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Dog Bites

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC has served the Springfield community and Southwest Missouri since 1975. Today, our lawyers take pride in our commitment to providing knowledgeable legal advice with a focus on personal attention.

Dog Bite Attorney In Springfield

Legal Help After A Dog Bite In Our Community

A dog bite can turn an ordinary day into a medical emergency. You may be dealing with painful wounds, infection concerns, or the shock of seeing a child attacked, and you may not know where to turn. At Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC, we help injured people understand their options after a dog bite and decide what to do next.

Our firm has served people and families in Springfield, MO, since 1975, and our team of 20 attorneys is equipped to handle personal injury matters that involve dog bites and related issues. We offer free initial consultations for injury cases, so you can speak with us, ask questions, and get clear guidance without any upfront cost.

Do not wait for the bite to get worse or the evidence to disappear. Get a free consultation with Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC today and find out how much your Springfield dog bite case could be worth.

Why Dog Bites Are So Serious

Many people are surprised by how serious a dog bite can be. Even a small dog can cause deep puncture wounds that carry bacteria into the body and may lead to infection or nerve damage. Larger dogs may cause tearing injuries, broken bones, or significant scarring that changes how a person looks and feels about themselves.

For children, the effects can be even more severe. Bites often occur on the face, head, or hands, and may require stitches, surgery, or later scar revision. Both adults and children can develop anxiety, nightmares, or a lasting fear of dogs after an attack. These emotional effects are very real and can affect school, work, and everyday life.

Medical care for dog bites often involves emergency treatment, antibiotics, vaccinations, and ongoing follow up. Bills can add up quickly, especially if you miss work or a child needs time away from school. When you are facing these physical, emotional, and financial burdens at the same time, it can be difficult to sort out insurance paperwork or conversations with the dog’s owner. Calm legal guidance can help you understand how to protect your interests.

Do I Have A Dog Bite Claim

Many people who contact our firm are unsure whether their situation is really a legal case. Missouri law can recognize claims for dog bites and related injuries, but how the law applies depends on the specific facts. Where the bite happened, who owned or controlled the property, whether the dog showed aggressive behavior before, and how the incident occurred can all be important.

In some situations, responsibility may involve more than just the individual who owns the dog. A tenant, landlord, or property manager may have duties related to dogs on a property, especially in apartment complexes or rental homes in Springfield. Insurance coverage can also come from different sources, such as homeowner or renter policies, and each policy may treat dog related claims differently.

Common scenarios include bites at a neighbor’s house, in a front yard along a sidewalk, at a local park, or inside an apartment complex. Sometimes the dog is running loose, and other times the person bitten was invited onto the property. Each situation has different legal questions about notice, control, and reasonable safety measures.

Our attorneys review the full picture and help you understand whether a claim may cover medical expenses, lost wages, and the impact of scarring or trauma. Because these questions can be complicated, especially when you know the dog’s owner personally, a free initial consultation with a dog bite lawyer Springfield can be an important first step in deciding how to move forward.

How Our Springfield Law Firm Helps

When you contact our firm about a dog bite, our goal is to make a confusing situation more manageable. We listen to what happened, review any medical records or photographs you have, and discuss where the incident took place. From there, we work to identify potential insurance coverage and other sources of recovery that may apply.

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC has been part of the Springfield legal community since 1975, and our downtown office places us close to the Greene County Circuit Court and other institutions that may be involved in an injury claim. Over the years, our attorneys have become familiar with how insurers and other parties typically handle personal injury matters in this region, and we draw on that experience when advising clients about dog bite incidents.

Because we have 20 attorneys with diverse professional backgrounds, we are equipped to address dog bite cases that may overlap with premises liability, landlord-tenant disputes, or claims involving governmental entities. At the same time, we place a strong emphasis on personal service. That means we explain your options in clear language, answer your questions, and work to keep you informed as your matter progresses.

Several of our attorneys are recognized by their peers as top-rated,, which reflects a longstanding commitment to ethical practice and careful legal work. We believe trust is earned case by case, through honest conversations and diligent attention to each client’s needs. If you were hurt by a dog in Springfield, MO or the surrounding area, our firm can help you understand what a claim may involve and what steps make sense for you.

What To Do After A Dog Bite

In the hours and days after a dog bite, the choices you make can affect both your health and any potential claim. Your first concern should always be safety and medical care. Even if a wound appears minor, a medical professional can check for infection risk, nerve involvement, or the need for stitches, and can advise you about tetanus or rabies vaccinations.

Once immediate care is in place, it is helpful to gather information and document what happened. This can support any insurance claim and can also give your attorney a clearer picture of the circumstances around the bite, especially if questions later arise about how the incident occurred.

Key steps to take after a dog bite:

  • Seek prompt medical treatment and follow your provider’s instructions for wound care and follow-up.
  • Obtain the dog owner’s name, address, and contact information, along with any available insurance details.
  • Write down where the bite occurred, the date and time, and what you remember about the dog’s behavior.
  • Take photographs of your injuries as soon as possible and as they heal, along with any torn clothing.
  • Ask for contact information from any witnesses who saw the incident or know about prior problems with the dog.
  • When appropriate, consider reporting the incident to Springfield Animal Control or local law enforcement so there is an official record.
  • Be cautious about giving detailed recorded statements to insurance companies before you have spoken with an attorney.

These steps are general guidelines. Every situation is different, especially when the dog belongs to a friend, family member, or neighbor. If you have questions about how to handle conversations with the dog’s owner or their insurer, our attorneys can talk through your concerns and help you decide how to proceed in a way that respects both your health and your relationships.

What To Expect When You Call Us

Reaching out to a law firm after a dog bite can feel intimidating, particularly if you have never spoken with an attorney before. When you call Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC, we start with a free initial consultation for personal injury matters. During that conversation, we ask you to describe what happened, the medical care you have received, and any information you have about the dog and property involved.

We then discuss how Missouri law may apply to your situation, identify possible insurance coverage, and outline general options that might be available. Our goal is to explain these points in everyday language so you can make informed decisions. We also talk about next steps, such as what additional information would be helpful and what you can expect if we move forward together.

Our firm strives to provide clear communication. We work to return calls, answer questions, and give realistic expectations about timeframes, which often depend on medical treatment and the pace of insurance discussions. We want you to understand not only what we are doing, but also why certain steps are taken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Really Need A Lawyer For A Dog Bite?

You may not need a lawyer for every dog bite, but it can be helpful if injuries are significant, bills are growing, or fault is disputed. We review your situation in a free consultation and explain whether legal help is likely to add value in your particular circumstances.

How Much Will It Cost To Talk With Your Firm?

There is no charge for an initial personal injury consultation with our firm. During that meeting, we discuss your situation, answer questions, and explain how fee arrangements typically work in injury matters. You can decide whether to move forward only after you understand your options.

What If The Dog Owner Is My Friend Or Neighbor?

This is common, especially in residential areas. Often, insurance coverage such as homeowner or renter policies may be involved, instead of personal funds. We can explain how claims generally work and help you consider options that address your needs while respecting important relationships.

How Long Do I Have To File A Dog Bite Claim?

Missouri law sets time limits for bringing personal injury claims, and those limits can depend on the facts of the case. It is usually best to speak with an attorney as soon as reasonably possible so we can review your situation and help you understand any applicable deadlines.

What Will Happen During The First Meeting?

During the first meeting, we listen to what happened, review any documents or photos you have, and ask questions about your medical care. We then outline how the law may apply, discuss options, and explain our approach to communication and next steps so you know what to expect.

Get Answers And Take Action After A Dog Bite In Springfield

A dog bite can leave you with painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and real concerns about infection, scarring, or a child’s recovery. You do not have to guess what to do next or let an insurance company decide what your case is worth. Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC has served Springfield, MO, since 1975, and our team of 20 attorneys is ready to shoulder the legal and administrative burden so you can focus on healing.

Call Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC at (417) 557-3407 now for a free consultation and find out how much your Springfield dog bite claim could be worth.

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