Kansas City, MO personal injury attorney Michael Waddell talks about whether or not you can sue the dog owner for damages after a dog bite. He explains that dog owners can indeed be held responsible if their animal injures another person, and that in both Missouri and Kansas, there are several legal avenues for pursuing liability.

The first is negligence. An owner may be liable if they knew or should have known that their dog had “dangerous propensities.” This does not include ordinary barking, but behavior such as lunging at or biting people qualifies as a dangerous propensity that can create liability.

Under Missouri law, he notes, dogs are also considered a dangerous condition on the property of the landowner. If the dog behaves aggressively or causes injury to someone on the property, the owner can be held responsible for maintaining a safe environment.

Finally, many municipalities, towns, and cities have ordinances requiring dogs to be leashed or contained within a yard or fence. Failure to comply with these local regulations can also serve as a basis for liability, making the owner legally responsible for any resulting injuries.