What is the statute of limitations for dog bites in Missouri?
While it is better to file your dog bite lawsuit sooner rather than later in Missouri, often times our busy lives prevent us from taking action after someone has been bit by a dog. But it's important not to wait too long to get your Missouri dog bite lawsuit filed.
If you've been bit by a dog and been injured as a result, you could be entitled to collect damages from that dog's owner. Contact the Missouri Injury Law Firm today for a no-obligation case review and to determine the best way to proceed with your dog bite lawsuit.
About Statutes of Limitations
Statutes of limitations are set by law and vary not only state-by-state, but also by the kind of case law each case falls under. This applies to both criminal cases and civil cases: for example, in some states murder has no statute of limitations, while felonies such as kidnapping or sexual offenses have longer statutes of limitations than theft, which in turn have longer statutes of limitations than crimes classified as misdemeanors. By and large, civil cases do not have as long a window to file charges for than criminal cases. Even then, depending on the type of civil case your suit is classified under, you may have more or less time than you thought to file your lawsuit.
In Missouri, dog bite lawsuits are officially considered personal injury cases. This is because dog bites are deemed to be due to the negligence of another person or group. Other examples of personal injury cases involving negligence are car accidents or slips and falls. The Missouri Injury Law Firm takes these cases as well as dog bite injury lawsuits, and is ready to take your call no matter the personal injury case.
Missouri's Statute of Limitations
For personal injury cases in Missouri, according to Revised Statute 516.120, all claims "for the recovery of specific personal property, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another" must be filed within five years of the date of the original indident. This is actually one of the longest statutes of limitations for personal injury in the United States. Most other states' have much shorter windows in which a personal injury case can be filed--for instance, if you were bit by a dog in Illinois or Kansas, you would only have two years from the date of the initial bite to bring a case to court.
Fiiling A Dog Bite Lawsuit In Missouri
There are a number of reasons why people do not immediately sue for dog bite injuries in Missouri. Maybe they did not know they could recover damages, they did not think they could win their case, or they were not aware they could still file their suit within the statute of limitations.
The Missouri Injury Law Firm has experience with all sorts of dog bite injury cases. They are devoted to their clients' success and have a proven track record of getting great results, whether at trial or in a settlement. Contact them today for a free review of your case.
(636) 333-1717