating physicians and specialists to:
- Secure clear diagnostic reports
- Obtain surgical records or rehabilitation logs
- Document mental health evaluations
- Calculate long-term medical needs
Without this evidence, the insurance company may argue that your injuries are minor. That’s why we move quickly to collect and organize all related records from the start.
Dog Bites on Rental Properties or Apartment Complexes
If a dog bite happened at an apartment complex or rental property, the property owner or landlord may share legal responsibility. Kansas City premises liability laws require landlords to act on known dangers, including aggressive dogs.
We investigate whether the landlord:
- Knew the dog had attacked someone before
- Allowed the dog despite leash law violations
- Ignored complaints from other tenants
- Failed to repair fences or gates that allowed escapes
Dog bite injury lawyers in Kansas City often see landlords try to dodge responsibility. We know how to hold them accountable when they played a role in the attack.
When a Child Gets Bitten by a Dog
Children under 12 make up a large share of dog bite victims. They’re often bitten in the face or neck, leading to painful surgeries and permanent scarring. Missouri courts treat these injuries very seriously.
In child injury cases, parents or guardians may file a lawsuit on the child‘s behalf. Damages may also include projected future medical care and the emotional toll of growing up with visible scars or fear of animals.
Missouri law may extend the statute of limitations for child victims, but evidence still fades over time. Our dog bite lawyers in Kansas City handle these cases with care and respect for how much is at stake.
What About Bites from Police or Service Dogs?
Not all dog bites come from pets. Sometimes, police K9s or security animals cause serious harm. These cases follow different rules. Officers or handlers may still be liable if they used unreasonable force or lost control of the animal.
Likewise, service dogs are not immune from liability. If a service dog attacks you without cause, and the owner fails to control it, you may still have a valid claim. Talk to a Kansas City dog bite attorney who understands these distinctions. We’ll investigate what happened and explain your legal options clearly.
What if the Dog Was Provoked?
Dog owners and their insurance companies sometimes argue that the bite wouldn’t have happened if the victim hadn’t provoked the dog. Missouri law accounts for this, but the bar for provocation is high. Teasing, petting, or approaching a dog in a non-threatening way typically doesn’t count as provocation.
If a child unknowingly approached a dog too quickly or made a loud noise, that still doesn’t give the dog the right to attack. We push back hard when insurers try to use provocation as a way to avoid responsibility.
Our Kansas City dog bite lawyers will investigate the circumstances of the attack and interview witnesses to get a full picture. We won’t let the insurance company twist the facts to suit its narrative.
How Insurance Companies Try to Undermine Claims
Even when liability seems obvious, insurance companies often push back. They may:
- Downplay the injury
- Claim the dog acted in self-defense
- Blame you for provoking the dog
- Offer a quick settlement that doesn’t cover long-term costs
We’ve seen these tactics many times. As your legal team, we’ll respond quickly and with evidence. We’ll use medical records, bite reports, and city ordinances to make it clear that the dog owner—or their insurer—must take responsibility.
In some cases, we may work with veterinary behavior experts or medical consultants who can support your version of events.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Claim?
In Missouri, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is five years from the date of injury. In Kansas, the deadline may be as short as two years. If you miss the deadline, the court may throw out your case. That’s why it helps to speak with a dog bite accident attorney in Kansas City as soon as possible.
Preserving medical records, photographs, and witness testimony early on gives your case a stronger foundation.
How Our Kansas City Dog Bite Lawyers Build Strong Dog Bite Cases
We approach every case with one goal: making sure you have what you need to recover. That starts with listening carefully and building a clear picture of what happened and how the attack has affected your life.
Our team gathers everything from medical records and bite reports to statements from witnesses and neighbors. We work closely with animal control to understand the dog’s history, and we calculate the full scope of your financial and emotional losses, not just the ones that show up on a bill.
We prepare every claim as if it could go to trial, even if it ends in settlement. We handle the communication with the insurance company so you don’t have to, giving you the space to focus on healing while we focus on results.
Why Foster Wallace?
We’re not a massive call center law firm that passes your case around. At Foster Wallace, our attorneys speak directly with you. We build trust through honesty, and we fight for real results.
We have 45 years of combined experience helping families rebuild after serious injuries. Our understanding of dog bite laws, Kansas City leash ordinances, and insurance company operations provides a strong foundation for your case.
You only pay us if we win; there are no upfront fees and no hidden costs. Let’s talk about what happened. Let’s talk about what comes next. Your Injury. Our Fight.
Call Foster Wallace today to speak with a dog bite lawyer in Kansas City who takes your case as seriously as you do.
