Dog Bite Statute of Limitations in Missouri

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

5 years

from date of bite/injury, under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036.

Missouri law sets a hard deadline of 5 years to file a dog bite lawsuit. The controlling statute is Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036, and the clock generally starts on date of bite/injury. Below: exactly when that clock starts, the exceptions that can pause it, and the traps that shorten it.

Missouri Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Dog Bite	5 years	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036
Car Accident	5 yrs	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4)
Credit Card Debt	5 yrs	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(1)
Medical Malpractice	2 yrs	RSMo § 516.105
Wrongful Death	3 yrs	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.080; § 537.090; § 537.100
Personal Injury	5 yrs	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4)
Slip and Fall	5 yrs	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4)
Defamation	2 yrs	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.140
Breach of Contract	10 yrs	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110
Medical Debt	5 yrs	RSMo § 516.120

When the Clock Starts

In Missouri, the limitations period for dog bite injury claims generally begins on date of bite/injury. Missouri does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.

Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline

Minors: the clock is generally paused while the injured person is under 18.
Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.

Missouri imposes strict liability on dog owners under § 273.036 for bites in public places or when the victim is lawfully on private premises. The 5-year personal injury SOL under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120 applies.

Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036, official Missouri statute · verified 2026-07

What to Do Before the Deadline Runs

Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Missouri government defendants).
If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.

How Missouri Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Missouri	5 years	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036
Iowa	2 yrs	Iowa Code § 351.28
Illinois	2 yrs	510 ILCS 5/16 (Animal Control Act, strict liability); SOL: 735 ILCS 5/13-202
Kentucky	1 yr	KRS § 258.235(4)
Tennessee	1 yr	Tenn. Code Ann. § 44-8-413; SOL: § 28-3-104
Arkansas	3 yrs	Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 (3-year personal injury SOL); no specific dog bite statute — common law one-bite rule applies
Oklahoma	2 yrs	4 O.S. § 42.1 (strict liability); SOL: 12 O.S. § 95(A)(3)
Kansas	2 yrs	K.S.A. § 47-645
Nebraska	4 yrs	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in Missouri?

You have 5 years from date of bite/injury, under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036.

Can I still sue after 5 years in Missouri?

Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (tolling for minors, fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.

What if the victim was a minor?

Missouri generally pauses ("tolls") the deadline while the injured person is under 18, giving them time to file after reaching adulthood. Special limits can still apply, so check the statute.

Sources

Official Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036 - Dog Bite Strict Liability
Corroborating Justia - Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036
Corroborating Nolo - Missouri Dog Bite Laws
Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Missouri attorney.