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Chicago Dog Bite Lawyer

An estimated 4.7 million Americans are bitten by a dog every year and of those bitten, as many as 800,000 people annually require medical treatment for the bites, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

If you have suffered an injury as a result of a dog attack, you may be able to receive compensation for the costs associated with those injuries and any suffering that you incurred by filing a dog bite case.

At TorHoerman Law, our experienced Chicago dog bite lawyers can help you get compensated for an animal-inflicted injury.

Contact TorHoerman Law or use our chatbot to receive a free, instant online case evaluation and find out if you are eligible for compensation through a Chicago dog bite lawsuit right now.

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Chicago Dog Bite Lawsuit Explained

If a person is bitten by a dog, there could potentially be a dog bite lawsuit claim.

While each situation is different, more than likely, if medical treatment was required or the attack caused significant harm, physical or mentally, the individual has grounds to file a lawsuit.

There is a specific statute in Illinois law that defines the qualifications to prove a dog or other animal owner is liable for a bite.

In order to qualify, the injured party must show that:

  1. The dog or other animal attacked, attempted to attack, or injured the person.
  2. The person had a lawful right to be in the place he or she was when attacked or injured.
  3. The dog or other animal was not provoked.

How Can I Prove Liability?

In Illinois, strict liability laws define all animal attack incidents.

Strict liability means that the owner of the animal cannot make the argument that he or she had no warning of the animal’s aggressive nature or likelihood of attacking another person or animal.

If the animal attacked another person or animal and was unprovoked, the owner is liable for the injuries sustained from the attack because technically, the dog is the owner’s property.

Under State of Illinois law, a dog bite victim is eligible for compensation under the doctrines of negligence, negligence per se, scienter, and intentional tort.

There is a special Illinois state statute regarding dog bites referred to as the “Animal Control Act.”

This statute makes the owner liable for any injuries to others, without negligence on the part of the defendant.

The statute defines these owners as:

  • “Any person having a right of property in an animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who has it in his care, or acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on any premises occupied by him or her.”

The statute further explains the context of a situation in which a dog’s owner can be held liable, stating:

  • “If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable in civil damages to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby.”

Trespassers who are bitten by an animal within the boundaries of another person’s private property will likely not have a strong claim against the owner.

Individuals acting to provoke an animal is also not protected under the clause of plaintiff negligence and will likely not have a strong claim against the owner.

If the defendant acts with negligence, that is the defendant breaches a duty that he or she holds and that breach of duty results in another person’s injury, the defendant can be held liable for the injury.

Under the protection of negligence per se, the defendant is expected to follow any local laws and regulations regarding the animal’s care.

If the defendant breaches any expected duty under local regulations, the defendant can be held liable for the injury.

Example:

A local statute requires dogs to be on a leash at all times while in public.

However, a dog owner at the park allows his dog off the leash.

The dog, who is usually friendly, is engaged by a young boy who provokes the dog.

The dog bites the boy, who was obviously continually provoking the animal.

The owner could claim that the boy’s provocative actions resulted in the bite.

But because the owner had the dog off leash, he was not following local statutes and can, therefore, be held liable.

A Chicago dog bite lawyer can assist with a dog bite injury case and answer any questions you may have throughout the process.

Common Injuries From Dog Attacks

A serious bite is no joking matter, especially considering the sheer power a dog can have when biting someone.

20% of those who are bitten by dogs require medical attention, according to the CDC.

Typically, the most common victims are children. Common injuries are:

  • Puncture wounds
  • Scratches, bruising, or cuts
  • Tearing of the muscles
  • Fractures
  • Amputations, in rare cases
  • Head or skull injuries

The public information website, DogsBite.org, reports that the most severe of dog bite attacks can require “$250,000 to $1 million in specialized medical care treatment.”

Reconstructive surgery is also often a requirement to fix the lasting damage from the attack.

Chicago Dog Bite Lawyer

At TorHoerman Law, our primary concern is our clients.

We want to make sure that you receive the help you need for any injuries you sustain from a dog bite.

You can trust a dog bite attorney Chicago will help guide you through the lawsuit process.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurance companies paid $317.2 million for dog bite liability claims in one year alone.

The lawyers at TorHoerman Law can help you receive compensation for your injuries.

By filing a dog bite lawsuit, you could receive compensation for the damages you suffered, such as, but not limited to:

  • Medical treatment and corresponding medical bills
  • Plastic surgery to fix residual scarring
  • Physical therapy, if needed
  • Wages lost while off work to recover
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering

To learn more about a dog bite lawsuit, contact a TorHoerman Law Firm injury attorney for a free consultation.

We are here to help you through a difficult situation.  

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Will insurance cover my medical bills?

    Whether insurance will cover your medical bills is dependent on many factors.

    But, it is not uncommon for the dog’s owner’s house or rental insurance to cover instances of dog bites.

    An attorney will be able to further explore that option for you.

  • Who is responsible for a dog bite?

    More often than not, the dog’s owner will be held responsible for the dog bite simply because they were tasked with keeping the dog under control and failed to do so.

  • Should I get a lawyer if my child was bitten by a dog?

    Yes.

    Legally speaking, children under the age of 18 are not permitted to file a lawsuit.

    The parents or guardian of the child will have to file a lawsuit on their behalf.

Written By:
Tor Hoerman

Tor Hoerman

Owner & Attorney - TorHoerman Law

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Here, at TorHoerman Law, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.

Since 2009, we have successfully collected over $4 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.

Would you like our help?

About TorHoerman Law

At TorHoerman Law, we believe that if we continue to focus on the people that we represent, and continue to be true to the people that we are – justice will always be served.

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Do You
Have A Case?

Here, at TorHoerman Law, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.

Since 2009, we have successfully collected over $4 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.

Would you like our help?

DogsBite.org – Some Dogs Don’t Let Go, www.dogsbite.org/.

“Nonfatal Dog Bite-Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments — United States, 2001.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 July 2003, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5226a1.htm.

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